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Woke Marxist Pope's avatar

The drawings have me cackling! With all due respect, those of us whose social networks are mired in the helping professions cannot take this approach…the only option for us is escape the pathology. I have decided that between now and November (or maybe January, or however long it takes) I will go on “a series of silent retreats” and do some “digital fasts” because “my meditation teacher says.” I might also be packing a Go Bag, just in case.

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Shire Jansen's avatar

I did it! I weeded my friend garden in July of '21, when I saw their root rot clearly and decided leaving them in place would only be an indication that I didn't care enough about the bigger picture. I do not miss them, years later I can honestly say that the time and $ spent tending them was a waste of precious resources, good riddance!

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brian m's avatar

Thank god for this one. I forgot about the election for five delicious minutes. The art is off the hook fantastic.

It is so easy to miss how messed up someone close is until you actually open that door you think is a half bath but it is filled with empty half gallon smirnoff bottles.

It feels right, don the con campaigns for 4 years but Harris is up by two points nationally after 12 days.

I completely forgot about the upcoming spanish inquisition Thanksgiving...praying for a fugue state

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Mavis Jukes's avatar

I don’t want to make this about me but Merrill we have known each other a long time.

Be honest. Which ones do I have?

Tonight I accidentally conditioned my hair with cream cheese. It looks good though.

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Ërb's avatar

Just make sure those sane friends don't read this, or they'll start looking closely at their friends...

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Liza Blue's avatar

Thank you for the phrase, "rip tide of murk." though I think that "muck" might be a better word. Murk implies that we are unsure of what is going on, muck implies that we know what is going on and it is unpleasant. But will remember "the rip tide of (fill in the blank.) " I like the phrase "shit show" but a "rip tide of shit" is more visual and evocative.

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Bill Southern's avatar

I successfully assessed all my friends, identifying those who need to be jettisoned, and then, as you suggested, I examined my own personality, in search of issues. I discovered that I am a really bad judge of character - now what do I do?

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Merrill Markoe's avatar

Haaa. I believe it is your life's purpose and goal to answer this question in detail.

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Ellis Levinson's avatar

Got it! RFK Jr. No, no; Cornell West! Wait-Ronald McDonald. Wait . . .

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Perry Albertson's avatar

Thank you, as always, Merrill!

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Elise's avatar

I ran across this piece written by you in the 90’s when George Meyer’s, “Army Man” was making fun of Gary Hart and George Bush. You, and the writers of this zine went on to change our culture as writers.

You are just brilliant.

Girl Talk…for real, sooooo funny: https://archive.org/details/the-complete-army-man/ArmyMan_Issue2/page/n7/mode/2up

My favorite line: “Speaking of low self esteem, there is a spider that survives by camouflaging itself as BIRDSHIT. There but for fortune go we all, right ladies?”

Now we have a Girl running for Prez. It occurs to me the Orange Boy Prez Talk is so grandiose and personality disordered, but we girls are refusing the tale as old as time BIRDSHIT defense.

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Merrill Markoe's avatar

How did you come in contact w Army Man. That was George living in Colorado doing desk top publishing. I dont know how many copies there were of that but I bet it wasn't more than 200?

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Elise's avatar

I went down a rabbit hole when I saw George was performing at our local bookclub variety show. https://btt.boldtypetickets.com/events/155045966/the-great-beyond?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

He was mentioned as a writer for the Simpsons. I kept following threads until I found Army Man. Gold mine.

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Susan Wilgus's avatar

Um, "cognitive impairment" (though it can lead to poor decisions, beliefs, etc.) is not a "personality disorder" but is a "condition" that does not require psychotherapy, but benefits from education.

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Merrill Markoe's avatar

Yes. I didnt read that thing very closely because I didnt make that chart up. Its one of the stupid but not totally stupid ones I found by googling Personality Disorders.

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Susan Wilgus's avatar

Yeah, l guess as a former special Ed teacher l pick up that stuff pretty quickly. (Though it took me & husband a good 30 years to realize we're both kinda autistc!) The article was still pretty funny!

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