4 ms·

I was bullied for 8 years in primary school. I made the simple mistake of showing off how much smarter I am than the rest of the class (I was kind of a prick ab

by ajuc 11y ago

I was bullied for 8 years in primary school. I made the simple mistake of showing off how much smarter I am than the rest of the class (I was kind of a prick about that, looking at it now), and it was impossible to fix it later. Having visible skin condition, walking around bandaged for months, and asthma had not helped either. I've learnt how to adjust when I was in hospitals and sanatorium, changing einvironment a few times is great for that. In middle school everything was OK already (also it was much better school, so there were more kids like me there). I also think being on the receiving end of ostracism is valuable experience (but not for 8 years, a few months would suffice). It works as a vaccine against tribal thinking.

Nimitz14 11y ago
> It works as a vaccine against tribal thinking. Really good way of putting it. I'm stealing that.
johnchristopher 11y ago
> It works as a vaccine against tribal thinking. Yeah, well. About that... It might not be related but I have often been singled out because of strabism and I also developed a strong tendency to swim against the current in tribal settings (applause, talking about the movie we just saw when living the theater, political discussion). It's okay now, I know I have that tendency and watch out for it. Can't say for sure if it's related though. Anyway. I would never fun of anyone based on their looks. This, I am pretty sure it's related. Although I have known some mean kid with deformities.
mseebach 11y ago
> I also think being on the receiving end of ostracism is valuable experience (but not for 8 years, a few months would suffice). It works as a vaccine against tribal thinking. Peter Thiel said something about this once, speculating on why "disruptive" (pretty sure that was not the word he used) start-ups are disproportionally run by awkward social outsiders, and his theory is that "normal" kids instinctively seek validation from peers, and for these "disruptive" start-ups, they are saying that it's insane, it can't be done (go work in law/finance/management consulting instead). The awkward kids don't care (as much), and are therefore able to focus on actually doing it.

by ajuc 11y ago

Nimitz14 11y ago

> It works as a vaccine against tribal thinking. Really good way of putting it. I'm stealing that.

johnchristopher 11y ago

> It works as a vaccine against tribal thinking. Yeah, well. About that... It might not be related but I have often been singled out because of strabism and I also developed a strong tendency to swim against the current in tribal settings (applause, talking about the movie we just saw when living the theater, political discussion). It's okay now, I know I have that tendency and watch out for it. Can't say for sure if it's related though. Anyway. I would never fun of anyone based on their looks. This, I am pretty sure it's related. Although I have known some mean kid with deformities.

mseebach 11y ago

> I also think being on the receiving end of ostracism is valuable experience (but not for 8 years, a few months would suffice). It works as a vaccine against tribal thinking. Peter Thiel said something about this once, speculating on why "disruptive" (pretty sure that was not the word he used) start-ups are disproportionally run by awkward social outsiders, and his theory is that "normal" kids instinctively seek validation from peers, and for these "disruptive" start-ups, they are saying that it's insane, it can't be done (go work in law/finance/management consulting instead). The awkward kids don't care (as much), and are therefore able to focus on actually doing it.