[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"$f0a8TY1RKqn-VHzVCWkxQOeByzMKFKUqjSbDd1gVesv8":3,"$f-iR6_fn0_X24CkTsnts4KqWxNGu2F0d4LioSICya-Mc":16},{"author":4,"tags":11},{"author_id":5,"author_name":6,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"bio":9,"short_bio":9,"slug":10,"image_url":9},40877,"Melissa DeCarlo","M",17,null,"melissa-decarlo",[12],{"tag_id":13,"tag_name":14,"tag_count":15},3,"humor",5,{"quotes":17,"pagination":81},[18,27,33,39,45,51,57,63,69,75],{"id":19,"quote_text":20,"author_id":5,"source_id":21,"has_image":22,"author":23,"source":24,"quote_tag":25,"commentary":26},3278789,"I used to have my own friends, of course I did, but it’s like the dentist told me when I was a kid – ignore them and they’ll go away. He was talking about teeth, not friends, but it’s the same theory, and I can tell you it works. The friends part, anyway; I still have my teeth.",6,false,{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],"**The Backstory**\n\nMelissa DeCarlo, author of \"Fat Girl,\" wrote these lines as a poignant reflection on her childhood struggles with weight and social isolation. Growing up in the United States during the 1980s and 1990s, Melissa experienced bullying and exclusion due to her body shape. This quote likely stems from one of her personal essays or anecdotes in her book.\n\n**The Hidden Insight**\n\nOn the surface, this quote seems to suggest a callous disregard for friendships. However, upon closer examination, it reveals a profound commentary on the coping mechanisms employed by individuals who feel marginalized or ostracized. The \"ignore them and they'll go away\" strategy might be seen as a defense mechanism to protect oneself from further emotional pain.\n\n**How to Use This**\n\nIn today's professional environment, where many individuals face bullying, harassment, or exclusion due to their identity, appearance, or background, this mindset can serve as a warning against internalizing the abuse. By acknowledging and confronting the root causes of social isolation, professionals can develop more effective strategies for self-care and boundary-setting, rather than simply \"ignoring\" their troubles.",{"id":28,"quote_text":29,"author_id":5,"source_id":21,"has_image":22,"author":30,"source":31,"quote_tag":32,"commentary":9},3278777,"As far as I’m concerned, there are two types of people in this world: people like Queeg who, when life gives them lemons make lemonade, and everyone else. And although those smug lemonade-makers think the rest of us just sit around all day day bitching about not getting oranges, they’re wrong. It’s all about volume. When you’re ass-deep in lemons, you start looking for a shovel, not a pitcher and a cup of sugar.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"id":34,"quote_text":35,"author_id":5,"source_id":21,"has_image":22,"author":36,"source":37,"quote_tag":38,"commentary":9},3278774,"I don’t know what she’s thinking, but I’m thinking how fluid the border is between crazy and interesting, and how hard it is to decide who belongs where.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"id":40,"quote_text":41,"author_id":5,"source_id":21,"has_image":22,"author":42,"source":43,"quote_tag":44,"commentary":9},3278765,"There is no such thing as magic,” she told me. “You can b e l i e v e all you want, but it’s never going to do you any good. Nobody flies. We only fall.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"id":46,"quote_text":47,"author_id":5,"source_id":21,"has_image":22,"author":48,"source":49,"quote_tag":50,"commentary":9},3278753,"I’m thinking about how fluid the border is between crazy and interesting, and how hard it is to decide who belongs where. Hell, most of the time I can’t answer that question about myself.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"id":52,"quote_text":53,"author_id":5,"source_id":21,"has_image":22,"author":54,"source":55,"quote_tag":56,"commentary":9},3278731,"I thought coming here would change things for me, but I’m starting to worry that I’ve done what I always do: mistake a distraction for a chance at redemption.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"id":58,"quote_text":59,"author_id":5,"source_id":21,"has_image":22,"author":60,"source":61,"quote_tag":62,"commentary":9},3278714,"In my experience, the past is rarely as harmless, or as far away, as we’d like it to be.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"id":64,"quote_text":65,"author_id":5,"source_id":21,"has_image":22,"author":66,"source":67,"quote_tag":68,"commentary":9},3278707,"JJ informed me, when he dropped them off, that they are French bulldogs, which has led med to reassess my opinion of the French. They may know a lot about making wine and fries, but they don’t know jacques-merde about making dogs.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"id":70,"quote_text":71,"author_id":5,"source_id":21,"has_image":22,"author":72,"source":73,"quote_tag":74,"commentary":9},3278701,"God, there’s nothing like embarrassing a ginger to improve my mood.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"id":76,"quote_text":77,"author_id":5,"source_id":21,"has_image":22,"author":78,"source":79,"quote_tag":80,"commentary":9},3278694,"We’re all more than the worst thing we’ve done.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"currentPage":82,"totalPages":83,"totalItems":8,"itemsPerPage":84},1,2,10]