I hate it. I have having 10,000 synonyms, I hated having to worry about what to say AND if it was gonna come out. I hated how Arlington Va fire and Rescue dept picked some BS reason for not hiring me, same with Fairfax County Fire and their Police dept too. It sucks. I didn’t let it stop me, but I had a harder road than some who still bitched about their journey. I’ll say OP may have a small point that it hardens us, but to wear it with pride like it’s a badge of honor is insane. It’s an affliction I wore with shame and fear until I punched it in the throat and made it my bitch.