on the way home from work tonight. I am buzzing down the highway through the forest bored with my humming, out of smokes and flip on the radio. It was on AM and caught Dr Laura's voice chastising some poor woman "I don't have time for the details, what is your question?"<P>The woman said, (I'll paraphrase) "My Dad who is deceased, had a child who is seven, with a woman he was having an affair with. I'd like to see the child but I can't stand the mother and don't want to see her. She deliberately got herself pregnant."<P>Dr. Laura said, "Oh, so your Dad didn't know what could happen or what he was doing when he stuck his hmmm-hmmm in her and hmmm-hmmm-ed inside her and caused her egg to split? I just love it when you all blame the Hussy. Your Dad knew what would happen if he did this. It is despicable of you to abandon the child because of the mother."<P>OK. I see Dr. Laura's point...to a point. HOWEVER, it is not the young woman's responsibility to become close to the step sister. It would be nice, it would and could add something valuable to the kid's life, and it would be wonderful if she could put aside her resentment of the mother for the child. It most definitely probably be a wonderful loving thing to do and add a new and profound dimension to this young woman's life as well. HOWEVER, Dr. Laura neglected to consdier the young woman's antagonistic feelings toward the former OW.<P>It really pushes my buttons when Dr. Laura likes to get cute and describe in detail what occurs when someone gets knocked up using the words that put immediate pictures in my head. I realize what happened. I just don't like to think about what happened. And, it really pushed my buttons when Dr. Laura neglects to realize that it takes time to get used to the idea of an OC in someone's life and there is a process involved here...people need to get to that point of acceptance before they can incorporate an OC into their lives. It is not an overnight thing...find out on Friday, get together for dinner on Sunday.<P>I spend more time than I should thinking of the OC and wondering how she is. Being in her life would be detrimental to her, not a benefit. For one thing we live 2000 miles away, our grown kids know nothing of her existance and we are barely surviving ourselves. There is nothing we or I can offer her at this point in our lives. Not only that but the OW wants nothing to do with either of us and was only looking for money.<P>From now on, my car radio will stay on FM.<P>Catnip =^^=

Catnip I know what you mean about Dr, Laura. I had to quit listening to her during my pain as she made me despise H even more when she would tell women "Your H made a kidlett now either get used to having him/her around or move on".<P>I could have strangled her and at the same time I thought...maybe she's right maybe I should move on.<P>I was so confused at that time. Dr. Laura is a pompous as*!!!<P>Love<BR>Debi<P>------------------<BR>Imagine....

Dear Cat and Gem,<P>Dr. Laura is a fraud. She has the sensitivity of a sumo wrestler and you could probably get more sensible opinions out of a squirrel.<P>She sensationalizes everything because it makes money. I truly feel sorry for the people who actually believe she can help them. She is all about money, not counselling.<P>We know our H's made mistakes and bear 50% of the responsibility for the mistake. However, the "hussy" bears 100% of the responsibility for the ultimate decision. Our H's could not force them to give the children up for adoption, or to terminate their pregnancies. And that, is where the real split comes. That is where H's become victims.<P>My H begged the OW not to keep the OC. The OC could have had a two-parent family and a loving environment. Her mother chose instead to try to insinuate herself into my marriage with the intention of stealing my H. And, we should somehow feel sorry for these women?<P>Catnip, don't just keep your radio on FM. Write to the show and tell them what a loser Dr. Laura is and I'll do the same.<P>love,<BR>heavenly

Gem & Heavenly:<P>Writing a letter against Dr. Laura makes me feel as if I am simply complaining because I didn't like what she said. There have been many times when I felt she gave decent advice and I liked her staunch take on morality and all...and on family. However, I have noticed an impatience and hardness lately that translates to me "burnout", or worse, arrogance.<P>When she acts like a snotty smart a$$, i really get burned. When she treats people like that who are truly in pain or flummoxed by their problems and looking for answers or sometimes just some direction, she comes off like a jerk and a brute. Basically, she has the right idea, but she is getting cocky and arrogant forgetting the troubled souls who call her are in pain and going through a terrible time in their life. I would like to see more empathy...I can write about that. But, for having a difference of opinion, I say vive l'differance. I'm cool with opposing points of view. I have to be...I have so many of my own. I'd be a real hypocrite if I denounced someone for theirs.<P>But, today, ooooh, she really got my knickers in a bundle. Hahaha<P>Love<P>Catnip =^^=

Well Catnip, I'm glad you missed the deer!!!!<P>And Heavenly, you are in my daily prayers. E-mailed you, mailbox was full. Take good care of yourself.<P>love<BR>Debi<P>------------------<BR>Imagine....

Gem, I just cleared out the mailbox -- sorry about that!<P>And, Catnip, that is why we need you so much because you are always right. I must have tuned in on Dr. Laura's bad days, because on the few occasions I listened I have always found her to be a snotty smart a$$.<P>It is good to know that she does have some moments when she is helpful. But, of course, complaining is not the answer. I do like your idea of pointing out that she could be more empathetic in her replies to injured souls. Maybe that would catch her attention.<P>By the way, I also e-mailed you, Cat -- I don't know if you were a victim of my "full mailbox". I just want to let you know so you don't delete my message with the junk mail!<P>love,<BR>heavenly

I e-mailed you a couple days ago, and then again the next morning only to receive the notice you mail box was still full. You needed to do some housecleaning!! You popular thing!<P>Sending it now.<P>Catnip =^^=

...Jumping out of lurkerdom to... well not really <I>defend</I> per se... <P>Anyhoo, as a WS, I discovered Dr Laura about 2 months after D-day. I first thought, "well, here is something I could stand to be listening to," and from that point up until recently, I've listened to her everyday - about 2 years now. <P>I agree, she certainly handles some things entirely the wrong way. One can hold the moral high ground without resorting to meaness.<P>My point is, regardless of her faults, she's had a huge impact on <I>my</I> value system. And all for the better. Listening to her was like having two hours of motherly nagging a day. I recognize the things I can identify with and hold up as a standard for myself and leave the rest (the homosexual and political issues for example) out.<P>To make a long story short, despite her faults, she's helped me change myself in a lot of ways... in a lot of very fundamental ways. <P>So I stand behind her. (mostly)<P>deut

Deut:<P>Yeah, I know what you mean...it's that fine line thing. No one is perfect, we all have faults and make mistakes. It is the self-righteousness that makes her such a target. Basically, her arguments are very logical which are tough to ignore. But, when someone, anyone, gets too big for their britches and start coming off as the be all and end all, then the valuable message can get lost...because I'll get so pissed, I'll flip to another station! Hahaha<P>I am glad her program had a positive impact on your life...I like how you can take what you like and need and apply it to your life and leave the rest. <P>Check out the parody on Frazier sometime of the episode Dr. Nora...it is hilarious.<P>Catnip =^^=<P>