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I too had a difficult childhood and overcame some moderate difficulties. Then I proceeded to waste my adult youth (20s and most of my 30s) in a multi decade p

I too had a difficult childhood and overcame some moderate difficulties. Then I proceeded to waste my adult youth (20s and most of my 30s) in a multi decade pit of depression and withdrawal from the world. So let's not forget survivorship bias.

vanderZwan 8y ago
I hope you managed to claw out of that pit. Either way, hang in there!
rohitb91 8y ago
I can echo that. Low middle class, alcoholic parent, failed family businesses that I wasted teenage and early 20s in, just rebuilding now. Tragic.
- throwaway82729 8y ago
  Add me to that list. Became sole breadwinner at 22 for a family that had $2M in debt due to failed business. At one point, I was held hostage at gun point by a debt collector. Deeply scarred by debt to this day. Scared of investing anywhere and just hoarding for a rainy day. No family to speak of except wife and child. Very few friends. No purpose to life other than seeing my child grow up and be successful.
  - toasterlovin 8y ago
    > No purpose to life other than seeing my child grow up and be successful. FWIW, in my opinion (and in the opinion of evolution and biology), raising children is the purpose to life. By having children, we give another human the ability to experience life. And, for most of us, they are the only lasting mark we will leave on existence.
    - krageon 8y ago
      Aside from the philosophical side of your argument, there is of course the biological argument: There are far too many people. I understand that anyone who advocates reproductive moderation will get out-competed by everyone else, but that doesn't mean that we have to accept mentally that this is the purpose of life. I'd argue that seeing this as your one and only purpose makes you akin to a cancer. Your genes exist to consume, but fulfill no real goals.
      - toasterlovin 8y ago
        > Your genes exist to consume, but fulfill no real goals. Can you give me an example of what you would consider a “real goal”?

vanderZwan 8y ago

I hope you managed to claw out of that pit. Either way, hang in there!

rohitb91 8y ago

I can echo that. Low middle class, alcoholic parent, failed family businesses that I wasted teenage and early 20s in, just rebuilding now. Tragic.

throwaway82729 8y ago
Add me to that list. Became sole breadwinner at 22 for a family that had $2M in debt due to failed business. At one point, I was held hostage at gun point by a debt collector. Deeply scarred by debt to this day. Scared of investing anywhere and just hoarding for a rainy day. No family to speak of except wife and child. Very few friends. No purpose to life other than seeing my child grow up and be successful.
- toasterlovin 8y ago
  > No purpose to life other than seeing my child grow up and be successful. FWIW, in my opinion (and in the opinion of evolution and biology), raising children is the purpose to life. By having children, we give another human the ability to experience life. And, for most of us, they are the only lasting mark we will leave on existence.
  - krageon 8y ago
    Aside from the philosophical side of your argument, there is of course the biological argument: There are far too many people. I understand that anyone who advocates reproductive moderation will get out-competed by everyone else, but that doesn't mean that we have to accept mentally that this is the purpose of life. I'd argue that seeing this as your one and only purpose makes you akin to a cancer. Your genes exist to consume, but fulfill no real goals.
    - toasterlovin 8y ago
      > Your genes exist to consume, but fulfill no real goals. Can you give me an example of what you would consider a “real goal”?