As I read through this conversation, I thought that maybe the whole thread needed a trigger warning because so many people have felt betrayed by people they've trusted or reached out to for help. As I read, I saw defensiveness and ire were raised on both sides of the question of whether or not adults are selfish. Or young people, or people in general, or current society or none/all of the above.

I felt some of my own past hurts being triggered. Did anyone else feel that way?

Kori (and anyone else who feels they've been let down by the selfishness of others) I'm sorry you've been hurt in this way. I hope that slowly, over time, you can find some friends deserving of your trust and friendship.

And to the posters who feel they have given of themselves unselfishly, only to be unappreciated or scorned or kicked in the chops, I hope the same for you. Maybe that's why people responded defensively. It's not really all that uncommon for people to give everything they've got to others, only to be slapped down, ignored or walked on. If giving unselfishly has worked out well, then there's really no need to feel defensive about the whole thing.

Every aspect of problematic mental health is littered with broken hearts and disappointment in other people. I think it's one of the main reasons people turn inward, bitter, angry and despairing. There's so much pain caused by this very subject.

That's why I think this thread deserves a trigger warning. How many of us have actually avoided being on one end or the other of the problematic aspects of selfishness and selflessness? Not many, I'm willing to bet. Not me. There are lots of wounds on both sides. I've been on both sides myself. This thread, and the more impassioned responses in it, triggered a lot of old stuff for me. I wish I'd had the sense to not read it.