Rice and beans and exercise…and PEDs. This post definitely needs an update–love to hear your thoughts.

Very disappointing. I think we all wanted to believe the story, but now the ugly truth comes out.

I know this doesn’t detract from the gist of your post, but it’s unfortunate that your favourite player (and one of my favourites as well) has now had his reputation tarnished.

Trent – regarding your comment of “Whenever I see “I,” I think the person is egotistical. Whenever I see “you,” I think the person is involved with what the other person is saying” consider this. While this may be true in an individual, face-to-face conversation, you aren’t having a conversation (although your writing is very conversational), you have an audience. We aren’t here to have you tell us what to do or what we should feel or know (the use of ‘you’ tends to imply this per Jenzer and I agree). We are here to listen to you, to understand where you are coming from and how you deal with your various situations which may or may not be common to most of us. Using “I” is not only perfectly acceptable, I think it is preferable. Compare “I know” or “I think” to “you know” or the very insidious and dubious “everyone knows”. I don’t find your writing egotistical even though it is, in essence, about yourself. If you substituted “I” for everyone one of the “you”s in your articles – unless you were specifying the audience – you would develope a stronger writing voice. May I suggest giving it a try for a week?

Not that I’m an English teacher or anything . . .

“I’m shocked at his tone today to comments that I considered to be non-provoking.”

I really enjoy your blog. Your posts are always well thought-out and well-written, and they have a positive and uplifting tone. I have never commented before, but I have learned quite a lot from your site. Unfortunately, the tone of your comments make you appear defensive and like someone who has a problem controlling his temper. I’m sure that’s probably not the case, so I hope you get this issue figured out.

I LOVE the caveat below the reply box. If people are intent on being nasty, mean-spirited and – in general – a distracting factor to the readers of TSD, I say “Flush ‘em”!!! Thanks again, Trent, for all you give of yourself to make ‘The Simple Dollar’ a valuable resource for many of us who are trying to improve ourselves … in terms of our finances, yes, but also in terms of living more fully in many ways.

When I read this post, at first I thought it was sorta pointless. But obviously it’s sparking conversation so it has a point.

After reading Orwell’s Politics and the English Language, I realize that Trent here is one of the good writers. He’s not often vague, he’s pretty direct, and he usually controls his focus.

Compare to perhaps the ‘tough money love’ blog where I see nothing but snark, negativity and muddle-headedness. I still read it because part of me enjoys a) the lack of comments on the site, because its author tends to be a complete a-hole b) the flamewars that erupt because like attracts like.

The majority of the comments here are thoughtful, straightforward, and clear. I wish I could have the quantity and quality of responses on my site(s).

I’m surprised that Trent commented at all. There have been questions in the past that he could have — should have — answered, but chose otherwise. I’m shocked at his tone today to comments that I considered to be non-provoking. His tone and comments have given me new insight into his personality.

His poor grammar grates on my nerves, but I don’t consider TSD to be an English lesson. I can only hope that he has someone proofing his books.

The beans have produced a lot of hot air.

It must be the beans.