ZugTheMegasaurus

Hi Barbara, I don't really have a question, but I wanted to thank you for your book "Bright-Sided."

My mom had breast cancer in 2012 and told me about how she felt like she wasn't allowed to be pissed off about it. She couldn't understand her friends who were so positive about cancer and saw it as some kind of learning experience. I immediately thought of your book and sent her a copy.

She loved it and said it made her feel a lot better about how she was feeling. I know she's recommended it to a few people since then as well.

I really enjoy all your books and hope to read the new one soon. Thanks again!

Hey, love all your answers in this thread but just wanted to respond to this one in case you really would like a further answer since it seemed like you were genuinely asking why that would seem offensive.

I think "pandering" has a negative tone to it, like you're trying to make a certain group happy at the expense of others. I don't believe for a moment that's the intent.

I totally understand where /u/Wizuhd was coming from though (though I don't speak for him and he might disagree). I spent a significant portion of my childhood and adolescence being mocked, ridiculed, and even beat up for being "too smart" or "nerdy." And while part of me always wanted those jerks to just get where I was coming from, it seems insulting that those things that so negatively affected my life have become popular and desired by those same people. This has nothing to do with you or the show, of course, but I think a lot of us feel like it's unfair that those who made us feel bad get to enjoy the things they made us feel bad about.

Thank you for that. She has been in remission for a little over a year and is getting back into the athletics she really loved before.