The above exchange is spoon legit demonstrating empathy for me. I didn't take the Pollyanna comment as insulting, but an honest assessment from his POV, and not intended to insult. For crap's sake, I often wish I had more of a spine when it comes to trying to make the most of a crap situation, and he's definitely right that I do let people take advantage of me to the point of getting emotionally wrecked by it.

I'm sure you can recognize legit vitriol from spoon by now. That post of his was actually a bit flattering.

The thing with spoon is that he's wicked smart, and his world view is consistent.
(Yeah, I kinda like him... even though we're polar opposites on most viewpoints
EDIT: and he's a manwhore [/EDIT])

***
Once, a few years back, I was in a spell of depression, and spoon and I were even less friendly with each other then than now (not that I know how it looks now). Anyway, he cajoled me into a Skype call, and within minutes he had me laughing myself to tears.
He can be brusque, and his impeccable way with words allows him to really cut when he wants to, but behind all of that is someone I can support.