Another issue is constructive criticism is taken so personally. We comment on someone's words, story, art, it's like we physically hurt the person whose work we're critiquing. We can't separate ourselves from our work anymore. Ffs I know this and I have the same damn problem!

And, it's not just there, look at fandoms. You say, eg., "Harry Potter is an awful series" to an HP obsessive and it's like you kicked their pet. We are so stunted in our own sense of self that we have to take on the things outside of us to have any sense of our own personhood.

I think part of this may have to do with a lack of resilience owing to relatively easy lives, but honestly, I think a tremendous (and growing) part comes from more and more people growing up to be dysfunctional, mentally ill neurotics. Grow up like that and it's inevitable you'll be emotionally/mentally stunted and (unconsciously or not) look to things to fill out the sense of self that never had a chance to fully grow into being due to the environment you were raised in.

Another issue is constructive criticism is taken so personally. We comment on someone's words, story, art, it's like we physically hurt the person whose work we're critiquing. We can't separate ourselves from our work anymore. Ffs I know this and I have the same damn problem!

And, it's not just there, look at fandoms. You say, eg., "Harry Potter is an awful series" to an HP obsessive and it's like you kicked their pet. We our so stunted in our own sense of self that we have to take on the things outside of us to have any sense of our own personhood.

I think part of this may have to do with a lack of resilience owing to relatively easy lives, but honestly, I think a tremendous (and growing) part comes from more and more people growing up to be dysfunctional, mentally ill neurotics. Grow up like that and it's inevitable you'll be emotionally/mentally stunted and (unconsciously or not) look to things to fill out the sense of self that never had a chance to fully grow into being due to the environment you were raised in.