I have spent all day in restitution hearings...because apparently I am now a civil defense attorney? None of my clients spoke English so they took twice as long as normal because we needed interpreters. One I won, the other is under advisement.

But as I was sitting there listening to my clients I realized something. Everyone has a story. Whether it is good or bad or indifferent, everyone has a situation that has shaped who they are, how they act, and why they do the things they do. Everyone, every single one of us, has a moment where they stray off the path and make a bad choice, whether its by words or by actions. And while I don't agree with some of the things posters on here say, I try to remind myself daily that I am not in their homes, in their situations.

More than that, everyone has a way of dealing with their situations that is different. I came back after my last hearing and very animatedly told everyone in my office how my client kept wanting to go on about the "Mexican Lady," who was sleeping with her boyfriend when she keyed his car. I made fun of her. I took a lot of pot shots at her expense. I did it in the comfort of my office rather than in her face because I am truly sympathetic for her situation. She's poor, he's a bastard and he's trying to break her financially because she finally stood up for herself and kicked him out of her house. I genuinely care about my client but today, her refusal to allow me to question her in any meaningful way was extremely frustrating.

But it got me thinking. There are other websites that take pot shots at many of the posters here. They take statements out of context and turn them into some indictment of who people are, rather than taking the time to really see what another's situation is. If someone from the general public had come into my office and heard me today, they would think I was the coldest, meanest bitch on the planet. They would think that I am a terrible human being who makes fun of another at their expense. And that would be true. But I am also the person who gave this same client lots of clothes for her daughter who is smaller than my SD9. I am the person who paid her electricity bill last month because she was about to have her services cut off, and I am the person who gave another family a warm Christmas because I wanted my SD's to understand the concept of giving to others who are less fortunate.

I don't know most of you and I have only interacted with a few of you on a personal basis. I was appalled when I first joined this website and shook my finger in a condescending tone. I still smart at times when things are said, and I don't necessarily understand the way some people refer to their stepkids, but I also realize that I am pretty blessed with mine because they needed a mom, ANY mom to step up and they realize how much their own mom was failing in that regard. I can't imagine, with the stress I feel hourly that it would be easier if the stepkids were awful to me or mean.

I have interacted with a few of you here and have learned that even those who are the most vehement on paper are actually caring and loving individuals when I have actually talked to them outside of this forum. I think the point is that the vitriol that may or may not be spewed here is something that is done in the safety of anonymity. It's like me, coming back to the office, knowing that I feel some guilt about making fun of my client rambling on, and knowing that in my heart I meant about 10% of what I said, but I needed the release. I needed to laugh, to vent, to explode, so that I wouldn't go home and do that on the SO or the kids. So yes, there are things I would disagree with on this site, but there is a part of me that knows, most of you are very good people, who just need that release. Every person has a story, and every person deserves to be given the benefit of the doubt, rather than crucified for their words. Judged only by their actions. Except BM, because really, fuck that witch.