I have had my share of struggles and hardship, definitely not the worst anyone's had it, but enough to empathize I think. I lived in a camper for 5 years, was lucky to have that tbh. Shit jobs, shit pay, no respect. I live in the boonies so I work with all these guys. I'm a white straight guy too, so I pass, and I get to sit with them while they share their terrible opinions.
I guess what I mean to say is that somehow the exact experiences that are turning these man children into hateful far right weirdos have happened to me. Somehow I went hard to the left instead. I wasn't a "radical" before I moved out here, it's a response to the last 10 years mostly. Was it because I was raised differently? Probably, my mother is one of the most compassionate people I've known, and selfishness was 'punished' when I was young. Was it the psychedelics? Also probably. There are lots of other experiences that I know most of these guys haven't had that helped me be a better person, travel, volunteer work I had to do, I'm sure I am forgetting a lot. But what helps me understand also makes it more difficult to excuse. A lot of these guys have had every opportunity I have, some a lot more. It's difficult to listen to somebody that has had a chance at promotion complain about their pay, for an analogy that comes from reality. When I also know so many other groups of people are flat denied that opportunity. They don't have solidarity because they are selfish. I think that's what it boils down to.
Terminate Stoned Sunday ramble/