Weststander
Well-known member
Not criticisng you for starting it . . . . especially after reading your longer post. Was just musing aloud. I developed an almost pathological hatred of bullying and oppression which extended to fairly trivial things one might best describe as 'being put upon'. Last year I met up with someone, now in his 80s, who was involved with my PhD supervision. He gave me a long look and said 'you were an angry young man' (35 years ago when I was in my early and mid 20s). That came as a shock. Thinking about it (a lot), yes I was very difficult.....I am generally conciliatory these days, and have a wide range of acquaintances who span the social and political spectrum. But when I was younger I had a 'person filter' set at a very high threshold, and anyone who had views or behaviours I didn't take kindly to were pretty soon 'dead to me' as they say. Probably a survival reflex. My experiences were trivial in the great scheme of things, and getting angry at injustice may feel like an explosion within (when you're age 11 to 15) but this is nothing compared with other stuff which, as you say, was suffered by people who will almost certainly not want to read or post on this thread. I hope all those who suffered back before society thought anything much of these things can and have found some way to survive and enjoy this wonderful life, although I fully appreciate plenty haven't. All the best.
I respect all you've said in your posts.
I would say that most 15 to 25 year olds (males at least, possibly females too) are very blinkered and belligerent with their views on anything from rival football clubs, party politics, wider politics, musical tastes, on friend, famity and enemies. I've found that since then, over time, I mellowed and widened my likes and can be more accepting of others if they are not blinkered in their rigid thinking.
Although it can go the other way and you can become a grumpy old man or woman!