I'm a sociopath (not a homocical killer as hollywood would have you believe that all sociopaths are, we just value people differently) and if it wasn't something that was decided in the womb I'd advocate it for everyone.

What does it matter what they think or say, you just keep your head down and live for the day that you shove your Nobel prize up their self important nostrils.

Seriously though, the trick here is to turn this to your advantage (I won't presume to tell you how, you know all the details I'm sure you'll think of something ) that way you both get yourself out of this little hole and rub their noses in it.