I have noticed a few things coming up in other discussions recently about people's unwillingness to accept those who are different from the norm.
There is a new improved version of Rudolph the red nosed reindeer mentioned in the "does anyone else hate Christmas" discussion. Someone else mentioned "The ugly duckling". It seems to be a part of our everyday lives, that every group has it's central core of happy, outgoing nt people, who are self sufficient and unable to tollerate those who do not fit their stereotypical view of a "nice to know" person.
I noticed an episode of MASH among the TV programs on one of the many repeat channels recently. I used to be an avid fan of this program, years ago, until I experienced a prolonged period of bullying myself, and began to see the program for what it was. I had assumed it had been relegated to the nonPC bin, where it belongs. We were being invited to laugh at the misfortunes/bullying of people who did not fit in to the inner clique. One particular episode, where the head nurse (name unspellable) was in the shower tent and the "hero" had the tent walls dropped to the ground, so that she was exposed to the laughing male audience, would today lead to legal action, if not the dismisal of those who did it.
Most of the "ism"s in society (racism, sexism etc) are more to do with difference, than any rational ideology. It has always been this way. Long before children in school began to ostracise other children from different ethnic groups, they were ostracising the one with glasses or red hair, or no dad. A century ago, children were brought up to "know their place" in society. You were born into a social class, a political affilliation, a trade.
We still have trouble embracing difference and social mobility. Legislation does not really help. We now have the notion that there is advantage in being disadvantaged in the right sort of way. (the token female etc) I'm sure you have all heard the sort of thing I am thinking of, but don't want to spell out.
We need a fundamental shift in attitudes. Everybody has tallents of some sort. If these tallents are sought out and developed and appreciated, while the differences, weaknesses and shortcomings were mitigated, we could have a more rounded and accepting society.
Maybe change is underway in schools and I am unaware of it. What do you think?