Semi-on topic, I had a discussion on parenting with two friends tonight. One was Italian, the other American. The Italian was telling the American that the American system is too competitive, since parents are known to tell their kids all about the other kids' successes in order to stimulate them. The American agreed, although that obviously was a generalization, and she said that competitiveness should not be forced down childrens' throats. I had a thought that I did not voice, i. e. that I think I got a part of my drive to achieve from being constantly sort of berated - my performance was never compared to the one of other people, for several reasons, but I surely got a lot of shit when I acted unfocused, and sure I still get a lot of shit when I act arrogant or mindless, even though I do not live with my parents any more. It's kind of paradoxical, how this very old-fashioned way of bringing kids up is regareded as 'without love', as opposed to attitudes that seem to be more nurturing. On the other hand, some results are remarkably better, if one has to look at understandable benchmarks. Other results are unpredictable.