MicrocultivationRegs

You know what worked for me? My mother always told me, "Why do you want to be/look/act the same as everybody else?! That's BORING! Be yourself, not someone else!" As a result, I grew up with my own sense of self that became (it was a process) impermeable to attacks. My confidence was further facilitated by doing my absolute best at whatever task I faced. Given this, I knew with concrete certainty no one else in my shoes could have done better. This gives you an enormous sense of power and confidence. "They laughed at me because I was different. I laughed at them because they were all the same."

I was born a misanthropist. I fought it for 50 years; finally gave up. So my parting of the ways with humanity was mutual and being ostracized came naturally and comfortably -- I, in turn, ostracize society because I have found most people "not worthy". Nevertheless, I have a great deal of empathy for all animals, humans included. So while I fight for social, economic, and racial justice, I don't want to be around people and I'm not lonely. My question for you is, what percentage of weird people are "weird" simply because they reject, to varying degrees, the artificial roles and norms imposed by our culture? I would suspect, most. Looking forward to your book.