A speaker who was once a bully and misogynist describes how untreated trauma drove that behavior, and why they now believe change is possible. They argue that dismissing people as unchangeable defeats activism itself, and that opposing views usually come from fear, not malice.
I've never learned from being screamed at. I've never learned from being bullied or ostracized. Whatever it is that makes you an embittered or angry or fearful person is probably some sort of trauma. I've been an a**hole before, and that wasn't for no reason. That didn't come out of nowhere. I was abused. I didn't deal with my abuse. I took my abuse out on the wrong target. That's most of us. And I think because I've also been a troll and I've been a misogynist in the past, because I've watched my own transition, I have such belief in people, because I'm such a not extraordinary ordinary person. So if I can change, I really believe in people. Wow. We disregard people and dispose of them because they're just like they're never going to change. And that comes from just being disappointed again and again and again. I'm not blaming them for that, but that's not going to get us anywhere and it's not true. What is the point of activism? Which is the work of change if you don't think people or systems can actually change? The person with different opinions or political beliefs or political backgrounds is not necessarily always your enemy. They're just afraid.
Secret Service Agent: Your Neutral Face Is Making People Distrust You (Here's How to Fix It)
