[Dewie]

There are so many assumptions in this response, and so much projection. I think you are mistaking me describing a culture for tacit approval of that culture and/or feeling under its boot. I was describing how we as a culture live, not necessarily how I live. And this is not to imply that I think that this particular culture is bad (or good): there are downsides and upsides. I am undecided as to whether it is overall healthy/freeing/oppressive, etc.

In any case, I'll make sure to inform others of what they're doing wrong, and that they don't need to be be "oppressed" by these "barriers". And to think, what we all wanted the same thing all along; we just needed you to remind us.

[couchand]

I was describing how we as a culture live, not necessarily how I live.

Nor how I live, so where is this mythical "culture" we're all so beholden to? Culture is just the actions and beliefs of a group of people. Historically humans have tended to be pleasant with people in their own group and remarkably unpleasant to "others". Usually this is because they don't understand anyone outside their own group, because they've never explicitly tried to understand them.

So yes, reaching out to others, learning from them, preventing the next world war, preventing the next oppression of a group because they are seen as somehow different from those in power, yes, that is a Good Thing.