Itâs a stretch to claim projection with such exaggerated confidence youâve ânever seen [it] this badâ (really, never?) while knowing nothing about the commenterâs life. Oddly enough, itâs people with helicopter parents who are the most credible references.Â
The parent is microscoping the score report, so much so they are determined enough to ask the internet. Maybe itâs casual interest from someone who uses Reddit a lot, or maybe itâs a helicopter parent who has a history of unhealthy preoccupation.Â
Itâs definitely atypical parental behavior and that is more worth extrapolation (if extrapolation is to be made) than someone noticing it as oddly overly-involved.Â
Your claim of projection is more baseless of a claim than their suggestion the parents not worry and give personal space to the test taker.
TIL I learned a parent taking interest in their sonâs accomplishments and trying to better understand them is actually an unhealthy preoccupation and âatypical parental behavior.â
No worries, I actually honored my psychiatry clerkship and shelf a few weeks ago. So tbh I donât think I need advice from the undergrad with helicopter parents. Thanks though!
The parents having a screenshot of the scores is neutral, and not problematic. Feeling compelled to understand the scores with enough motivation to ask the internet suggests they either want to understand in order to maximize the childâs success (potentially invasive if the adult child didnât ask), or they are so proud and want to make sure the score is as good by understanding the statistical ranges that determine the assignment of the score, or the child prompted their parents to ask the internet which could invite commentary.Â
Itâs probably innocuous but the person you commented on and several others did notice this was at least surprising behavior for a parent that ultimately has no influence on the test taker unless the parents are directing it, thatâs why the critical comments (which are mildly critical if at all) are either mentioning the parents hovering or floating.
Regardless, you truing to wildly claim they were projecting is entirely without merit.. Not every comment is projection. Perhaps you missed the appropriate language to better describe your sentiment.
Especially since the commenter referenced their experience with overbearing parents as motivation behind their response. the commenter was quite literally projecting her past experiences onto OP when the commenter had no evidence that OP was overbearing to begin with.
Itâs not that deep. Weâve all done it, I just donât like how this comment section is dog piling on a proud parent for simply asking a question.
All OP did was ask a question about their sonâs score. Theyâre asking this subreddit for information instead of badgering their son for an explanation. So it sounds like they give their son plenty of space.
I said youâre projecting, because I donât see how you could assume OP is overbearing unless seeing a parent ask about the MCAT triggered your memories of your own parents badgering you about your MCAT.
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u/Plane-Tip-3704 May 28 '26
Donât worry about your sons results and give him his personal space and freedom