Thanks, I really appreciate that comment. During a discussion with my brother, he kept pulling the trick where he’d restate everything I said. Finally I asked him to quit it and he became very hostile. He claimed he was trying to “interact,” but really he was trying to frame every statement so that it was flattering to him but made me look ridiculous. I finally had to just block him.

I like your wording about how she “wanted to jump ahead and be the expert.” The well meaning fools can be the most destructive people.

My wife has to scold me often because no matter how empathetic I am to her reality, I just don’t know what it feels like to be a woman in American society. There’s no “I’m an expert now,” because that’s simply not my experience.

I’m still trying to figure out this phenomenon. It’s hard to even talk about it without sounding whiny or like you’re looking for praise. Plus, the false allies turn to enemies almost instantly when they become embarrassed because they screw up.

I guess nobody likes to be in that state of recognition that they made a mistake and they need to make amends. I remember being young and carefree and cruel. I was inadvertently cruel, but that indifferent and self-righteous attitude is cruelty nonetheless.

Once you reach a certain age, you can no longer escape the reality that you’ve done things that have hurt people. Even if it wasn’t your intention to hurt anyone, people were hurt and you’re responsible. That makes me less inclined to make a biting remark, or drive too fast, or do any number of things. I think that’s maturity.

The United States of America acts like a 12 year old boy with raging hormones.