@KyraChan:

Yeah so true

@DarlingV:

I've made it a point in my life to be nice in general. It's so much easier when both the amount of people you hate and the amount of people who hate you amount to none.

@KyraChan:

Okay good! Again, you're one of the few who are kind enough to do that.

@DarlingV:

It's okay, it was a long time ago. Her kids are all alive and happy, so it all works out.

Thanks! ^^ Yeah, I love that teacher. She's also the one who taught us never to use the word "retard", and that's also stuck with me.

@KyraChan:

Oh, gee... I'm sorry about that!

Well, your teacher taught you the right thing! You're one of the few people I know who actually do that. Congrats ;D

My aunt was named Brenda. ...She's dead now, though ;n;

But yeah, I totally agree with the whole "Don't say you understand how someone is feeling." I remember in 6th grade a girl in my class's dad died, so while she was gone our teacher pulled the class aside to explain the situation, and I remember her basically saying "Don't say 'I know how you feel', because unless your dad has died, you don't. You really don't. And even if your dad has died, you still don't know how she feels."

That stuck with me, and I've made it a point to never say "I know how you feel." Closest thing I'd say is something like "That sounds like it really sucks. I'm sorry."