[Cadaverous Pallor]

Agreed that most of these people are sad products of sad families, sad education, and sad circumstances. Sorry if I offended anyone.

When I look at those I mostly think "there but for the grace of God go I", which is why it's rather painful to look at. I'm probably more guilty than many of being embarrassed by my somewhat poor roots and somewhat uncouth upbringing. I can't take all the credit for the changes in my life but I know that it was only because I wanted to step up that I actually did. I have relatives who have never done well and I have to say that I think they could if they actually tried. (Just like LSPE I want to keep my personal life out of it but it ends up being integral to the conversation anyway.)

Overriding sentiment is this - we don't know these people and their circumstances so I should probably just shut up now.