Cool. I’m actually happy for you that that’s what you got from it. If that’s how it landed for you then you’re not wrong in how you took it. There is nothing in the world wrong with that.

I think reasonable people can agree that different readers can and will take articles different ways. We are all entitled to our own experience, as it should be. Otherwise, what’s the point?

For me, it was one particular paragraph or line of thought that provoked me. The author uses coded language. I don’t know the guy, I don’t think I’ve read any of his other work, I don’t know his intent. I just know what he wrote and how he phrased it. And what that particular song and dance usually means.

Maybe he was just ignorant, and legitimately didn’t know. Maybe he was just tone deaf and/or didn’t edit his thought process well. Or maybe that bit was exactly what it sounded like and a deliberate play to victimization for something akin to Himpathy.

Since that’s an abuse dynamic (doesn’t matter if it’s directed Individually, to a group, or to society at large), I put my foot down and said Hell No. An appropriate response. His response was gaslighting as I recall but maybe that was someone else. I can’t go back on my phone (the mobile app sucks) and check. He could have engaged in a thoughtful and reflective manner but he went with sexist tropes about bitterness and such.

The end result being that I’ve not seen anything from him to change my opinion. He actually reinforced it.

And that’s my rant over. I’ve actually found myself looking for you too. You are generally level headed and balanced. I often see and understand your point of view, even if I don’t agree with it or it doesn’t apply to me or others. Till next time.