Hello! I was looking for a site where I could get some advice on
training my 2 Great Pyrenees. Naturally, I read a number of posts, to
see where I was and who I was with. It was quite surprising to see the
rather large number of angry posts, and personal attacks on other
members. There are other "dog" groups consisting entirely of dog lovers
who share their experiences and concerns very civilly.

Let me say some things about anger and hostility. Back in the early &
mid 20th century, it was all the "rage" to advise people to express
their anger and their animosity; the theory was that the opposite was to
suppress them, to the detriment of one's health.

This is not so. The opposite of venting anger and animosity is to give
it up.
Anger is a disease we give ourselves. Like cancer, it eats our brains.
Like crack cocaine, it is highly addictive. It has no benefit
whatsoever. A good fighter is never angry. Dwelling on the wrongdoings
and wrong thinking one sees and hears is a stimulant which prolongs the
diseased condition. Reacting in kind to others' bad behavior -- if such
it is -- occludes any beginning of understanding them. Someone pulls
out in front of you in traffic. If you calm yourself, you may realize
that they didn't see how fast you were coming on! Someone in the "fast"
lane is going slow. Maybe they're looking for a left turn and are lost.
Maybe they're confused.

When we dwell on the evils of the world, we feel we "deserve" our anger,
as if it was some kind of treat we have earned for good behavior. Does
that make any sense at all? Try sending a blessing to those who differ
with you, those who annoy or irritate you, those who even attack you.
Send them a dozen blessings. Bless them every time you think of them.
You will be amazed at how your I.Q. will benefit from this exercise, how
you will begin to understand them and even begin to feel compassion
toward them.

And as it says in the rules for groups, we need to remember that there
are real live people getting our posts. A forum is supposed to be a
civil place where people can exchange opinions and sometimes differ
courteously, recognizing that we all are different in experience, age,
background, culture, education, and life experience. Flaming spoils it
for everyone. It degrades the flamer and it degrades the forum.

Thank you for hearing me out.
May all of you be happy. May you be healthy and holy. May you prosper
in the Spirit, and may you enjoy long lives.

Most sincerely,
sister