Great Uncle Fred. Why does everyone hate me? (David, Summer 2008)

Well, I suppose that there are two possible responses to your question. The first is: because you are deeply unlikeable. The second is: you are imagining it. I think it is far more likely that you mistakenly believe that everyone hates than that they actually do, but let`s pretend for a moment that you are right and you are universally hated. You haven`t given me much to go on but perhaps there is a reason for that? Perhaps you are mean and nasty and sour and selfish? Perhaps you ought to take a good look at yourself, work out what it is that you like about people and think in what ways you differ from likeable people and see what can be done about your personality. Far more likely, however, is that you are imagining this universal dislike. Perhaps you are imagining a situation which is in some ways preferable to the truth which is, perhaps, that people don`t care too much about you either way. They just let you get on with it, whatever it is. David, try to relax. You`re torturing yourself. There is bound to be something marvellous about you - you`re a human being after all - but it`s going to be hard for the rest of humanity to notice your wondrousness while you mope about the place, staring at your shoes, wondering why everyone hates you. They don`t. They just don`t care but they will care when you lighten up a bit. Try smiling! Good luck.

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