Re:You're wrong! (Score 1)

I have read several posts from people claiming that they did not choose to be different, yet endured similar treatment. I understand that completely. I have not condemned them in any way. My comments were directed at people who intentionally exhibit behavior that is extremely likely to get them a lot of attention (again, good or bad).

I exibit behavior that often gets me a lot of attention. I look different ("like a freak" is the general sentiment of people who would criticize me); I spend long hours in front of the computer coding, absorbing, and hacking; and I spend time in groups with other people that do similar things. I have other strange habits, but they're not things that strangers or casual acquantances would likely know about, and they're similarly harmless, anyway. I'm well-aware after long years of experience that I'm going to get a lot of negative attention for these things, and it could be said that I should accept the abuse I get in stride because of than; in fact, for the most part, I do.

But I think that there is no good reason that I should have to accept abuse for merely refusing to follow the other sheep and for pursuing interests that are atypical. Fortunately, I don't have to put up with much crap from people at CMU, but memories of the abuse I received from uninformed or biased peers, parents, and administators still burn painfully when situations like this arise to remind me of them.

Of course I don't condone what those disturbed kids did, but like most of the "outsiders and freaks" have been posting, I want people to understand this phenomenon of misunderstanding and persecution that obviously so many of us have felt.

I agree with most of what you're saying, Mr. Grue :), but I just can't accept that people must put up with crap just because they choose to deviate from the norm. Violence is not the answer, but I do what I can to dispel that misunderstanding by being sociable, making my perspective known, and simply not giving in to being miserable as a "normal, well-adjusted citizen."