GeniesLoki

What did people make of the two of you, if you don't mind sharing?

A convenient target, mostly.

In a sense, I was the same. As I've said elsewhere, being a shy, bookish, non-sporty, non-macho guy as a teenager was inviting the label "gay" when I grew up, and at that time/in that place that was a beating offence.

I'm sorry to hear that, both of you! But it seems like each of you have come out stronger and wiser for the experience

Not really TBH. I came out OK in the end but it set me back like a decade before I got pretty basic shit figured out.

Yeah. After leaving at 16, I was a bit of a mess from ages 16 to early 20s. But on the plus side, that was a long time ago now.

> "on the plus side, that was a long time ago now" Mood. I mean I'm sure there are important life lessons I/we learned from this, I just can't help but feel like there are probably better ways to learn those without spending the first 2-3 decades of life traumatised.

Agreed. I think one important thing I learned is that supposed authorities are mostly useless at mediating/preventing conflict and bullying, whether it's teachers/HR/..., and the importance of not putting yourself in a position where you're depending on them to defend you.