On one hand, I was raised by a forest ranger to hunt and fish and camp, spent my childhood in the boy scouts learning all that stuff, and brought up in strict, yet community-oriented religion.
On the other hand, I spent every other waking moment on the computer. I was essentially raised by the web circa 1995-2004. I was exposed to so many different viewpoints then. The web wasn’t nearly as insular then as it is now. You’d have forums where everyone spoke to each other. I learned to question my religion and eventually found my way out. I rejected all the right-leaning beliefs I was raised to have.
And yet, I wouldn’t trade that first part of my childhood, because it was genuinely a nice childhood. I saw what real community can be, something that I now lack. I picked up a thing or two about how to be a moral and capable person along the way. And gained lifelong friendships.
It’s two-sided.
On one hand, I was raised by a forest ranger to hunt and fish and camp, spent my childhood in the boy scouts learning all that stuff, and brought up in strict, yet community-oriented religion.
On the other hand, I spent every other waking moment on the computer. I was essentially raised by the web circa 1995-2004. I was exposed to so many different viewpoints then. The web wasn’t nearly as insular then as it is now. You’d have forums where everyone spoke to each other. I learned to question my religion and eventually found my way out. I rejected all the right-leaning beliefs I was raised to have.
And yet, I wouldn’t trade that first part of my childhood, because it was genuinely a nice childhood. I saw what real community can be, something that I now lack. I picked up a thing or two about how to be a moral and capable person along the way. And gained lifelong friendships.