Letters to the Editor
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This 'bonding' can be competitive
There are certain subcultures (I grew up in one) in which misery is a goal. Among other things, it is a very effective manipulative tool for making people you would not normally have power over feel guilty - and unless you are a sociopath or have borderline personality disorder, this tool works best if you yourself are convinced of how miserable you are. So even when you hang out with peers, proof of intense misery can become competitive. No wonder everyone gets more depressed.