I'm finding it upsetting that if I venture an opinion and hear, "You have a valid point. I see what you're saying," chances are it's a friend, casual acquaintance, or maybe even a perfect stranger talking. But if instead I'm challenged, questioned, debated, and argued with, chances are great that I share a significant amount of DNA with that person. I remember my father once having the same frustration. When an argument began with my mother, he said, "Why is it I can make a statement to a hundred random people in the world and be agreed with, then come home and say the same thing to you, and I'm always wrong?" Of course she immediately told him what he was full of for feeling that way, proving his point.

Why does this happen? How is it I can be right, as far as anyone else is concerned, but just plain dumb in my own family's eyes?

[H3rmit]

Well, F is for Family.

But seriously, it's history. Familiarity breeding contempt. Basically they're being jerks. It's not about you.

[unaluna]

I getcha, it's like being Cinderella only they're not your ugly stepsisters putting you down and it's real life, not a fairy tale. But it's ridiculous. They do it because they can get away with it. Who's gonna stop them?

[tinyrabbit]

Families exist in a state of homeostasis - they are fixed systems where everyone has a role. Unfortunately your role can be something you don't like, but the system works to keep you in it.