Mikiesboy

You had something like this before, didn't you .. or was it you were getting kicked out? That was weird.

I'm an ex-homeless person who did many of the things, you describe The Homeless doing. i wasn't lazy, but i was broke and did a lot of dumpster diving, i was a drug addict etc etc. i wasn't out there because i wanted to be. But my experiences caused me to not trust anyone. Frankly, i didn't care what you called me. Whatever name people choose for those less fortunate likely will not make them less invisible or worthy. If you're on the street, you're usually nothing to most people. But i appreciate what you're trying to do and the people you work with are lucky to have you. Hopefully, you'll change some people's opinions.

i hope you don't take offence to this, but honestly, i enjoy your unstructured poems more. The skyscrapers and sonnets and things are wonderful but this touched my soul. Thank you.

This is especially true for those of us who like to eat cake. Like this one: I've made these. They are so good.

Oh, that looks very nice! i hope you enjoy your new baby!

Would i do that? Even if i knew the author well, me personally, no, i wouldn't. Simply put, it would not be their story, it would evolve into mine and my own voice at some point and for me that's wrong. But i'm not going to tell you or other authors what they can or should be doing. i am not here thinking you're a bad person for finishing Dom's story or to cast aspersions on your work. It's just how i feel about it. I've read things that are unfinished and yeah it's sad but that is also just how things go sometimes. I think we should just appreciate what was left and not impose our will on them, be it a story, a piece of music or a painting. Thanks for another honest and thought provoking piece.

Working days to be clear..lol.. i'm off this sunday .. so my last day will be August 31st (that is unless they make me an offer i cannot refuse..LOL .. but that's highly unlikely) yesterday it was just a quiet day.. just chilled out.

16 more days!!! woohoo

This is good news, rick! I know patience's hard after so long, but try to be and let your body heal.

This is a well-written story. It's a difficult and necessary read. It's hard to believe this kind of thing continues to happen to our children. Don't miss this one.

i think people will say no, even if it's not immediate. I think there will always be those who want the real thing, not some half-baked computer's idea of human art is. And i don't think computers writing will stop me or you from writing and sharing our words with those who rather read the real thing.

Not sure this is true ... haha

Humans are famous for creating and using things because we can. Fun things like the atomic/nuclear bombs or some actually good things like vaccines and refrigeration. Everything is unthinkable until it happens. I've tried the online 'art' thing.. draw me a blue fox in a red hat ... so it does. So, who cares? I did nothing other than place an order. I didn't draw the fox or colour it in. I can tell it to write me a haiku about whatever subject. No! Don't tell it to write one, YOU write one. Use your magnificent brain and you write one. I'm afraid though that this is what we will become, are becoming. Too many cannot think without their phone or computer. It's starting slowly.. predictive text and simple answers prepared for you to click on. Chat bots who can answer many inquiries, we are monitored by bots, told how to improve at work by bots. Just because we can, doesn't mean we should. Art and human expression should not be programed into a computer. Computers are marvelous tools but we should not replace ourselves with them. We all know why it's being done, because it's much cheaper than paying a human writer or actor. We need to stand up and say this isn't acceptable. Computers/robots can do a lot for us. Robots can be sent into situations that are dangerous, but they should not take away or lessen our art or culture. It's becoming 1984 ... and only we can stop it.

i can understand why you are out of sorts. Child abuse, child porn, children exploited so often by so many in so many ways. i was a child forced into sex . i watched what trying to stop the abuse of children did to Michael. it's horrific, disgusting and i don't understand it i don't believe we'll ever stop it, because so few really care until it happens to their child ... and then it's too late. They will never be the same, even though you try to put it behind you, it's always there. Shrinks, drugs, loving families cannot truly keep those memories away. We can't stop it because the monsters aren't just under the bed or in the closet, they are the neighbour, the teacher, the scout leader, the coach, the priest, the cop, the doctor and so many more. They are all people we are brought up to respect and trust with our kids i'm glad it was a good film, maybe some people will start to see the invisible kids and their abusers because of it. i don't think i can go and watch it but i hope it does some good.

i know as we age things don't heal as quickly. i'm glad your doc and support team are saying it's looking good. keep on looking after yourself! i'm gonna be 40 (how i don't know) this december and i notice a difference. Michael does too, He's a couple of years older than me and well, He's diabetic too, so that causes issues with healing. you keep on doing what you can, eat well and sleep well as possible. We are all routing for you!!

Love writing short stories. When I read Stephen King's On Writing, i did the exercise he included; read the backstory he provided and then write, do not edit, do not look back just write. I did that. i posted it as was. It was a great experience, and it worked. People can do the same thing with the great prompts you can find on GA. Read them and just write. You may be surprised at what you end up with. Thanks for this article and for encouraging people to try short stories. They are not easy to write, but they are very worthwhile.

oddly, so did i .. badly. And there it was. hope you are doing okay, rick.

That's a great idea, Ron!

Geez, i'm with Mark! you take care too

you can always do what we do and pinch it from somewhere.. lol

Wonderful.. i love the idea and you've proved it works. Thank you!