>> This seems to be common knowledge to artists and uncommon among almost everyone else: Do not go poking around an artist's works unless/until they are ready to share their work. (Applies to sketchbooks, dance practice, private art studios, etc) <<
I have observed this too.
Wednesday has a fine grasp of her own boundaries ("This is my writing time.") but a terrible grasp of anyone else's. I think she's the kind of person who needs someone to spell out for her why certain actions cause problems and what else to do instead. Fortuitously, she has a werewolf roommate who, while hobbled by adolescent angst and inexperience, is a pack creature with fluent social skills. But that depends on Enid realizing that in addition to giving zero effs, Wednesday also has zero clue when it comes to social interactions. Once Enid figures that out, however, she can explain, "Wednesday, when you dig into Xavier's art stuff, he feels the way you do about people digging into your writing stuff. So if you want to see something, ask first."
>> It is possible for someone to chose misanthropy due to finding other humans annoying. <<
Well, that's obviously true for Wednesday, because she says things about it all the time. She often tells people to go away, leave her alone, or at least be quiet. She avoids touch as much as possible. She's bothered by noise and colors -- clearly sensory avoidant, which makes a disaster out of sharing a room with sensory-seeking Enid. When other people are always uncomfortable or downright painful to be around, of course you wind up hating them.
>> Constantly being guilt-tripped or shamed would count, so in other words, some misanthropes may become misanthropic because of social emotion.<<
Also true, though I suspect Wednesday would find it more annoying than effective. Her feelings of guilt or shame seem primarily focused on breaking her own rules, rather than other people's, because she is routinely displeasing to others so it's not really worth worrying about.
>> Alternately, some misanthropes may have normal-ish social needs, <<
Clearly not true of Wednesday, but ...
>> but find the offered socialization either does not meet their needs or makes things much worse. <<
... it's certainly true that offered socialization rarely if ever meets her needs. I think the closest is actually Eugene, who is intensely loyal and also doesn't fight her for dominance. Wednesday very quickly slotted him into the "little brother" role, and that's not something she does lightly.
Enid has tons of chemistry, but those girls need to get on the same page and realize that a mixed relationship requires a massive amount of work. If they're willing, they have great potential. But if they don't realize it or aren't willing to put in the work, they'll just keep tripping over each other, which is not fun.
>> Compare to old styles of lordship, feudalism, etc. The Lord may not care about an individual serf or an individual scrap of land, but will care about the insult offered when someone does not respect his sovereignty. Then we get a social system where the entire lord's household (or demesne, or whatever) collectively looks out for each other. Seems bizarre to modern post-WWII, but it does make a sort of sense.<<
It works great if you know dominance theory AND how to apply it for maximum effect. A lord who terrorizes his people will be hated and feared, always has to watch his back, and is eventually exhausted by the effort. A lord who rules fairly, rewards good behavior, and punishes only at need will be respected, admired, and defended against outside enemies. Wednesday has no ever-living clue about this. She has dominant instincts, she's aggressive and even protective, but she doesn't understand the need to avoid abusing her own people, to be reliable, or to cultivate relationships through a mutual exchange of benefits. I get the distinct impression that Morticia excels at that social stuff, and is exasperated that her daughter does not -- because Wednesday pretty clearly can't see and doesn't understand a lot of social signals and boundaries.
>> And the Addams family are quite often written as an Old Blood, Old Money family, who are politely befuddled by all these 'quaint new customs.' <<
Yes ...
I have observed this too.
Wednesday has a fine grasp of her own boundaries ("This is my writing time.") but a terrible grasp of anyone else's. I think she's the kind of person who needs someone to spell out for her why certain actions cause problems and what else to do instead. Fortuitously, she has a werewolf roommate who, while hobbled by adolescent angst and inexperience, is a pack creature with fluent social skills. But that depends on Enid realizing that in addition to giving zero effs, Wednesday also has zero clue when it comes to social interactions. Once Enid figures that out, however, she can explain, "Wednesday, when you dig into Xavier's art stuff, he feels the way you do about people digging into your writing stuff. So if you want to see something, ask first."
>> It is possible for someone to chose misanthropy due to finding other humans annoying. <<
Well, that's obviously true for Wednesday, because she says things about it all the time. She often tells people to go away, leave her alone, or at least be quiet. She avoids touch as much as possible. She's bothered by noise and colors -- clearly sensory avoidant, which makes a disaster out of sharing a room with sensory-seeking Enid. When other people are always uncomfortable or downright painful to be around, of course you wind up hating them.
>> Constantly being guilt-tripped or shamed would count, so in other words, some misanthropes may become misanthropic because of social emotion.<<
Also true, though I suspect Wednesday would find it more annoying than effective. Her feelings of guilt or shame seem primarily focused on breaking her own rules, rather than other people's, because she is routinely displeasing to others so it's not really worth worrying about.
>> Alternately, some misanthropes may have normal-ish social needs, <<
Clearly not true of Wednesday, but ...
>> but find the offered socialization either does not meet their needs or makes things much worse. <<
... it's certainly true that offered socialization rarely if ever meets her needs. I think the closest is actually Eugene, who is intensely loyal and also doesn't fight her for dominance. Wednesday very quickly slotted him into the "little brother" role, and that's not something she does lightly.
Enid has tons of chemistry, but those girls need to get on the same page and realize that a mixed relationship requires a massive amount of work. If they're willing, they have great potential. But if they don't realize it or aren't willing to put in the work, they'll just keep tripping over each other, which is not fun.
>> Compare to old styles of lordship, feudalism, etc. The Lord may not care about an individual serf or an individual scrap of land, but will care about the insult offered when someone does not respect his sovereignty. Then we get a social system where the entire lord's household (or demesne, or whatever) collectively looks out for each other. Seems bizarre to modern post-WWII, but it does make a sort of sense.<<
It works great if you know dominance theory AND how to apply it for maximum effect. A lord who terrorizes his people will be hated and feared, always has to watch his back, and is eventually exhausted by the effort. A lord who rules fairly, rewards good behavior, and punishes only at need will be respected, admired, and defended against outside enemies. Wednesday has no ever-living clue about this. She has dominant instincts, she's aggressive and even protective, but she doesn't understand the need to avoid abusing her own people, to be reliable, or to cultivate relationships through a mutual exchange of benefits. I get the distinct impression that Morticia excels at that social stuff, and is exasperated that her daughter does not -- because Wednesday pretty clearly can't see and doesn't understand a lot of social signals and boundaries.
>> And the Addams family are quite often written as an Old Blood, Old Money family, who are politely befuddled by all these 'quaint new customs.' <<
That fits.