Creating Shock & Awe

This post is not really a venting but more of an observation. The world in general seems to have more and more people who (they claim) are trying to be different and not conforming to the current flow of society. They dye their hair crazy colors, they pierce every part of their body, they get tattoos everywhere, they dress in crazy fashions or barely dress for that matter. They want to be different, yet I proclaim they are not really being "different". They are being just like all the others who are doing those same things. Rebellion against the norm of society has always been around, but today it seems that more and more people are taking part. It is their right. It is their choice. To this I say, "Yes, it is you're choice. However, along with that comes the attention you are truly seeking. The stand out in a crowd emphasis. The shock and awe you are trying to create in those you encounter." 

What gets me is that most of the people taking part in the be different lifestyle and fashions get upset and offended when people stare at them. They square their shoulders and say things like, "I'm still the same person," "You don't have a right to judge me," "Just because I look like this doesn't make me bad,"I'm still a nice person". Yep, all of those statements they make are true. However, isn't that why you are doing it? Weren't you trying to make people look at you? I get that many consider these things an art form...body art, etc. Even those who only have one piercing in their ears wear jewelry there as a decoration to draw attention. That is what all jewelry is about. To each his own I reckon; but when you are trying to create shock and awe in others, why are you offended when you do?! If that was your point, then don't be offended be proud you succeeded. 

I learned long ago that you can't always judge a book by its cover, because at times I have been at a gas station or other store and had the guy with the tattoos or body piercings everywhere be the one to be kind and hold the door open for me yet the business dressed style guy let the door slam on me.  However, this isn't always the case. For the most part, people are easily labeled by how they look. When we worked with teens at church I taught the girls that how they looked would affect how people saw them and responded to them. I have used this illustration before but let me paint a picture. If you are in a city and see a woman dressed scantily, with lots of makeup, and high heel shoes approaching open car windows or men walking by....what is your first thought? If you are honest, you will think that woman is a prostitute. You may or may not be correct but the thought is still there. When you see someone on a motorcycle, dressed in leather with a bandanna on their head, you most likely think they are part of a biker gang. When you see someone in a suit and tie carrying a briefcase, you usually think of a business man. When you see someone in an expensive evening gown, fur coat and with their hair done up, you think that the woman is either high society or at least going to an expensive special occasion. When you see a lady in a long skirt with her hair in a bun you automatically think she is a Pentecostal. When you see two men walking down the sidewalk in black dockers with white button down shirts, you think Mormon. How you look makes people think certain things about you whether you want it to or not. When someone is dressed in black, with black dyed hair, black fingernails and black lipstick, one assumes you are Gothic (if that is still even around anymore).

So, if you are going for that look that goes against the average everyday norm of society, do not be so offended when you achieve your goal of shocking someone and making them stare at you. In reality, being different makes people stare at you, and that was probably what you wanted. There are many, many people out there who look different because they get no choice. They were born with physical differences from everyone else. Some have missing limbs, fingers or toes, some have down syndrome, some have cerebral palsy, some are blind, some are deaf and use sign language to communicate, some must wear braces on their legs or any other number of physical ailments. These people often spend time wishing they COULD be just like everyone else. 

I do believe a person has a right to do what they want with their own bodies, I just wish that if you want to step out and be different, you'd not be so upset when you get the attention you are desiring.