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<p class=MsoNormal><span class=EmailStyle15><font size=3 color=black
face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;mso-ansi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:
Arial'>There is a website where people post ads. Help wanted, apartments for
rent, personals. I have placed ads on this site, with results that are at least
entertaining. At the very least. I have met some cool people through this site.
I have met others who are not so cool, but that is a part of life.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=EmailStyle15><font size=3 color=black
face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;mso-ansi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:
Arial'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=EmailStyle15><font size=3 color=black
face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;mso-ansi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:
Arial'>And last night, in a fit of, of what? Certainly not of boredom. Of ennui?
Certainly not, since that means the same as boredom. In a fit of, certainly not
desperation . . . perhaps just in a spirit of experimentation? I posted another
ad. In the women seeking men section, which seemed a bit </span></font></span><font
color=black face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial;color:black'>apropos. All
I asked for was stories. Not for anyone to respond as one would respond to a
personals ad, but only to send stories, and I would reply with one. Clean
stories only; some people must have this spelled out to them.</span></font><font
color=black face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial;color:black;mso-color-alt:
windowtext'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]></span></font><font
color=black face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial;color:black;mso-color-alt:
windowtext'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>And the stories came in. Over and over
again. Stories from men, some of whom are not experienced in story telling, but
each story just as compelling despite the differing skill levels. Very short
one sentence stories as well as lengthy involved stories. Many of them giving a
glimpse of the writer’s psyche, some of them not. But compelling, all the same.
Stories. From an unknown, diverse population who saw the ad and felt like
responding. </span></font><font color=black face=Arial><span style='font-family:
Arial;color:black;mso-color-alt:windowtext'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]></span></font><font
color=black face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial;color:black;mso-color-alt:
windowtext'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>I have been happily surprised at the
depth and originality of the stories sent to me, pleased at the wonder that
some participants feel at being asked to do nothing more complex than send a
story. I don’t wish to know their financial status, their goals in life, what
they look like. All I wanted was a story, and they are grateful for the chance
to respond without having to sell themselves, without having to do anything
other than tell a story, fact or fiction (for it doesn’t matter to me), to
respond to a stranger with what may be a piece of themselves.</span></font><font
color=black face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial;color:black;mso-color-alt:
windowtext'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]></span></font><font
color=black face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial;color:black;mso-color-alt:
windowtext'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>I think many of us look for that
connection, that opportunity to share something of ourselves, and our society
makes it so difficult to connect. “A story!” some might scoff, “what do you
know about telling stories! You’re no writer!” But everyone has a story, and
the telling of our stories lets others know who we are. It doesn’t matter if
they’re fact or fiction. They’re stories. Simple stories. And sometimes, that’s
all we need.</span></font><font color=black face=Arial><span style='font-family:
Arial;color:black;mso-color-alt:windowtext'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]></span></font><font
color=black face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial;color:black;mso-color-alt:
windowtext'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>Batman</span></font><font color=black
face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial;color:black;mso-color-alt:windowtext'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]></span></font><font
color=black face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial;color:black;mso-color-alt:
windowtext'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=EmailStyle15><font size=3 color=black
face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;mso-ansi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:
Arial'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
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