[eavesdropper]

Allan, I don’t know how you keep coaching. You must have incredible self-control. I think I’d be a goner the first time a parent wanted to review the “game films” with me.

These “stage parents” are all over these days. My 15 yr-old daughter plays the cello, and performs in a couple of youth orchestras. You should see some of the parents. I’m afraid to let her go to rehearsals by herself. And, unfortunately, the parents’ attitudes have been passed on to some of the kids. The competition is incredible, and the atmosphere is vicious at times. So much for the joy of music.

These parents think that their kids can be trained to be great athletes and musicians and performers. They don’t understand that greatness is not possible in the absence of talent, and that talent will not flourish in the absence of desire. They just push and push and push, and screw up their kids in the process. But there CAN be joy in the absence of talent, and this appears to be a incomprehensible concept for many parents – the idea of their kids participating in an activity just for the fun of it.

What blows my mind is the total lack of concern that many parents have about academic achievement. They want their kids to get straight As, but they don’t expect the kids to earn them. They’ll threaten the teachers and the administration until their kids substandard grades are raised. Because, after all, their kid has to go to one of the best colleges if he’s going to compete.

There’s no concern about whether their children will actually be able to function on their own. But, then again, it will ensure that Dr. Phil will be on the air for years to come. Most popular show topic? “How Do I Get My Adult Kid to Move Out and Support Himself”.

[eavesdropper]

Allan, I don’t know how you keep coaching. You must have incredible self-control. I think I’d be a goner the first time a parent wanted to review the “game films” with me.

These “stage parents” are all over these days. My 15 yr-old daughter plays the cello, and performs in a couple of youth orchestras. You should see some of the parents. I’m afraid to let her go to rehearsals by herself. And, unfortunately, the parents’ attitudes have been passed on to some of the kids. The competition is incredible, and the atmosphere is vicious at times. So much for the joy of music.

These parents think that their kids can be trained to be great athletes and musicians and performers. They don’t understand that greatness is not possible in the absence of talent, and that talent will not flourish in the absence of desire. They just push and push and push, and screw up their kids in the process. But there CAN be joy in the absence of talent, and this appears to be a incomprehensible concept for many parents – the idea of their kids participating in an activity just for the fun of it.

What blows my mind is the total lack of concern that many parents have about academic achievement. They want their kids to get straight As, but they don’t expect the kids to earn them. They’ll threaten the teachers and the administration until their kids substandard grades are raised. Because, after all, their kid has to go to one of the best colleges if he’s going to compete.

There’s no concern about whether their children will actually be able to function on their own. But, then again, it will ensure that Dr. Phil will be on the air for years to come. Most popular show topic? “How Do I Get My Adult Kid to Move Out and Support Himself”.

[eavesdropper]

[quote=CDMA ENG]Who the hell keeps a DSM IV around?!? Is your dating situation that bad that you have to find out in advance that your interest is nuts (hint they/we all are)? 😛

Yes, my dating situation is that bad. I’m married.

I consult the DSM-IV to convince myself that I’m *not* nuts when I read about people like Lisa and Steve. I mean, these people WORKED the system, and they got a pizza oven, for pete’s sake. If I hadn’t been a fiscally-conservative, hard-working individual, I could have had a pizza oven, too.

Instead, I get to pay for Lisa and Steve’s pizza oven.

[eavesdropper]

[quote=CDMA ENG]Who the hell keeps a DSM IV around?!? Is your dating situation that bad that you have to find out in advance that your interest is nuts (hint they/we all are)? 😛

Yes, my dating situation is that bad. I’m married.

I consult the DSM-IV to convince myself that I’m *not* nuts when I read about people like Lisa and Steve. I mean, these people WORKED the system, and they got a pizza oven, for pete’s sake. If I hadn’t been a fiscally-conservative, hard-working individual, I could have had a pizza oven, too.

Instead, I get to pay for Lisa and Steve’s pizza oven.

[eavesdropper]

[quote=CDMA ENG]Who the hell keeps a DSM IV around?!? Is your dating situation that bad that you have to find out in advance that your interest is nuts (hint they/we all are)? 😛

Yes, my dating situation is that bad. I’m married.

I consult the DSM-IV to convince myself that I’m *not* nuts when I read about people like Lisa and Steve. I mean, these people WORKED the system, and they got a pizza oven, for pete’s sake. If I hadn’t been a fiscally-conservative, hard-working individual, I could have had a pizza oven, too.

Instead, I get to pay for Lisa and Steve’s pizza oven.

[eavesdropper]

[quote=CDMA ENG]Who the hell keeps a DSM IV around?!? Is your dating situation that bad that you have to find out in advance that your interest is nuts (hint they/we all are)? 😛

Yes, my dating situation is that bad. I’m married.

I consult the DSM-IV to convince myself that I’m *not* nuts when I read about people like Lisa and Steve. I mean, these people WORKED the system, and they got a pizza oven, for pete’s sake. If I hadn’t been a fiscally-conservative, hard-working individual, I could have had a pizza oven, too.

Instead, I get to pay for Lisa and Steve’s pizza oven.

[eavesdropper]

[quote=CDMA ENG]Who the hell keeps a DSM IV around?!? Is your dating situation that bad that you have to find out in advance that your interest is nuts (hint they/we all are)? 😛

Yes, my dating situation is that bad. I’m married.

I consult the DSM-IV to convince myself that I’m *not* nuts when I read about people like Lisa and Steve. I mean, these people WORKED the system, and they got a pizza oven, for pete’s sake. If I hadn’t been a fiscally-conservative, hard-working individual, I could have had a pizza oven, too.

Instead, I get to pay for Lisa and Steve’s pizza oven.

[eavesdropper]

Ucodegen, you are correct: when the APA revised the DSM-IV in 2000, Casey’s mug became the crown jewel of the NPD page. However, Lisa and Steve took out yet anther SBA loan in 2009, and used the proceeds to bribe members of the APA panel to use Lisa’s picture instead, citing her appearance on Supernanny as (sic) “proof that Im more F–ked up then that looser Cassey Sarins”.

Interesting side note: Rumor has it that Casey has hired noted “Twinkies defense” psychiatrist Martin Blinder to testify that the APA’s inclusion of Casey’s picture in the DSM-IV had exacerbated his NPD, causing him to lose control and repeatedly enter into contracts to buy properties he could not afford.

I wholeheartedly concur with your prediction that the country is headed for a rude awakening. However, with many of the nation’s citizens being under the influence of Prozac, Elavil, Xanax, Seroquel, Ativan, Adderall, Valium, and/or other drugs from the psychotropic pharmacopeia, will they even be able to tell?

[eavesdropper]

Ucodegen, you are correct: when the APA revised the DSM-IV in 2000, Casey’s mug became the crown jewel of the NPD page. However, Lisa and Steve took out yet anther SBA loan in 2009, and used the proceeds to bribe members of the APA panel to use Lisa’s picture instead, citing her appearance on Supernanny as (sic) “proof that Im more F–ked up then that looser Cassey Sarins”.

Interesting side note: Rumor has it that Casey has hired noted “Twinkies defense” psychiatrist Martin Blinder to testify that the APA’s inclusion of Casey’s picture in the DSM-IV had exacerbated his NPD, causing him to lose control and repeatedly enter into contracts to buy properties he could not afford.

I wholeheartedly concur with your prediction that the country is headed for a rude awakening. However, with many of the nation’s citizens being under the influence of Prozac, Elavil, Xanax, Seroquel, Ativan, Adderall, Valium, and/or other drugs from the psychotropic pharmacopeia, will they even be able to tell?

[eavesdropper]

Ucodegen, you are correct: when the APA revised the DSM-IV in 2000, Casey’s mug became the crown jewel of the NPD page. However, Lisa and Steve took out yet anther SBA loan in 2009, and used the proceeds to bribe members of the APA panel to use Lisa’s picture instead, citing her appearance on Supernanny as (sic) “proof that Im more F–ked up then that looser Cassey Sarins”.

Interesting side note: Rumor has it that Casey has hired noted “Twinkies defense” psychiatrist Martin Blinder to testify that the APA’s inclusion of Casey’s picture in the DSM-IV had exacerbated his NPD, causing him to lose control and repeatedly enter into contracts to buy properties he could not afford.

I wholeheartedly concur with your prediction that the country is headed for a rude awakening. However, with many of the nation’s citizens being under the influence of Prozac, Elavil, Xanax, Seroquel, Ativan, Adderall, Valium, and/or other drugs from the psychotropic pharmacopeia, will they even be able to tell?

[eavesdropper]

Ucodegen, you are correct: when the APA revised the DSM-IV in 2000, Casey’s mug became the crown jewel of the NPD page. However, Lisa and Steve took out yet anther SBA loan in 2009, and used the proceeds to bribe members of the APA panel to use Lisa’s picture instead, citing her appearance on Supernanny as (sic) “proof that Im more F–ked up then that looser Cassey Sarins”.

Interesting side note: Rumor has it that Casey has hired noted “Twinkies defense” psychiatrist Martin Blinder to testify that the APA’s inclusion of Casey’s picture in the DSM-IV had exacerbated his NPD, causing him to lose control and repeatedly enter into contracts to buy properties he could not afford.

I wholeheartedly concur with your prediction that the country is headed for a rude awakening. However, with many of the nation’s citizens being under the influence of Prozac, Elavil, Xanax, Seroquel, Ativan, Adderall, Valium, and/or other drugs from the psychotropic pharmacopeia, will they even be able to tell?

[eavesdropper]

Ucodegen, you are correct: when the APA revised the DSM-IV in 2000, Casey’s mug became the crown jewel of the NPD page. However, Lisa and Steve took out yet anther SBA loan in 2009, and used the proceeds to bribe members of the APA panel to use Lisa’s picture instead, citing her appearance on Supernanny as (sic) “proof that Im more F–ked up then that looser Cassey Sarins”.

Interesting side note: Rumor has it that Casey has hired noted “Twinkies defense” psychiatrist Martin Blinder to testify that the APA’s inclusion of Casey’s picture in the DSM-IV had exacerbated his NPD, causing him to lose control and repeatedly enter into contracts to buy properties he could not afford.

I wholeheartedly concur with your prediction that the country is headed for a rude awakening. However, with many of the nation’s citizens being under the influence of Prozac, Elavil, Xanax, Seroquel, Ativan, Adderall, Valium, and/or other drugs from the psychotropic pharmacopeia, will they even be able to tell?

[eavesdropper]

Interesting topic, scaredycat. I hadn’t heard this before. Only problem is I don’t have a clue. But I’m looking forward to the responses you get.

Actually the issue I’m having with this “underwater mortgage” stuff is why it’s happening. Obviously, there are a multitude of reasons depending on where you own property, but one major contributing factor in my area (Washington DC) is that the lending institutions are using short sales and REOs as comparables when approving mortgages. A couple short sales or foreclosures can reduce your housing values by 20% or 25% within a few months. We’ve had lenders refuse to use valid sale figures as comps, and replace them with SS/REO prices that predate them by several months.

I realize that this is not the only cause of falling housing prices. But reduced demand is not solely responsible for collapsing values in all areas. Can someone explain to me what makes the selling prices of SSs and REOs qualify as comparables?

[eavesdropper]

Interesting topic, scaredycat. I hadn’t heard this before. Only problem is I don’t have a clue. But I’m looking forward to the responses you get.

Actually the issue I’m having with this “underwater mortgage” stuff is why it’s happening. Obviously, there are a multitude of reasons depending on where you own property, but one major contributing factor in my area (Washington DC) is that the lending institutions are using short sales and REOs as comparables when approving mortgages. A couple short sales or foreclosures can reduce your housing values by 20% or 25% within a few months. We’ve had lenders refuse to use valid sale figures as comps, and replace them with SS/REO prices that predate them by several months.

I realize that this is not the only cause of falling housing prices. But reduced demand is not solely responsible for collapsing values in all areas. Can someone explain to me what makes the selling prices of SSs and REOs qualify as comparables?

[eavesdropper]

Interesting topic, scaredycat. I hadn’t heard this before. Only problem is I don’t have a clue. But I’m looking forward to the responses you get.

Actually the issue I’m having with this “underwater mortgage” stuff is why it’s happening. Obviously, there are a multitude of reasons depending on where you own property, but one major contributing factor in my area (Washington DC) is that the lending institutions are using short sales and REOs as comparables when approving mortgages. A couple short sales or foreclosures can reduce your housing values by 20% or 25% within a few months. We’ve had lenders refuse to use valid sale figures as comps, and replace them with SS/REO prices that predate them by several months.

I realize that this is not the only cause of falling housing prices. But reduced demand is not solely responsible for collapsing values in all areas. Can someone explain to me what makes the selling prices of SSs and REOs qualify as comparables?

[Author]

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