General Discussion

"– and then blame others for their hopelessness."

While I could solely point out how "bootstrappy" that sounds, I can relate to both sides of it. When I worked in bars, I was disgusted by a lot of the patrons. Some of that came from overexposure.

That said, I have a background littered with sexual and psychological abuse, a deadbeat dad and a mother with a personality disorder. I've known people caught in the cycles of self-destruction that accompany a youth in turmoil. Some luck out and make something better from it, but it's mentally difficult to do so. Even more so when you live in a society that has the screwed up relationship to mental health and health care that the U.S. does.

So I know where you're coming from but I also know that in a lot of ways, there but for the grace of fortune go I. I might not commit their actions, but I relate to their struggle.