I like it here. I’ve enjoyed my time here, and am usually okay with the way things go. That said, the response this thread has generated upset me. It upset me because of the lack of response this thread got. I’m aware that I haven’t been here all that long, and Jeannie has. Name recognition comes with time and posts, and that’s just the way of things.
I’m not upset at anyone, and Jeannie has every right to be sad. I feel for you, Jeannie. I still get misty when I think of my dog Sampson. But I’m still upset. It’s my own fault for being upset, and I recognize that. I shouldn’t be. But I am. I wasn’t hoping for my thread to get all sorts of replies, as that wasn’t the purpose. I didn’t give it a catchy title, or word it in poetry, or even wax eloquent. But seeing as how fellow Dopers tend to flock to those in need of some kind, maybe a small part of me was hoping someone would come out and say “I lost a child too, I understand what you’re going through.” But that’s life, and it goes on. I know I’m being pissy and nitpicky, and I’m sorry for that, but I just couldn’t help it. Sometimes it just really sucks being a newbie.
Darian,
Unfortunately I agree. I haven’t posted much on this board but I have 1200+ posts on another board that I frequent. Something that I’ve noticed is that with time and posts people start to notice you more and give more weight to what you say than they would to a newbie poster. I know I even have a tendency to do it myself sometimes, sad but true. I don’t think it’s intentional, that’s just kind of the way of things.
I’m sorry to hear about your loss. 
My wife and I have been trying for 3 years to have our own child. I know that doesn’t even compare to the suffering that you have felt, but at least know that I am sympathetic to your situation. Good luck with your new family member. I hope all goes well with you.
I didn’t reply to either thread, although I considered posting to the dog thread. Why that one and not yours? I’ve lost a few pets in my life, and I know somehting about what Jeannie is going through. I’ve never lost (nor had) a child and I can’t imagine what it would be like. I remember your thread, and I was touched by it, but I couldn’t think of anything to say. I still can’t, except to say that that you have my condolences.
darian00, I didn’t see either thread. I’m not really good with emotional topics, so unless I felt I knew the person well, I normally wouldn’t reply. Perhaps others are the same way. I’m sorry to hear about your loss and I know that day must have been very difficult. My best wishes for the future.
I think perhaps that people simply can’t find appropriate words to convey sympathy for the loss of a child. As bad as it can be to lose a pet, it seems to me to be a more manageable tragedy. Easier to comment on.
Losing a child, though - gosh, I don’t really know what to say to that, and I imagine others feel the same way; it should also ne noted that almost eeveryone has lost a pet, but few have lost a child and so most might not think themselves worthy of commenting. It just makes me want to close the thread. But I’m terribly sorry for your loss. Seems so cheap to say that, though.
For what it’s worth, darian00, I don’t recall seeing either thread (now watch me have a post previous to this one in there . . .). And I’d wager that most of the people who read either thread didn’t really know what to say and didn’t want to make things worse.
Posting a thread about the loss of a member of one’s family is (I imagine, never having done so myself) always difficult. Posting IN such a thread (unless one is the OPer) always carries, for me, a sense of “this post must serve as a useful one for the person in the OP, or there’s not much point in wasting his/her time.” In other words, if I can’t be of help I’d rather know I had no effect than a negative one.
((darian00 and family))
Hope this helps.
Well, for what it’s worth, I don’t know you or Jeannie from a hole in the wall. Constructive criticism may not be what you’re looking for here, but speaking for myself, I never open any “Happ Birthday” threads, because I assume they’re just that - saying Happy Birthday to someone else I don’t know. Put simply, Jeannie had a more descriptive thread title. It’s probably nothing more than that, if you ask me. Which, of course, you didn’t.
Shit, man, add me to the list of people who don’t open birthday threads, and for that I apologize. Yeah, your newbieness had something to do with it since there are so many threads I can’t read or respond to them all, but also the fact that I didn’t know a “poster” named Delilah. Mea culpa.
The most horrible thought to me is the loss of a child. My heart goes out to you and your family.
Wow. Thanks for the kind words, all. Like I said before, I wasn’t fishing for pity or anything like that. I’m just still hypersensitive and a bit overreacty (is that a word?) to things. If a mod would lock this thread, I’d be most grateful.