It reminds me of the time in high school when we were caught playing poker in the school newspaper office. I was put on two weeks suspension while several were expelled even though it was a month from graduation. Looking back I found it curious that the banker’s son and the doctor’s son were not expelled, but the laborer’s son and the single mom’s son were. The other thing that occurred was that the Dean of Boys (who broke up the party), swept up the cash on the table and put it in his pocket! It probably then went some deserving charity…
I was sitting outside a little coffee shop in a little town getting caffeinated to ride my bike back home the other day, and this big truck bro pulls up in his super deluxe extra cab lariat F250 with the shadiest of windows and the fattest of tires. He rolls out in a flat brim hat and … Nirvana smiley t-shirt. Few mins later saunters back with his maple oat scone and triple macchiato (ok making that up, no idea what was in that cup). It was just a weird identity thing going on.
Electric cars are in such a weird cultural spot! Tesla is now for far-right folks (and maybe literal nazis) and all-electric Ford trucks are for progressives, or at least they can be. Bingo cards are so weird.
There's something about being unfairly accused that's extra upsetting.
One episode that sticks out was back in Ukraine when I was probably around 10-11. We were a bunch of kids sitting in the yard in front of our apartment block, and one boy decided it'd be a great idea to pick up a rather big log and chuck it at the roof of a neighboring garage. It just so happened that the owner of the garage was on the other side, working on his car, and the log ended up sliding across the roof and falling off right next to him, almost hitting him plus the car.
As soon as the kid realized what he'd done, he started sprinting off. The kicker is that the owner saw him bolt off, yet he still climbed over the fence towards us, walked up to me, and started interrogating us about who had done it. Something in the way I responded didn't sit right with him, so he ended up escalating, yelling at me, and forbidding me specifically from going to their yard to play (the kids would always play with the neighboring kids in their respective yards).
I still recall that feeling of indignation combined with injustice.
I think it's important to revisit moments like these. I bet that comes pretty naturally for you as a dad! But I've had to work pretty hard to put myself into my own 10 or 11 year old shoes. That being said: it's very much worth it. I have a way, way better idea now than even just a year ago about my own personal tendencies and, of course, my "lens."
"There's only two things I hate in this world. People who are intolerant of other people's cultures and the Dutch."
Austin Powers changed everything!
It reminds me of the time in high school when we were caught playing poker in the school newspaper office. I was put on two weeks suspension while several were expelled even though it was a month from graduation. Looking back I found it curious that the banker’s son and the doctor’s son were not expelled, but the laborer’s son and the single mom’s son were. The other thing that occurred was that the Dean of Boys (who broke up the party), swept up the cash on the table and put it in his pocket! It probably then went some deserving charity…
Oh yeah, I know that charity. It's called Whatever the Dean Wants!
🤣
I was sitting outside a little coffee shop in a little town getting caffeinated to ride my bike back home the other day, and this big truck bro pulls up in his super deluxe extra cab lariat F250 with the shadiest of windows and the fattest of tires. He rolls out in a flat brim hat and … Nirvana smiley t-shirt. Few mins later saunters back with his maple oat scone and triple macchiato (ok making that up, no idea what was in that cup). It was just a weird identity thing going on.
Was it an electric truck? Now you have me curious! I have a friend who has an all-electric F150. How many brains does that ultimately break out there?
It was a Rivian!! Nah, I don't remember but that's kinda the ultimate flex now at least around here
Electric cars are in such a weird cultural spot! Tesla is now for far-right folks (and maybe literal nazis) and all-electric Ford trucks are for progressives, or at least they can be. Bingo cards are so weird.
There's something about being unfairly accused that's extra upsetting.
One episode that sticks out was back in Ukraine when I was probably around 10-11. We were a bunch of kids sitting in the yard in front of our apartment block, and one boy decided it'd be a great idea to pick up a rather big log and chuck it at the roof of a neighboring garage. It just so happened that the owner of the garage was on the other side, working on his car, and the log ended up sliding across the roof and falling off right next to him, almost hitting him plus the car.
As soon as the kid realized what he'd done, he started sprinting off. The kicker is that the owner saw him bolt off, yet he still climbed over the fence towards us, walked up to me, and started interrogating us about who had done it. Something in the way I responded didn't sit right with him, so he ended up escalating, yelling at me, and forbidding me specifically from going to their yard to play (the kids would always play with the neighboring kids in their respective yards).
I still recall that feeling of indignation combined with injustice.
I think it's important to revisit moments like these. I bet that comes pretty naturally for you as a dad! But I've had to work pretty hard to put myself into my own 10 or 11 year old shoes. That being said: it's very much worth it. I have a way, way better idea now than even just a year ago about my own personal tendencies and, of course, my "lens."