The Goat Pen

Cletus wrote:So, you aren't qualified. That's what I figured. Sounds like some of these people could use some real help and, unfortunate, for reasons I can't quite figure, they are stuck talking to you. They'd be better off doing nothing.

In almost every case, we are not the only people they talk to.

hedge wrote:Do ya'll do any other type of counseling (not marriage related)?

Yes, but I (personally) don't work with those people. If you are getting counseling for a drug/alcohol related thing, you talk to counselors who have been there (drugs and alcohol) because they tend to be a bit more knowledgable and understanding. Those who have recovered tend to offer the best counsel.

"In almost every case, we are not the only people they talk to."

Certainly it would be tragic if you were. It's bad enough that they come to you at all for counsel, but if you were their only avenue, that would be horrible...

hedge wrote:And I thought my world was fucked up. Prison, drug addiction, bizarre sexual proclivities, sure, but my world is Disney Land compared to the fucked up psycho place you evidently dwell in every day...

Just one night a week. It was my calling.

Would you counsel someone if they came to you with a sexual orientation "problem"?

innocentbystander wrote:

Cletus wrote:So, you aren't qualified. That's what I figured. Sounds like some of these people could use some real help and, unfortunate, for reasons I can't quite figure, they are stuck talking to you. They'd be better off doing nothing.

In almost every case, we are not the only people they talk to.

I hope they talk to professionals after you have done your damage.

innocentbystander wrote:

hedge wrote:And I thought my world was fucked up. Prison, drug addiction, bizarre sexual proclivities, sure, but my world is Disney Land compared to the fucked up psycho place you evidently dwell in every day...

Just one night a week. It was my calling.

I wasn't referring to your life as a "counselor", or certainly, not merely to that aspect of your life....

Cletus wrote:

innocentbystander wrote:

Cletus wrote:So, you aren't qualified. That's what I figured. Sounds like some of these people could use some real help and, unfortunate, for reasons I can't quite figure, they are stuck talking to you. They'd be better off doing nothing.

In almost every case, we are not the only people they talk to.

I hope they talk to professionals after you have done your damage.

Quite often, if they could afford professionals, they would go to them first. If that doesn't help (and it doesn't always) then they start seeing us non-professionally.

Cletus, these guys just want to save their marriages. They will talk to whoever they can to offer whatever advice there is that might help them save something that is so sacred to them.

hedge wrote:Would you counsel someone if they came to you with a sexual orientation "problem"?

Not my calling. I don't even think we are doing anything with that right now.

IB. What experience do you have with divorce? She leave you because you drank too much or she had a thing for the pool boy?

Jungle Rat wrote:IB. What experience do you have with divorce? She leave you because you drank too much or she had a thing for the pool boy?

I've never been divorced. That said, there has been way too many divorces in my family (aunts, uncles, brother's-in-law, etc.) So I talked to them and I read a lot of books. I pull in as much information as I can. That is the best I can do.

sardis wrote:I've never quite followed Fast and Furious because I never thought it that important. I know with Reagan it was arms for hostages. What was sought with the ATF weapons? Information? Rogue agents wanting money?

And I don't want no shitbaggery Google link from you, ATM...

the assumption is that by flooding the Mexican cartels at the border with weapons, it would result in greater pressure to push thru anti-second amendment legislation. Its Obama's back door approach to the supreme's ruling against various gun control laws in place at the local levels.

I don't know if anyone remembers but a few years ago I was on here railing against news reports that Mexicans were buying full auto machine guns from American gun dealers on the border which I felt was a lie. Turns out some of those guns came directly from the BATF dumping them. A border patrol guard was killed with one of them by a Mexican cartel drug smuggler and the whole operation blew up when they traced the gun. Holder has been playing hard ball since he was caught in a lie about if and when he knew of the operation. I now believe those news reports were coming from the BATF and the Obama administration to create a public perception of guns sales leading to innocent Americans dying and clamp down on assault weapons.

I don't know if Obama is involved or not but who would be surprised if he was, and if he is, Holder is now in the undesirable position of attempting to save his ass or the presidents.

For whatever reason some leading Republicans have backed off the contempt proceedings. I'm not sure why other than perhaps they are hoping that if Obama does get re-elected then they will have a Nixon-Watergate situation on their hands to roll him out with.

eCat wrote:

sardis wrote:I've never quite followed Fast and Furious because I never thought it that important. I know with Reagan it was arms for hostages. What was sought with the ATF weapons? Information? Rogue agents wanting money?

And I don't want no shitbaggery Google link from you, ATM...

the assumption is that by flooding the Mexican cartels at the border with weapons, it would result in greater pressure to push thru anti-second amendment legislation. Its Obama's back door approach to the supreme's ruling against various gun control laws in place at the local levels.

eCat is exactly right. Rush Limbaugh said the exact same thing eCat said just 3 months ago.... it is all about overturning the second amendment

and no, I don't listen to Rush Limbaugh.....ever

Jungle Rat wrote:IB. What experience do you have with divorce? She leave you because you drank too much or she had a thing for the pool boy?

shit I should be doing divorce counseling then.

eCat wrote:and no, I don't listen to Rush Limbaugh.....ever

fair enough. but when you are right, you are right.

innocentbystander wrote:

Jungle Rat wrote:IB. What experience do you have with divorce? She leave you because you drank too much or she had a thing for the pool boy?

I've never been divorced. That said, there has been way too many divorces in my family (aunts, uncles, brother's-in-law, etc.) So I talked to them and I read a lot of books. I pull in as much information as I can. That is the best I can do.

Not enough. If you really want to help these people, you should advise them to get away from any institution that would put you in a position of authority. If they can cut ties from your church (or, ideally, religion entirely), they might be in a position where they can get real help from people who aren't retarded.

Cletus wrote:

innocentbystander wrote:

Cletus wrote:So, you aren't qualified. That's what I figured. Sounds like some of these people could use some real help and, unfortunate, for reasons I can't quite figure, they are stuck talking to you. They'd be better off doing nothing.

In almost every case, we are not the only people they talk to.

I hope they talk to professionals after you have done your damage.

Quite often, if they could afford professionals, they would go to them first. If that doesn't help (and it doesn't always) then they start seeing us non-professionally.

Cletus, these guys just want to save their marriages. They will talk to whoever they can to offer whatever advice there is that might help them save something that is so sacred to them.

I suspect your consistent message is exactly what they are hoping for. If my wife was stepping out and I wanted to save my marriage , then of course I would seek counseling from a church entity ( or any other entity) that would tell her to put up with my poor hygiene, flatulent, won't turn a wrench, low level no aspirations to better my life, can't live more than 5 miles from my momma, listen to Limbaugh and secretly surf internet porn ass and stay married to me as it was her moral obligation. While you are at it, tell her to have 3 squares waiting for me every day, drop 30 pounds and wear a thong 24/7 in preparation to have sex with me on demand.

Cletus wrote:

innocentbystander wrote:

Jungle Rat wrote:IB. What experience do you have with divorce? She leave you because you drank too much or she had a thing for the pool boy?

I've never been divorced. That said, there has been way too many divorces in my family (aunts, uncles, brother's-in-law, etc.) So I talked to them and I read a lot of books. I pull in as much information as I can. That is the best I can do.

Not enough. If you really want to help these people, you should advise them to get away from any institution that would put you in a position of authority. If they can cut ties from your church (or, ideally, religion entirely), they might be in a position where they can get real help from people who aren't retarded.

I have no authority. I offer suggestions, not commandments.

eCat wrote:I suspect your consistent message is exactly what they are hoping for. If my wife was stepping out and I wanted to save my marriage , then of course I would seek counseling from a church entity ( or any other entity) that would tell her to put up with my poor hygiene, flatulent, won't turn a wrench, low level no aspirations to better my life, can't live more than 5 miles from my momma, listen to Limbaugh and secretly surf internet porn ass and stay married to me as it was her moral obligation.

Not quite like that. Quite often we are suggesting a lot of "change" on his part. In almost every case, he is willing. But by the time he comes to us (after talking to so many other people), its usually too late.