Orwell wrote:
We weren't in any theological or spiritual debate, if that's what you were wondering. I just seemed to lack normal human emotions and empathy, which, for purposes of this description at school, indicated that I had no soul, whatever was meant by that.
We have emotions and empathy that are normal for us; I would have been perceived by my classmates at that age in some similar way, but I can't recall any of them caring enough to say something; or maybe it was because we were a little more polite in general during the 1950's.
I get the idea from what you say, that what they meant was basically "you're a little different from us, and it bugs us a bit".
I seem to have a dim recall of this being used as a not-uncommon expression before, long ago.
But, Vive la Difference! We are not a cookie-cutter world, but life is difficult socially for teens, and teens, especially today, don't seem to be encouraged to "be individuals" as much as we were. Young people today seem to be more concerned about being the same, than appreciating variety and individuality than we did.
Sort of the herd instinct, and probably the overall environment and perceived uncertainty of the times influences this kind of feeling. I've always been a little puzzled by this phenomenon myself, and the varied ways it manifests, even in how kids dress. There's always been this to a degree, but I feel it's a lot more intense today.
But, "Nil Illigitimatus Carborundum" (don't let the b______s wear you down" :wink"
And yes, my Latin grammar is probably not correct; I un-elected Latin in HS.
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He who sees all beings in the Self, and the Self in all beings, hates none -- Isha Upanishad
Bom Shankar Bholenath! I do not "have a syndrome", nor do I "have a disorder," I am a "Natural Born Scholar!"