Consider the source

There are three sides to every story: yours, mine, and the truth.

You've heard this, I'm sure. Do you believe it?

It's hard not to, on an intellectual level.

Have you adopted this perspective in how you listen to "stories"? Probably not.

I went through a divorce a few years ago. We had friends in common, of course. Some take sides. I guess it's natural. As a contrived example, if I was cheating on my ex, I'd expect conservative friends to shun me based on that (barring mitigating circumstances). If my ex told them that I was cheating, and they had no other validation, then I would expect the friends to.... unfortunately, shun me anyway. That's because people, alas, accept stories without seeking input from all sides. I would expect it.... but wouldn't accept it.

I make it a practice to always filter biased input when I understand that I have not heard both sides of the story. So pardon me if my reaction to your story about "my ex-husband doesn't pay enough child support" doesn't bring me to tears. You see, I've probably not heard your ex-husband's side of the story. If I seem insensitive, please understand.... I am actually hypersenstive.... to the truth - not necessarily to your version of it.

For R&B