I have strong feelings about this issue despite having very little evidence!
I decided the moment I heard that Harry gave John her cast-off phone that she was an older sibling. It's an older sibling thing to do—give something that you don't want anymore, whether because of unpleasant memories or because you've scratched it up. I wouldn't give my older brother a phone or, really, much of anything used. (I did give my younger brother my college tv when he went off to college.) Now as a full adult (and not a grad student), I can't imagine giving either brother a used phone.
I am the middle of three, and I was supposed to be the responsible one. It wasn't just in my head; when my brother and I did the same thing, we got in the same amount of trouble, even though I was younger and was never the initiator—and my parents seemed more disappointed in me! He was 2 1/2 years older, but they expected more of me. And, frankly, they were right. To what extent that was a self-fulfilling prophecy, I don't know: how did my brother feeling knowing they thought I should have more sense than he did?
I totally see John as the aggrieved younger sibling, perpetually annoyed that he's supposed to act older. It goes along with her drinking. It also goes along with my tendency to identify with John on the show, despite my complete lack of military experience, medical degree, or ability to kill anyone.
And yes, I think John and Sherlock sympathize with each other as younger siblings. I see John's attitude towards Mycroft as partly a reaction to his own sibling difficulties. He's totally an enabler in the palace scene where Sherlock is wearing only a sheet! And Mycroft is disappointed in John! And that totally strikes a chord with me (again).
no subject
I decided the moment I heard that Harry gave John her cast-off phone that she was an older sibling. It's an older sibling thing to do—give something that you don't want anymore, whether because of unpleasant memories or because you've scratched it up. I wouldn't give my older brother a phone or, really, much of anything used. (I did give my younger brother my college tv when he went off to college.) Now as a full adult (and not a grad student), I can't imagine giving either brother a used phone.
I am the middle of three, and I was supposed to be the responsible one. It wasn't just in my head; when my brother and I did the same thing, we got in the same amount of trouble, even though I was younger and was never the initiator—and my parents seemed more disappointed in me! He was 2 1/2 years older, but they expected more of me. And, frankly, they were right. To what extent that was a self-fulfilling prophecy, I don't know: how did my brother feeling knowing they thought I should have more sense than he did?
I totally see John as the aggrieved younger sibling, perpetually annoyed that he's supposed to act older. It goes along with her drinking. It also goes along with my tendency to identify with John on the show, despite my complete lack of military experience, medical degree, or ability to kill anyone.
And yes, I think John and Sherlock sympathize with each other as younger siblings. I see John's attitude towards Mycroft as partly a reaction to his own sibling difficulties. He's totally an enabler in the palace scene where Sherlock is wearing only a sheet! And Mycroft is disappointed in John! And that totally strikes a chord with me (again).