I’m at a stage where I definitely have this in the back of my head. Considering how I’ve always felt excluded, different, got bullied, etc…I developed a strong inclination for the underdog. I prefer diverse settings with authentic people that show their differences proudly. I feel uncomfortable in settings where people conform and appear very similar. I also do not like competitive environments, rather I prefer collaborative ones. This clashes with my underlying us vs. them mentality, but it’s hard to not have that mentality when they create it.

I don’t go to places and think, “OMG, my people are better, and those people are different and suck.” They’re the ones that labelled us autistic, disabled, and weird. They’re the ones that find the marginalized people to bully when they feel inadequate with themselves. So, my divisions is more of a protective factor because they’re the ones that create the divide, and we need to survive. In the end, the “us” in my head are the collaborative, authentic, compassionate people, and the “them”, are the ones that create division, antagonism, competition, and hate. I’m aware of the hypocrisy, but it’s just a necessary outcome of the system…unless anyone else knows of another way.