It's true that some people may be concerned for some reason. But if you think about it, why would someone just walk into a store and start smoking a cigarette blatantly? I mean, I figure people should have more common sense than that.
And besides that, my in-your-face way of communicating is a product of my environment largely. I grew up in a very conservative little city and my parents taught me to be creative. I dyed my hair every color of the rainbow and used to have 5 piercings on my face. People reacted horribly, grown men and women would make fun of me call me names etc. It's bizarre and I suppose I may be young enough that I haven't fully shed the mannerisms and nuiances of those around me. It's not just a way of being, it's also a way of thinking. My boyfriend's got dreadlocks. I'm already screwed when I walk into an establishment--they think I'm going to steal something :/ It gets old. People lookin' you up and down. Unfortunately I like to be clever and sarcastic. Maybe if I could get a job and had my own place I'd be at peace with the world as I was a year ago :]
Oh well, I should probably take to heart some of these comments -- they must be coming from some way of reasoning, and are probably therefore valid to the extent of consideration. I have trouble approaching people in an inviting way, in fact. Perhaps the best thing to do would be to attempt at least to shed those attributes I so strongly find fault with in others. Then again, people often refuse to trust my good intentions.
and to anyone who incinuated I do not think......
I spend a good portion of my day analyzing right from wrong, the way I think vs the way others think, as well as extensive sessions of staring into space as my mind is occupied by question after question. My brain runs on rapid fire mode and is never, ever quiet. It's a disorder in many senses and I acTually take psychiatric medication I have been perscribed with to help quiet the noise. It's very difficult to edit it to my exact specifications, I will add.
So perhaps you might stop to wonder why I would act a way instead of purely stating that because you do not act in a similar fashion I must then comply precisely to similar functioning.
your parents taught you to be creative by dying your hair different colours and shoving metal in to your face? i wouldnt call that creative, i would call that trying to be individual with the sole purpose to shock and get attention.
i would guess that you are the youngest sibling who in your parents eyes never quite matched up to your elder brother or sister. you probably felt that they didnt pay you much attention so dying your hair and getting peircings is your way of saying "look at me, i exist!"
all of your actions, from the hair dye to vaping in public is for the sole purpose of attention seeking..........of which im sure gives you a buzz!
you complain of people giving you "looks" but what do you expect? your image and attitude to others is on one hand screaming "everyone, look at me!!!" but then saying "dont look at me, dont judge me".
being an individual is great, and i have no issues with that at all. i dont care what a person looks like.........they could be black, white, pink or green, they could have a skin head or a mohican........it doesnt matter as long as they are nice people who are condiderate to others.
true perception of a person is based on their actions, not on their looks.
for example, im a big 6 foot 5 guy and for many years i had a number one shaved head (skinhead basically) and i only shaved once a week. quite frankly i looked like a member of the NF (national front, a highly racist group of thugs who were making a storm during the 80's).
people would stare at me, cross the road, feel intimidated etc.......especially the elderly who im sure thought i was about to mug them. but i would make a point of being polite to those people, to say hello to them, open doors for woman with pushchairs, help old ladies cross the road etc
to see the people then react to me in a very positive and friendly manner is something very special and rewarding. it was great to be able to think that even though i chose to look like how i did, people realised not to judge me on my looks but on the way i treated them.
and the reactions i would get when people saw me in the street holding hands with my wife was very funny!
my wife is indian! we soooooooo dont look like a couple! lol (together 10 years though now!)
so my whole point is........YES! be individual, be different, wear what you want, look how you want BUT
be nice to others, and others will be nice to you.
try it!
