There's a scene in the matrix where the Keanu Reeves character finally GETS IT (whatever "it" is, it's been a while since I saw the movie and I'm old and I forget things). Anyway, the image that I remember is some guy shooting at him and he doesn't even have to duck, because ythe bullets have no power in relation to him. He doesn't even have to duck or anything. The bullets just kind of hang there. It's a cool effect and a cooler metaphor. Let the flamers go. They can't hurt you unless you let' em.

That being said, it's a pretty cool human trait to care enough about something or someone - even yourself - to care about a comment or a slight. It's a difficult world to stay vulnerable in (Am I dangling? Eek!). Sometime it is a lot easier to not care. In "Been Down So Long It Looks Like Up To Me", Richard Farina talked about it in subatomic terms - having no valence, no attraction or repulsion. A free range particle. But his character, "Gnossos", doesn't come alive until he gives up the neutral atate, let's his shields down and becomes involved. He gets completely screwed over, of course. . .

Kat, Praise, moonchild, shambles anybody else who has at one time or another been targetted by some knucklehead - remember that someone may just see something in you that they wish was theirs. Maybe it's the fact that you're visible and they're not. That's a chance you take when you stand up. Personally, I always admire "stand up guys" (of all genders.

Hope you all have a wonderful day.
Bart - signing off from amongst the garbage and the flowers