The flashback hurts in a different way from the present, I think. I try just to immerse myself into the 'then' of the story, trying to put aside the tragic 'now' for now. But if it's that hard to take, maybe you should put the manga aside for a while and return to it later? You won't be spoiled by me, at least - I'm pretty good at putting the spoilers behind cuts.

I wish Oda could just dial it down a little bit. It was hard and dangerous for little kids living that life in that place, understood. There's no need to be so over the top about it. (This reminds me that I felt the same way about the hellish cruelties of Impel Down.)

I actually think right now I like Sabo more than Flashback Ace (not Ace in general, though!). Sabo seems more... hm... reasonable.

There probably shouldn't be a comparison between the different childhoods, but it's hard not to fall into that kind of thinking, now and then.

I find it rather interesting that no matter the hardships they all experienced love and affection at one point or another and they also had a 'most important person' who gave either counsel or support.

Mostly. Usopp didn't, not back when he was little. Unless his mom's acceptance of his father's choice to be a pirate counts. (And Brook doesn't fit any pattern, since we know zilch about his childhood.)

Everyone has assumed that they had a 'Happy Days' alike childhood and now this. To be honest, Ican't bear looking at that kind of art anymore because now thanks to Oda's big flashback arc I know 'better'. *feels bitter*

Very understandable. I certainly can't say anything about it - I have my own bitterness issues, only some of which I harped about here.

Still, I thought naye's take on this was refreshing (quoted from her journal): "I'm weirdly glad to have all these doujinshi that are now horribly jossed - whatever happens in them is simply a non-traumatic AU where things are not so bad and there isn't so much suffering and I get to see my D brothers be adorable and dumb together."