Valerie wrote:Gholateg wrote:He's reading as someone who is unsure about any kind of social scene, possibly home schooled until middle or high school and thrust headlong into the Festering Pit of Teenager. He trusted that people weren't out to get him, and had that hope twisted so badly, probably numerous times by different people, that he's afraid to trust again, because if he does trust again, and gets hurt again, there's little chance of coming back from that.
I just wanted to add that, while his being home schooled is certainly an option that would explain his behavior, it's just as likely that he's been in regular schools his whole life and developed a few problems in the same way, just over a longer period of time.
I've mentioned a few times around the forum before (because I am nothing if not an open book that just refuses to close) that I had a hard time in my first school. I went to a Catholic school from kindergarten to 8th grade. I was the poor kid, so it was typical for me to get picked on, made fun of, and alienated. I eventually stopped trying to interact with the other kids altogether and always questioned their motives when they did talk to me. This was entirely justified, because these were the same kids that had always given me problems before.
Then I moved to a poor town's public school (there was only one school), so I was on much more even footing with everyone. There were people who didn't have the internet at home, so I was even a step above some of them! (That is a horrible way of thinking, and I'll have you know I never tried to use my comparative "less poor" status against anyone, but it was an interesting observation.) But, by this point, I was already sure that I was worthless and gross and should be embarrassed by my mere existence.
So, my first or second day there, I find a note from a supposed secret admirer, wanting me to meet him after third period. I was convinced that it was a joke. I was not attractive. I was not pretty. I was not funny or smart or talented. I was just some boring, broke, gross, quiet girl. So I didn't meet him. Because I was not going to let myself get walked on at this school.
Turns out he was serious. It still took me a while to wrap my head around that. I apologized to him, of course.
But Ronnie doesn't have to be home schooled or Catholic schooled or whatever-schooled. Whatever he was and is, he's just similar to a lot of us in that he was unable to trust people, and it's not a stretch to say that it was probably because of abuse/neglect/bullying/alienation of some sort. Sadly, it looks like enough of us here can relate to that. Over-all, I think he's going to be a decently sympathetic character simply for that.
Had a similar nasty romantic experience just like that at Diabetic Camp. I was a total self-pitying ass back then, however, so in retropspect, it was probably more tragic for her than me back then.
