i wish more people would stick up for themselves like this, and i hope you inspire others to do so. i think this spamming into the mind actually contributes to this mindset where the person sticks up for that abuse itself rather than their mind and self. like a stockholm syndrome. thanks mate. keep on truckin'!

Thank you. The reason I go out of my way to post my opinions on this matter is I discovered I wasn't alone over my years here on HN. I've interacted with like-minded people many times here, discussed these matters plenty of times and refined my thoughts. Plenty of what I said in this thread, I learned from talking to others here.

It's really difficult to say these things because people come at you to call you entitled, unhinged, a freeloader, downvote you. I always say it anyway. I hope it inspires others too. We aren't alone.