Not buying that, bruce. One does NOT have to take anything in the spirit in which you think it is intended-- first, it's hard to enough to read anyone's mind in person. Online it is much harder. To react negatively because one thinks someone else is being negative is merely feeding into and adding to the negativity.

Second, one is entirely free to make lemonade at any time.

This worry about others' worries that strikes Mudcat from time to time mostly reflects a lack of appreciation for what Mudcat can be, positively--perhaps a lack of direct experience with its more postivie possibilities. It's just a downward negative spiral one is free to turn aside from anytime. I'm inviting you to turn outwards or upwards, that's all.

~Susan