Always - I have just got back from a trip [into the land of no email access] and picked up on your thread. I can relate to how you feel. It is the sheer UNDESERVED nastiness that gets me down. I am not a horrible person, and neither are you, and yet these jerks treat us so horribly.
We aren't victims either . . . I just want the pain to STOP. Yes, it partly in my control not to allow myself to be hurt, but these MLCers/practising lunatics have straight As when it comes to twisting the knife.
Most of the time I manage to feel sorry for anyone being so lost and behaving so horribly . . .
You are not whining - you have been dealt a lousy hand, and are playing it with grace and dignity. It would be nice to have a get out of jail free card though wouldn't it?