Phaze,
I know where you're coming from. We have friends who've made those types of choices, and sometimes it's challenging wondering if only we had made the same choices. Maybe we'd have a bigger house, or wouldn't have to worry about how we're gonna save for college. A few weeks back we were invited to stay at a friend of a friend's "modest" second home that overlooks Lake Michigan. Let me just say that "modest" home was of a sort most people would die for, and it was modest only in the sense that surrounding it were even more glitzy, multi-million mansions owned by the captains of industry in my neck of the woods.

I guess I try to avoid judging other people's choices. In the end, everyone's trying to do what they think is best for their family. However, it would be great to see a commercial that promoted our "counter-cultural" values as well. I wonder what corporation would find that message worthy?

I'm gonna build a blog or a forum just for SAHD bitch sessions -- the more cuss-filed, the better. Come and say everything you can't say around the wife and kids. Moms have their own version of this already, called, I think, everyday conversation. I just have to find a good URL -- rantingdad.com? angrydad.com? Hmmmmmmm.....

Or do we?

Leave it to the bloggers of the world. Personally, I'd rather come to this site for something useful.

Seriously folks, don't like it, change the channel or turn your TV off and don't fly American.

Sometimes I gotta wonder; How does an ad piss one off so much? Could there be something else wrong in their life that they have to be so cynical and judgemental about a ficticious businessman in a TV commercial? (who supposedly works for Helliburton and owns a 10K sq. ft home- things that they made up in their own head)

I mean, no offense to anyone, just wondering...

So, my vote would be no to ranting or venting forums. But, people will rant or vent whenever or where ever they want, right? So, by giving them a forum, we'd be saying, "Dude, please, go over there and be pissed".

Maybe a forum for it isn't such a bad idea. I'd prefer they just do it on their own blog and save the space here for some friendlier and useful chat.

But that's just my opinion, I could be totally wrong.

Colin, I wasn't making it personal towards any one person. Just wondering what would make a person so bloody pissed about a freakin TV commercial. I mean, it was just a TV commercial. I am allowed to say that, right?

I am sorry you've misunderstood what you read in my post. Not what's wrong with their lives, but rather in their lives that makes them cynical like that.

And, if you missed the last line of my post, it read, and I quote, "But that's just my opinion, I could be totally wrong."

I guess I was totally wrong. Thanks for correcting me!

we still friends?

Damn... I guess I hit a nerve with that one. Interesting the differences in who perceived my rant as FUNNY, and who didn't.

I remember a great bit Johnny Carson did one time. He came out with a podium rigged with a button and flashing lights around a sign that said LIGHTEN UP!

Hang in the Brian, the WWW can be a cold place and I hate to butt in where I don't belong, but its good to see somebody else get a Rant here besides me. I like the Knickers twist gig but panty wadding in my mouth is more me.

We need ground rules here to attack the problem, not the person, and I'm not accusing anybody of anything! So lets all be grown up dads about it.

BTW: I got a couple good indirect compliments from some moms yesterday and I Blog about on My Blog; its a Blog about preschool and my kids development that got me psyched about my job at hand.

Brian,

If I've told you once, I've told you a thousand times: Drinking beer and posting do not mix. You are on your way to failing your grade in the "plays well with others" portion of your report card.

I'll tell you the ones that make me laugh are the drug company ads. Primarily, because they have to list the possible side-effects at the end and those are some quality reading (listening) right there. My hands down favorite is for "social anxiety disorder." Now, I doubt any of us suffers from this after all we've been through in this "profession" but I know one person, my father, who does suffer from this so I know it's serious, but even he wouldn't take the drugs they're offering because the possible side effects include: nausea, loss of bladder control, diarrhea, headaches, vomiting, sweating and other sexual side effects.

Now, not to be the obvious guy here, but if I was sweating like a pig, had a headache, was about to simultaneously throw up, pee down my own leg and then crap my pants, I'm sure there would be "possible sexual side effects" like oh, I don't know, never getting laid maybe. I'm sorry, tell me again what the UPSIDE to this drug is? I'm supposed to feel less anxious in social situations? How could I possibly feel less anxious knowing that any or all of those things could happen to me at any instant?

Clearly the advertising community has it's work cut out for it, but the next time some drug company ad comes on, listen to the side effects at the end and ask yourself, is it really worth it?

Most big Pharma ads get to me. That is supposed be the provance of doctors not the general pubilc.

The ad that used to realy get me was the McDonald's ad where the father is again off on a biz trip and his daughter asks if she is as important as his trip. Of course she is so he abandons his trip and takes her fora day of highcaloric fatty foods and all is well. Gee Janie you like that house and your clothes? Well daddy pays for all of that. You like Mommy being home? Well daddy pays for that too. When my father wentt away which was often my Mum used to take my sister and I out to the movies or what have you to make up for the fact that dad was working.

As far as a rant to two I think it''s OK. A rant is intended to reach someone and we all have mutual experiance on this board to tap into so why not. Granted my Noggin thing tuned into "kill your TV," side show but hey...

Be Seeing You.