Halfmadgenius wrote:
Librarian, I know how that goes. I was picked on to, physical assaulted on a regular basis in sixth grade. My mom had me in the principals office every other day showing him the bruises but nothing was done until the main bully sent me to the hospital with a broken nose and two black eyes. He was suspended for the last 3 days.
Genius, my situation was that I was born very gifted, and very aspie, but in a time when nobody had ever heard of AS. Consequently, my parents kept me doped up on Ritalin until I was in the seventh grade, and I was not only the teacher's pet, but was the smallest kid in class-smaller than even the girls. And I got picked on mercilessly, and learned to hate bullies and bullying. After I was taken off of Ritalin, I quickly sprang up to six feet and two hundred pounds. Though I am very uncoordinated, I started lifting weights, and didn't have any real problems after that.
Because of my hatred for bullying, I became enamored with an old Southern custom called chivalry, part of which is to defend those who cannot defend themselves. It's a shame this most honorable of customs is now almost dead in the South.
Today, being 51, I am no longer so physically imposing. So, I live way out in the boonies to avoid people, and carry a hog leg .357 magnum pistol, though I have never had to use it, or even brandish it. But I feel a lot more secure having it with me.
You never did tell me what your specific interests are.