you can choose your people and your environment but people never stop being cruel.
i actually think that most people are forced to age out of juvenile bullying but not out of unkindness so they move on to more serious antisocial expressions that are viewed as ”acceptable” such as right-wing politics.
sure, nobody will exclude me for my appearance anymore, but they surely will because of my race or religious beliefs (or lack thereof).
funnily enough my class became super divided in the last election and it was mostly mean people who voted right wing and nice kids or the minorities who voted left wing.
i wish people were more sincere and honest.
also, i wish people would take responsibility for their issues after a certain age.
bullying kids because you get abused at home is unfortunate but understandable. being a grown woman in your 30s and being ”afraid” of trans women because of your experiences and supporting their oppression is NOT understandable.
i got bullied by muslim kids and i dont use that as an excuse to be anti-Palestine.
so no, being racist towards black people or any race for that matter because you got bullied by a member of their group is NOT acceptable.
i think that people operate on such a childish level but in adult bodies.
the brain’s neuroplasticity doesn’t stop developing until your early 30s. but even if someone lacks empathy, they can be taught to understand it. it’s all settler-colonial capitalism unfortunately.
I don’t believe this for an instant. I believe that the brain’s neuroplasticity capabilities can and do develope into advanced age, barring dementia or other cognitive issues. The bigger issue is the will to learn and grow, and with the (illusion of) safety of fitting in, that is quite the hurdle, but not insurmountable. I will offer past examples of re-education as supporting evidence.
I am not a scientist, the above statement is based purely on personal experience and observation.
hi, comrade! thank u for engaging.
i’m approaching this sentence: “many people stop emotionally maturing at about 18-25 years old”. i’m using the recent neuroplasticity research to point out that people are, like you said, capable of change beyond that age. i should have said “current neuroplasticity research shows data that change is possible beyond 18-25 years old.” i wanted to emphasize that ppl DO change, ppl cannot ever stop changing. changing conditions mold us.
also wanted to expand on the topic of emotional maturity. it’s not fixed. science under capitalism distorts this notion of people’s capability to change (either bc of age, maturity level, empathy, personality disorders etc). the change it tends to admit to is what benefits continuation of exploitative systems. the pathologization of those that threaten the system needs to be a focal point.
re-education is something i was thinking of too! i want to back up what you’re saying by pointing out the importance of creating the material and social conditions where the will to learn can be born. also yes, seeking safety in fitting in makes it harder.
im not a scientist either. i’m interested in research papers and how they are interpreted/how they can be used against capitalism. personal exp is a starting point towards data gathering.
Thank you for clearing up my confusion!
No argument against any of this.
So would I. Please let’s keep posting any articles we find that are relevant!
yay! im glad u pointed it out for me to reword.
i’ll try to remember that i have to remember lol I’d want to accompany as to how it connects to anti-capitalism, but uh yeah, i get distracted
It’s okay. I get distracted, too.