DUers, what did your dad do or say during your childhood that has influenced how you live

[mythology]

221. My biological dad's positive contributions ended

about nine months before I was born.

Mostly I learned what not to do from him. Because growing up, I realized that I didn't want to be like him.

He constantly insulted and belittled anybody who was in some way beneath him didn't kowtow to him because he thought that is how you got respect. So instead I learned to sass up the chain and support down the chain.

I learned to not be afraid that somebody else might know something I didn't when I got smacked around for proving that water will boil faster if you cover the pot with a lid.

I learned that giving your wife a gift you know she hates for every birthday and every Christmas actually isn't funny. Instead you should give gifts that are tailored to somebody's individual interests.

I learned that motivations matter. My biological dad has done good hard work in dealing with HIV positive children. But he does it so that people will tell him how great he is. So I learned to do good things but keep them private because I don't want to be phony about things.