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Tom Calarco's avatar

Jesse, could you please spell out the acronym on first use. I have no idea what MDMA is. I know I could look it up. But you're supposed be an editor and know basic editing principles. Geez. I've been subscribing and have submitted a couple stories without a response. And you're supposed to be the judge of its merit?

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Jesse Sposato's avatar

Hi, Tom. Always good to hear from you. Yes, same as Seth, I've always known it to be simply MDMA and when something is as widely known as this, we feel it's OK to make exceptions. Thank you for your continued support, and I'm sorry to hear you haven't heard back about stories you've sent in. We try our best to respond to all submissions. If there's something in particular you're waiting to hear back about, please feel free to email me directly: jsposato@narratively.com. Thanks!

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Tom Calarco's avatar

Well, since I never have taken pharmaceuticals, I never heard of it. And I suspect, it isn't as widely known as the NBA or CIA. Jesse, do you know where the current obsession with acronyms comes from? The military. I see it in other media too and it is very annoying. Clarity is important for good writing. Spelling out unfamiliar acronyms on first use promotes greater clarity.

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Jesse Sposato's avatar

I hear you, Tom. I do appreciate clarity, as well. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

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Seth Lorinczi's avatar

Thanks Tom. MDMA stands for "3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine." For understandable reasons, I have never in 40+ years heard it called anything but MDMA.

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Tom Calarco's avatar

I never heard of it. I'd wager if you took a poll, you would find that it is not widely known. In fact, a parenthesis with a short description like "MDMA (a form of amphetamine)" or something like that would be helpful because as I see now, spelling it out doesn't help either.

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Mariam Sule's avatar

This reminded me that the purpose of a good essay to learn, connect and feel. Stellar work, but also thank you for sharing ❤️

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Seth Lorinczi's avatar

Ah thank you Mariam! Appreciate this, deeply...

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•°Megglez°•'s avatar

thank you so much for sharing this story ❤️

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Seth Lorinczi's avatar

Hey, appreciate that so much!

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Themes and Deviations's avatar

In the early 80s when MDMA was legal and called Ecstasy (this was before designer drugs) and readily available my ex-girlfriend and I tried it. We couldn’t be together and we couldn’t stay apart. It was endlessly agonizing. I got a couple doses, we went to the shore and took it. We were still a couple of years away from really dating again but in one session, we let go of so much and were able to be together in a whole new way and communicate on a level that had been just too fearful. At any rate we’ve been married for 35 years and we both credit Ecstasy with the breakthrough we needed.

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Seth Lorinczi's avatar

Appreciate this so much. So simple and so true.

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Rosana Francescato's avatar

Beautiful story, and so well told! I've done MDMA therapy myself a few times and found it helpful; I still think about and draw lessons from my sessions a couple years ago. Thanks for sharing your experience.

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Seth Lorinczi's avatar

Appreciate that deeply, Rosana!

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Jessica's avatar

Really beautiful, thank you for your vulnerability

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Seth Lorinczi's avatar

Thank YOU Jessica!....

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Helen Huang's avatar

What a talented writer! This was written so perfectly, each moment and character deftly described. The most interesting thing is how keen and ego-less the self-exposure is. Really beautiful work.

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Seth Lorinczi's avatar

Hey, thank you Helen--truly. I'm grateful and flattered!

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Maggie Langrick's avatar

Wow. That is a beautiful, very encouraging story. Thank you.

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Seth Lorinczi's avatar

Ah, thank YOU Maggie, truly. Appreciate that deeply.

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