John Cullum and Em compare their reactions to oddballs they see on the street.
Do you deem a person a crackpot, strange duck, a kook, because of what he/she is doing or promoting? Or is it clothing? The person's strange demeanor? Is that what makes a person "weird?"
The Cullums wonder if they react because someone who's seems "different" makes them uneasy, and discuss whether they ought to change their ways.
Posts
6 comments:
Tacking a subject as this one in such a light and fun way is great. Society has restricted what we say that so much is "inappropriate ". I believe that certain subjects are approachable and should be discussed. You have the chutzpah to do so. Kudos.
My experience with " weirdos" isn't so much a visual one as it is a sensory one. I usually feel a sort of creepiness come over me when around certain individuals. Not addressing it, I politely excuse myself if engaged or move on if in passing.
Much love to both you and Mr. Cullum.
Happy Saturday
Living in a small midwestern town we only have homeless people lokking different. But this is a college town so lots of young people dress different and stand out to me. Strange looking people make me feel uncomfortable and worried. I am homebound now so don't get out much anymore, but sometimes I see them at the grocery store and wonder how weird they are. Interesting blog Em! You and John make me smile! kam
Mhh a look into ourselves and the way we see ourselvs. I say ourselves because every weirdo is human and a product of a social pot which brews what we later categorise and even fear as "weirdo". It is a product of all the ingredients that is poured into a soul whether by a family structure at school or our immediate communities. This social pot will however produce a "weirdo" or the "prejudiced" who sees another human being as weird. Yes i self have categorised certain people as weird simply because i would not trade places with them and be who they are.
The question is, when does eccentricity merge into weirdness. I prefer to think of myself as somewhat eccentric. Case in point: I've had skin cancer, so, to protect my face, I always wear a fishing hat, which is like a baseball cap with an extra-large bill and ear-flaps. I used to be self-conscious about wearing it in fashionable cities, but straw hats and such are much less effective and hard to pack. So now I stride through Paris and New York with my eccentric hat, and hardly draw a glance.
You should live where I live! In Wilkes-Barre, PA, if you came here, you might be considered weirdos! If you go to our mall, there are more fat people per square foot than I'm sure you see in New York. They are not considered weird. Even if they have pierced eye brows and noses, you are right in style. I went to see Seinfeld the other night, and he said he loves Wilkes-Barre. Then he said, "How can you live here????" It's kind of dull and ordinary. These people still get nervous on elevators -- not because of fellow riders, but because of the mechanics of it all. Everyone is very voluble; strangers will talk to you in doctors' offices about any topic, including why they are there. You can learn their life stories. They are not weird, usually just OLD and lonely. People still smile at strangers on the street -- that's really refreshing! You can say Hello to anyone. I guess NO ONE is weird here, so we're never uncomfortable.
Love it. "Weirdo's" make my life more interesting!
Post a Comment