Okay, consider, just for a moment, that Shannon Ashley is not telling the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? She’s virtue victim signaling like a house afire. She has more “issues" and “challenges” than anyone I’ve ever heard of, everything from being raised in a cult, precocious puberty, a mother (who may or may not be dead) with Munchausen syndrome, she’s a single mom, morbidly obese, autistic, and has ADHD, yet she still has time to spit out more copy than Isaac Asimov and Stephen King put together. She’s berating and publicly shaming people because they didn’t cave in to her demand to send her money and urge their followers to do so as well to fund a trip to Beverly Hills for what is essentially cosmetic surgery. Sounds a lot like bullying to me. According to the Mayo Clinic, which first diagnosed lipedemia in the 1930s, although it is certainly can be painful and debilitating, it is not life-threating. Of course Shannon’s got that covered by hinting there may be some self-harm in her future if she doesn’t get what she wants. I suspect that some of Shannon’s story is legitimate, but I’m skeptical that everything is. She’s very good at attracting and obtaining readership. She has multiple income streams and is clearly a top earner on this platform. I would urge anyone thinking of contributing to or championing her cause to read some of the several articles in Psychology Today about victim mentality and dark triad personalities. I’m not for or against anyone, but I think too many people are too quick to believe what others tell them. We are hardwired to want to help others and that’s great, but kindness is a trait easily exploited. Who really is the victim here?