I still think there *are* toxic and malicious people out there, who are best avoided if possible.

Well, damn skippy. I've struggled with getting that concept across to people who, luckily, have never really suffered at the hands of such a person. It's definitely true.

I've jokingly nicknamed myself "Bitter Jaded Old Hag(TM)", just in acknowledgment of the fact that my past experiences definitely colour how I deal with my present, and that it can often be very difficult to look for the positive side when you've known different.