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To everyone who joined these forums at some point, and got discouraged by the negativity and left after a while (or even got literally scared off): I'm sorry.

I wasn't good enough at encouraging people to be kinder, and removing people who refuse to be kind. Encouraging people is hard, and removing people creates conflict, and I hate conflict... so that's why I wasn't better at it.

I was a very, very sensitive teen. The atmosphere of this forum as it is now, if it had existed in 1996, would probably have upset me far more than it would have helped.

I can handle quite a lot of negativity and even abuse now, but that isn't the point. I want to help people. I want to help the people who need it the most, and I want to help people like the 1996 version of me.

I'm still figuring out the best way to do that, but as it is now, these forums are doing more harm than good, and I can't keep running them.

Thank you to the few people who have tried to understand my point of view so far. I really, really appreciate you guys. You are beautiful people.

Everyone else: If after everything I've said so far, you still don't understand my motivations, I think it's unlikely that you will. We're just too different. Maybe someday in the future it might make sense, but until then, there's no point in arguing about it. I don't have the time or the energy for arguing anymore. I will focus my time and energy on people who support me, and those who need help.

-SoulRiser

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What hates school, loves learning, and isn't doomed?
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xcriteria Offline
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What hates school, loves learning, and isn't doomed?

The more I try explaining and writing about "anti-school people who like learning," the more I find myself looking for a good, re-usable word for this group.

Why a word? It's unnecessary when talking amongst ourselves, but it becomes very useful when trying to get the public to see us as a legitimate class of people who are worthy of consideration. It's crazy that, as individuals, we are often not taken seriously, just because what we're about isn't well-described by any of the stereotypes in people's minds ("honor student", "lazy dropout", "troubled youth", "school phobic", "gifted but learning disabled," "whining teenager," "druggie," "ADHD," "just difficult.") There's no positive or even neutral category in most people's brains for someone who resents forced schooling AND wants to and does pursue learning on their own terms AND is not doomed to "flip burgers" AND therefore should be listened to, not punished or treated for being this way. In order for things to change, this concept must be created!

Ultimately, there should be books, articles, and/or films about us that most teachers, psychologists, and even the general public know about, so that when they meet or hear about someone with these characteristics, instead of being confused, dismissive, or angry, they can say "oh, it's one of THESE interesting creatures." And likewise, when someone who has felt that way for years, maybe feeling alone and never really understood by their friends, parents, and teachers, can say "I'm one of THESE interesting creatures."

The thing is... the term "anti-school" doesn't work for this purpose. Some people hate school out of pure laziness and disinterest in learning, and that's not who I'm referring to. Some people like aspects of school -- maybe they have a good teacher, or college is acceptable whereas they hated high school. Maybe they're even a good student and want to stay in school but they still basically question the whole thing and still learn outside of school and see beyond its limited purpose. And "anti-school" is too negative.

Maybe there doesn't even need to be one word. Maybe a phrase. Maybe multiple words or phrases. Maybe, just an idealized character that people could make reference to.

Ideas?
05-04-2009 12:49 AM
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What hates school, loves learning, and isn't doomed? - xcriteria - 05-04-2009 12:49 AM

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