Re 7: But other people also aren't side characters. Especially, your children aren't. (Your wife isn't, either, and neither are your co-workers.)
I needed that to some degree ten years ago. I needed it a lot worse 20 years ago.
I needed that to some degree ten years ago. I needed it a lot worse 20 years ago.
And it can also be the case that you're doing both at the same time - thinking about the community I am from, people treated other people like that because they were being treated like that themselves.