You know, I’ve become pretty damn sick and tired of being the board apologist for my entire profession. I’m tired of people taking upon themselves to judge all lawyers based on indefensible over-generalizations and bullshit opinion (Jeff42); tired of people gratuitously insulting me and what I do based on their own poor experience with others who just happen to have the same general title (Wildest Bill); tired of correcting willful misquotations from people who ought to know better (Zenster); tired of having to choose to pretend I think lawyer jokes are hysterically funny, instead of obviously insulting, or run the risk of being called humorous or oversensitive – like I don’t hear that shit every day of my life, from people who wouldn’t dream about gratuitously insulting someone whose profession was not the law.
I’m tired of seeing this crap get posted over and over and over and over and of attempting to refute it and respond reasonably, only to see the exact same shit posted again a week later, as if all I’ve done is shout into the wind. I’m tired of civilly and patiently explaining legal concepts and making suggestions for how to explore legal issues and even giving the most general of legal advice – for free – only to turn around to find someone else telling me what a scum-sucker I am because of what I do.
I’m tired of listening to people who do not know me, my life, or – apparently – their ass from a hole in the ground fart on about how “all” lawyers make tons of money; “all” lawyers are motivated by profit only and couldn’t possibly care about the public interest; “all” lawyers try to screw over people and rig the law so it works their way, truth and true justice be damned. This especially irritates me when I reflect on selling my fucking car to buy a cheaper one so I can keep working as a government attorney, doing good work for shit pay, and trying to never remind myself that I could make more money as the assistant manager of a Pizza Hut in Phoenix than I do as a government lawyer for a rural state.
And I’m surprised at how upset this has made me, which makes it pretty obvious I need to take a break. I feel like I’ve been devoting a portion of my life to an enterprise that, rather than challenging me and entertaining me as it used to, now just makes me feel frustrated and angry and sad. I don’t spend all my time defending myself and my profession in real life, and I don’t see why I should have to do so here. But then, I am not constantly confronted with people insulting me and what I do in real life, and lately I can turn around without finding that here. So I think I’ll take a break and try to reflect on all the fun this place can be and all the wonderful, intelligent, and sensitive people I’ve run into here. I’ll be back when my skin is a little thicker or my tolerance for dealing with insensitive bullshit a little higher.
My advice would be to let the insignificant water (and that’s all they are, really) run off your back. But I’m not you, and everyone has their point. It can add up after a while, no?
I don’t have to tell you that I’m a huge fan, and I appreciate the knowledge, passion and reason you bring to this board. Take all the time you need, and I hope to see you 'round the boards soon.
I’m sorry to hear that you’re leaving. I’ve always appreciated what you add to the discussions. I suspect that there others like me, lurkers who just sit back and listen rather than attack.
It sounds like the break is definitely needed. Hopefully, you’ll be able to come back eventually.
I’m not going to lump you with the rest since I don’t know you. But I have had plenty of “lawyer” experience. My divorce attorney got $40,000 from me and bought herself a new car and I’m still trying to get some money. I’m also not driving a new car. I finally fired her because she was ripping me off and not doing a damn thing for me. I hired another one that is just a sweetheart and told me my other attorney was ripping me off. So what do I do about that? Nothing of course. She not only got her money but cost me a bunch by not representing me properly. I can honestly say of let me think here 6 attorneys I’ve used she was the worst. So I can say that a bad attorney will give all attorney’s a bad name, because I sure don’t have nothing nice to say about her.
Hey Jodi, you have my own personal apology if I have caused you to reach the decision to abandon these boards. Sadly, too many people in the legal profession are self serving in what is already an overly litigious society. That so many of our politicians are lawyers as well has more than likely done no good either.
I would prefer to think that no one would feel as though they have been hounded off of these boards. Please feel free to start a good lawyer thread and I will be happy to post some of my positive experiences to it. Perhaps you could start it by sharing some of the things that have been fulfilling for you as a professional.
What you may not know about me is that I strongly advocate that all people verse themselves in law. Far too many people are utterly ignorant of even their most basic legal rights. I am sure that one source of all of the animosity that people direct at the legal profession is because of how they feel that lawyers merely specialize in knowing the arcane rituals and mumbo jumbo of the courtroom. I find it quite hypocritical that people are willing to condemn, wholesale, an entire profession when they themselves have made no effort to understand it.
I for one find legal language both fascinating and essential for proper juridical argument. The ability to unambigously express the circumstances of a case is a skill that most people are utterly bereft of. Unfortunately, most individuals never even realize that their poor expression of matters has contributed to an overall perception that they are dolts (ignorange is bliss).
As I mentioned, please start a thread for positive experiences people have had with lawyers. Some were included in the previous thread. I will post in it as soon as I see you start it.
Jodi, I am sorry that I have not been more outspoken in defense of the legal profession, at least here. Lawyers keep this country running and are the people who keep us from each others throats. Nobody complains about lawyers when they need one and often regret not having one when they say “That ain’t so hard!” and attempt to do it themselves.
Maybe you won’t like the analogy, but lawyers serve the same purpose as garbage haulers and funeral directors: they clean up after us. It’s a horrid, thankless job with the unreasoning hatred of a public that often knows what they know about lawyers from the lame jokes of cheap comedians. They have no idea of your importance in keeping us free.
Please reconsider. I have always found you thoughtful and a damned good Doper.
Idenew, perhaps you might have benefited from shopping for a good lawyer. Not all lawyers are good; not all doctors are good. [sub]koff sucker koff[/sub]
Blow it out your ass, you ignorant, biased, assuming piece of shit. You say you have “plenty” of bad lawyer experiences, and then go on to say “6”?! Oh, of course, those six lawyers must represent the entire amount of them in this country.
I think that, once again, we have a nasty case of the bad members of a group not being the majority, but only the loudest. “But,” says you and your moronic friends, “Nobody ever tells any stories about GOOD lawyers.” Of course they don’t! Most times, the only interesting stories are the bad ones. Naturally, most people aren’t gonna go yelling about how good their lawyer is, it doesn’t get people’s attention.
You can go ahead and talk about your bad lawyer experiences all you want. Just don’t do it in response to an OP where a great, intelligent, and all-around nice poster like Jodi is notifying people about leaving, just because of ignorant fucks like you. I don’t care if you say that you weren’t grouping Jodi in with them, obviously you were if you posted it in this thread.
<ahem> Okay, I feel better now. Anyway, Jodi, we’re all rootin for you, and I hope that you finally come back to us.
{{{{{Jodi}}}}}
Actually, someone DID do this a while ago (I can’t find it) and the third or fouth post was someone bitching about thier lawyer. I was shocked at thier stupidity.
Don’t let the bastards get you down, Jodi. I think a lot of people simply haven’t interacted enough with lawyers under neutral circumstances to know that they’re not their sterotype, so I think your presence was helping combat that, tiring though it may have been. Having actually worked for lawyers on more than one occaision, I learned then that lawyers were pretty much the same as any other professional. And they’re unusually good about picking up the bar tab.
Idenow: You are shit head. Please feel free to fuck yourself. Twice. With a coat hanger, if you’ve got one.
What kind of colossal prick acts like this. Maybe you’re a fuckwit who can’t understand the idea of degree of emotion. If something is petty, you can make fun of it. If someone’s feelings are really involved, it takes a real asshole to deliberately do what pisses the OP off.
Here’s an example:
ACCEPTABLE IN NORMAL HUMAN SOCIETY:
Poster A: I hate it when people can’t spell.
Poster B: Yeh, me, to, dewd; i hat thit.
UNACCEPTABLE:
Poster A: I’m so fucking sick of people stereotyping me because of my race!!
Jodi, I hope you come back soon. I actually “stalk” you on the boards, doing searches on your name to read your posts. I enjoy reading the thoughtful posts of a fellow attorney, and you manage to say pretty much the same thing I would say, except you’re more articulate about it than I.
I was thinking the same thoughts you stated about the anti-lawyer sentiment on here moments ago, and IMHO most of the anti-lawyer sentiment reflects the exact opposite of “fighting ignorance.”
I too get tired of the people who think themselves witty by quoting Shakespeare’s “first, kill all the lawyers,” out of context, without realizing that the quotation is by a conspirator planning how to overthrow the legitimate government.
I also get tired of people complaining that people who have actually studied law get involved in the creation of laws by getting elected to legislatures. That’s like complaining that too many people who studied anatomy become surgeons.
As for complaints about lawyers all being wealthy, that’s obviously more ignorance. Most governmental lawyer jobs don’t pay anything like what private practice pays, as is also true for lawyers who work in legal clinics, or other public service positions.
As for people who bitch about being ripped of by lawyers, apparently they don’t realize that lawyers get sued for malpractice all the time too, not to mention lawyers getting frivolous complaints lodged against them by clients who get pissed off when their lawyers actually expect their fees to be paid.
Don’t stay away too long, Jodi. I for one appreciate your presence on the boards. And if you want to exchange stupid client jokes by mail, I have a few for ya if you want to trade!
Jodi, I completely empathize. I’m still boiling over stupid Jeff_42 and his dumbass uninformed comments. Sorry it has gotten to be too much for you. It’s a shame.
Jodi, I’m sorry to hear that you’ll be leaving us for a while, but I can completely understand. FWIW, I’ve always enjoyed your posts and have considered you one of the more intelligent posters on this board. Please come back when your feeling better, even if the idiots seem to be the only ones talking, there are a lot of us quietly reading your posts and learning from them
Plus, I need to you tell me how I can get out of a speeding ticket in Heidelberg, Germany…
Shit. If it helps, I plan on trying to humbly defend the legal profession from this sort of crap wherever I can. I have the utmost respect for the law and those who practice it, and have always considered you a fine exemplar of a great tradition. Now that I think about it, this board has been blessed with a decent number of really wonderful people in the legal profession. Bricker’s name springs instantly to mind as another person whom I hold in the absolute highest regard.
Until you return, ave atque vale, and of course, fiat justitia.
Geeez. I, too (FWIW) have enjoyed your thoughtful and restrained responses. I get tired of the folks who blame lawyers for all the ills of the world. And I especially hate the term “frivolous lawsuits” - they’re usually labeled frivolous by a member of the opposing council and reduce 20 days and 400 boxes of documents to a 10 second sound bite.
From one government attorney in a rural state to another, let me just say, “I feel your pain.” This work has lots to offer in the way of job satisfaction and professional stimulation. Unfortunately, many frustrations are included in the package, financial included. White hats don’t come cheap.
More importantly, allow me to most sincerely apologize. You’ve been carrying the ball for me and the rest of the attornies on the board. Many’s the time I’ve opened a lawyer bashing and refrained from responding because you had already done a wonderful job (or more to my shame, because I knew that I could expect you to file the response.) It’s no wonder you’re tired. You’ve done a great job representing us.
Please don’t leave. Just quit reading those threads for a while. The rest of us will defend the profession. Ironic that we have to on a board dedicated to critical thinking. I would also note that this sort of tripe is not posted by the posters whom I have the most respect for. The real thinkers herein know the truth. You’ve only been educating the ignorant.
I think a lot of people simply haven’t interacted enough with lawyers under neutral circumstances to know that they’re not their sterotype, so I think your presence was helping combat that, tiring though it may have been. Having actually worked for lawyers on more than one occaision, I learned then that lawyers were pretty much the same as any other professional. And they’re unusually good about picking up the bar tab. 