Number two

[tourist]

second sons might also commiserate, just reading Jodi Picoults 19 minutes, a novel based on school shootings in US. The killer/shooter turns out, just like the columbine massacre, to be a second son and the case is made that he was bullied by his older brother.

This is similar fashion to Diary of a Wimpy kid books in which Greg Heffley is the second son and middle brother. He is relentlessy teased and bullied by his older brother. (though Greg doesnt have dark violent tendencies, he assuredly does not get along with his older brother)

Then of course there is Esau and Jacob, which anyone whos read the Bible knows about, especially the importance of firstborn birthright.
and Cain and Abel though in that case younger Abel was the golden child and Cain was the bad one. Abel paid the price for being good

In the sweet Valley high series, Jessica is the younger, more flaky twin to Elizabeth who is the 'perfect' more responsible older twin

I'm a second son.

 

[Genipher]

I'm a second son.

Do you feel like you could have, but for the grace of God, joined the Dark Side, due to your birth order?

 

[tourist]

Do you feel like you could have, but for the grace of God, joined the Dark Side, due to your birth order?

No joining of the dark side for me but may the force be with you.

 

[Lanolin]

well must be only me then thats second daughter
Although I have two cousins that also are and an aunt

cousin one seems like her elder sister was bossy to everyone but she followed her lead
cousin two left home while her elder sister stayed. she was arguing with her mother too much
aunts older sister was my mother, and while my mum had a lot of responsbility for 7 siblings shes say it was her second sister was the willful one who did everything first, but Indont know from the aunts point of view


my grandma and grandaunt it was said at her funeral that those two would be arguing in heaven, although not sure who was elder. but I do know one was saved and the other wasnt (my grandaunt was the one who got saved)

for me, I know I am saved but my sister isnt yet

 

[Lanolin]

although it could be argued firstborns are automatically saved as it seemed to be that way in OT culture

 

[Lanolin]

apparently Princess Margaret didnt have second daugher-itis according to Andrew Morton in his bio of Elizabeth and Margaret : The intimate world of the Windsor Sisters

second daughter-itis??

 

[Lanolin]

Read a memoir by Serena Williams
she competed with and against her sister. Being second and younger meant she had more to prove. Being younger meant she was more spoiled and even sort of princessy.
She got away with much, even cheating when she was little to win. (she later regretted just how bratty she was)
It was Venus who convinced her to go to college an learn something rather than bum around watching tv in her summer breaks from tennis. she did (even tho it was Fashion design, not rocket science) she put her brain to use and so when she got sponsorship she was able to create her own fashion line.

Also it was Venus who set the example of being selfless and gracious and being a good sport. Serena ended up being the world champion record holder.

 

[Lanolin]

On Princess Margaret (Princess Margarine to the Beatles!)
Such a contrast to her sister and maybe a foil for her ...she could get away with being the 'naughty little sister' and it seems was forgiven much, especially when she threw tantrums because her train was not as long as her sisters. She was four years younger and also the 'baby'

Later life didnt turn out quite how she expected and she grew a bit cantankerous...I think her lack of education because she was 'number two' means she felt dismissed since she wasnt going to be Queen it was decided shed have a less rigorous curriculum than her sister. Though she could have been an amazing actress, her gifts were overlooked.

 

[Lanolin]

I read this history of my local area and came across this phenomenon called 'remittance men' Remittance men were men who were sent away from home in England to lands far away, such as colonies eg NZ, to basically fend for themselves, because their families (often well-off families) didnt want them. They were like the second sons or the black sheeps of their family, deemed unworthy of inheritance.

They were given 'remittance' eg payment by their families in England, but they were basically exiled and told not to return.

I thought this history was rather sad. The law of primogeniture in England meant that only firstborns got to inherit if they were aristocrats with land.