I was born of WWII parents in 1964 and as a customer feel far more connection to GenX than my much older brothers and sisters but also have the historical context of parents who grew up in the depression, fought in WWII and survived the McCarthy era.

My mother called letting us free range "benign neglect" because kids need to be able to learn how to amuse themselves and (at a basic social level) solve basic interpersonal conflicts (including humiliation and occasional bruises that happen to us all eventually) without adult intervention.

I learned "street smarts" in a small city and learned how to laugh off (some) teasing and humiliation.

My childhood was still relatively sheltered and easy compared to inner city life and I had an amazing and fun time.

My own kids were raised very different. Yards now are all fenced off, neighbors barely know each other and if a kid gets hurt on someone's property lawsuits happen when we'd get chewed out "what the heck stupid thing were you doing when you got hurt?"

And other parents corrected yelled at all the kids, not just their own when necessary. Tribal parenting like what happens now when my friends and I take 30 or more of us camping with KP duty, clean up, wood cutting and hauling going to kids and adults alike. The adults are all decent quirky mutants who drink and misbehave since this is our vacation but parents also get their balls busted and chewed out for unacceptable behavior so kids learn "if you are an ass, whether a kid or adult, you are still an ass."

I also used to put myself in time out when my anger was over the top to say "what you did was still wrong but my response was too harsh and that's unacceptable. I need to take my punishment. The kids thought I was nuts but I know they were glad I did that.

I'm tough, I'll admit it. I'm a scrawny dude but my friends let me come along and take longer on Black Diamond ski trails I shouldn't have been on but I did it and they gave me credit due.

Generationally it's to all of us all the time to gently 'police' everyone's behavior, and when appropriate and there is a potential for change, to 'parent' unacceptable behavior in anyone we interact with.

That said, without a potential for change, it's far more often better to let idiots be idiots because some folks are incapable of self-reflection.

I also think I'm strong because I want to be a good person and I don't believe I have to cheat and steal like the "grievance driven folks" so often feel is necessary "or you are a chump."

Screw the Golden Rule, which is written backwards from how it's written in other cultures: do unto others as they want done to them, not what you enjoy being done to you! If I'm a masochist who likes pain, should I by default inflict pain on others? WTF?

Which is why I came up with a life guiding rule for our age: Don't do now what might bite your ass just when you sense success.

How many billionaires and stars have fallen, not for current crimes but by something stupid, violent or criminal at a time in the past? How many mobsters die of old age and not in prison?

The best people and best parents are the ones constantly worried they'll screw their kids up..

They worst parents are confident they know exactly how to mold their Best children in their own image while telling their other kids they'll never amount to anything. Fuck those people.