July 9, 2009

• So, during my past-midnight musings, I happened to remember an aspect (one of the many) I dislike about my mother (and it just dawned on me how awful a person I must seem to those that don't know me).

  We'll be watching T. V. or a movie and a character (usually a comic relief who has equal character development and standing with the other characters) who is deliberately odd for the show/film will come on the screen and my mother remarks, almost as if this is some inside joke or is trying to get into my good wishes/good side by getting me to laugh, "Now that's a nerd," or, "Now that girl is goofy/weird, you'd never want to date her, right?" (moments of this happening are Grease and High School Musical 3, respectively (as to High School Musical, the siblings and I got bored one night and rented it to have something to laugh at. I assure you, I'm no fan of the series)).

  To this I have to ask - what do you expect of me? Am I supposed to laugh at your immediate conjecture of this person (albeit a fictional one) and vain assumption of your apparent superiority of them? Granted, I understand my somewhat abnormal response to your reaction is just that - slightly abnormal. Characters that exist on the screen solely for laughing at are nothing new. But perhaps that these characters weren't meant to be laughed at is what really just peeves me (particularly in the case of HSM; knowing the series, it was probably meant to be to celebrate being different. Preaching to the wrong crowd, Disney, though I do appreciate the attempt).

  But no, it's because, mother, I know you. I know it doesn't just extend to the screen. Like all actions, the smaller ones are shockingly accurate of your bigger actions; and yet you'd probably just laugh at me if I told you to watch every action you make; though you do prove my point beautifully everytime, so I thank you for that. Frankly, mom, I can't go to public with you because the apparently abhorrent weight of the woman passing by us is in dire need for you to give comment to - out loud while she passes us.

  Is it a generation gap? Am I just "out there" with this opinion? Because, to me, dropping a personal opinion (which I'm sure the passerby don't really give two flying fucks about what you think, anyway) about every person that you see is really just unnecessary and, more importantly, flat out rude. It denotes a complete understanding of flat out stupidity, really.

  So, when you look at me like I'm supposed to understand what you're getting at, as if you're striking some kind of note that I ought to get, like by finding this "common ground" we'll become closer together, understand that you have just demonstrated to me you don't know me by any stretch of the imagination (in spite of me constantly explaining this viewpoint every damn time you do something stupid like this). But more importantly, you've demonstrated your own ignorance about humanity (and what's important about it) and an understanding on how to treat your fellow Man.

  Pray, tell me, why is being different so bad a thing? Rather, why should we wish to normalize ourselves? Am I the only one who actually gets intrigued at someone who happens to stand out? I'd love to rant on that point, but I honestly can't think of any more thousand ways to restate that basic, beautiful point. Sometimes the most direct and blunt way is the best.

  So, mother, no - to both of your questions. To be honest, I'd rather not take part in your 2-dimensional view of the world which shoves us all in these convenient boxes for the sake of your pathetic inability to comprehend much more than what you've been told to believe, understand, and appreciate.

  Am I being overly critical (or, perhaps, patronizing...)?

  • 4:13 am
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