Sally, I'm too busy these days to even read the Lyst, let alone send my comments, but I feel obliged to respond to your post. I've joined only three or four months ago, so my impressions are still vague. Still, FWIW, I think you are one of the kindest, friendliest persons on this list. I enjoy reading your posts and find them witty and charming and I also think you are a very talented writer. You've a strong personality and you probably don't need this 'mental hug', but I send it to you anyway.
As for the desire to write stories in which someone gets hurt (and I'm not immune to this, either) - I guess the shrinks would label it as a kind of regression, but I really don't think it should upset anyone. I'd rather say it's a case of our own neurosis curing us, a way to let off some steam. If you (I mean 'anyone') can find a way of presenting your private chimeras to the world without the world flinching, then good for you. Those who preach strict morality are much more likely to butcher someone in real life than those who try to come to terms with their irrational self. It is an important aspect of creative writing which should be recognized. Writing is self-healing, among other things. This goes for me too. I will not glorify such stories, but I will not condemn them, either.
(BTW,in the long history of Shakespeare criticism, I can't recall a single critic who accused Shakespeare for making Hamlet suffer so much. For centuries the audience has experienced aesthetic pleasure in his suffering, and some would probably call it beautiful.)
N.