Ohh..this is so familiar. and no..it isnt a US-specific thing either. I grew up in Hong Kong..and was (am??) a geek/outsider. I never fit inaltho I spent most of my teenage years trying hard and failing miserably. In those days there were very few of us and there was no internet..we were depressed most of the time.. To be "cool" you had to be super-model thin..an athlete..white or eurasian... I was none of the above. I hated school..and except for work I wouldnt have even bothered going..but Iloved my clasees...they were challenging and stimulating.. But I've been angry enough to want to kill..I've even had dreams where I imagined killing some of the people who humiliated me/gave me a hard time. ButI would have never done it..coz the anger never lasted..I moved on. Its funny (ironic) when I seewhat those tormentors are doing today..supermarket checkout clerks and lifeguards.. I've coem a long way..thank god for that!! But yes..this brings back a lot of painful memories..and I wish we could do somethign to spare other kids this sort of pain..
Slashdot Mirror
Ohh..this is so familiar. and no..it isnt a US-specific thing either. I grew up in Hong Kong..and was (am??) a geek/outsider. I never fit inaltho I spent most of my teenage years trying hard and failing miserably. In those days there were very few of us and there was no internet..we were depressed most of the time..
To be "cool" you had to be super-model thin..an athlete..white or eurasian...
I was none of the above.
I hated school..and except for work I wouldnt have even bothered going..but Iloved my clasees...they were challenging and stimulating..
But I've been angry enough to want to kill..I've even had dreams where I imagined killing some of the people who humiliated me/gave me a hard time. ButI would have never done it..coz the anger never lasted..I moved on.
Its funny (ironic) when I seewhat those tormentors are doing today..supermarket checkout clerks and lifeguards..
I've coem a long way..thank god for that!!
But yes..this brings back a lot of painful memories..and I wish we could do somethign to spare other kids this sort of pain..