Aww, this is the second time you've mentioned high school in as many replies. Was that a painful time for you? Is that when you discovered that the kids didn't find you interesting either? Nobody recognised the greatness you were so certain was there? Thank God school shootings weren't really a thing in your day, eh?

And do you have any idea how ridiculous you sound referring to me as "the author" when it's just the two of us talking? Nobody else cares about your sad little comments Mark. They don't care what you think about "the author". You don't have an audience. It's just you and me.

So you're right, thankfully, I can't imagine your internal life. It must be awful. You're obviously a deeply unhappy, profoundly insecure man.

That said, I agree wholeheartedly with your list, with the possible exception of Bret Weinstein (I think he's a good man, but he seems to have lost his way a little recently). I'm pleased to see you have such good taste. Great minds all of them. Definitely superior to mine. Of course, I didn't ever claim otherwise.

You seem to assume that success equals arrogance. But it doesn't. I'm very friendly with my readers. I value them enormously. And I take the time to respond to as many comments as possible (which many other writers don't) precisely because I appreciate the opportunity to hear other perspectives and learn from them.

But there's nothing I hate more than people who get their kicks from trying to tear other people down. And as I know that I'm far from the only writer you try to do this to, you forfeit the respect I happily offer to decent human beings.

Anyway, I'll stop pointing out how pathetic you are now, because I genuinely feel bad for you. Your jealousy at the success and readership of a complete stranger is a sign of a tortured soul whose pain I don't need to add to.

"The commenter" clearly struggles to interact with others in productive, healthy, socially well-adjusted ways, leaving him isolated and miserable, and so he tries to inflict his misery on others. Nobody suffers more as a result of this, than the commenter himself. The author only hopes that the commenter manages to free himself from this unhealthy cycle and becomes a happier, less resentful human being.