Yahappynow

OK, I'm a high school senior this year and I think my parents are some of the best I've met. Honestly, objectively speaking, they beat a lot of my friends' parents. Myself, I'm a band/computer nerd, AP classes, NEVER drink, that sort of thing. And I hang out with the "wierd" crowd: the 'goths' 'emos' 'nerds' 'otakus' etc, the condescension to whom isn't, at my school at least, as intense as movies make it out to be; I'm just trying to give you an idea of the kids with whom I hang out. I would also like to point out that the kids with the chains on their pants and skulls on their shirts and the like? They're the nicest people I've met and on the whole never drink, smoke, or any of that. That's mostly the more 'normal' kids actually in my limited experience. Anyway, I have an essay I wrote at 3am one night when I couldn't sleep. I had just found out that a friend of mine from middle school had been kicked out of her home for coming out as gay, and oddly that got me thinking about the things parents don't know they do that is extremely hurtful to their kids. So if your position is that the people I mention in my essay deserve this treatment, that's your prerogative to decide that, but for those who really love their children unconditionally, I ask that you follow my link to my essay. It would really mean a lot to me to hear your feedback. Thank you =)

I apologize for how whiney/angsty it can sound, but that's the way our hormones make us think =)

We're Not Freaks

Yahappynow

I thank all of you parents who took the time to follow the link, if not reply, and I sincerely hope you will apply it, for your children's sake. =)

etceterae

Hey there =] I'm going to be a high school junior, and I run a parenting advice blog. Mind if I second-link your letter?

From your description, we sound a bit similar. I'm going to be in all IB, I'm an otaku myself (shame shame, lol). And I agree with you on the kids who wear clothes with skulls and crossbones - they're not evil people, and in my experience they are, too, nicer than some of the more normally dressed people I meet.

Reading your letter, however, it seems to me that it's impossible to be tolerant of everyone, and you're asking for a rather tall order there. Should we be tolerant of murderers, then, or morally questionable people? In my opinion, there's no way to look at a person and know if they're good or not, and the quickest way people determine that is by dress. We don't always have the time to meet and realize that some people in all-black, skull-filled clothing are not into the occult or "evil deeds". It's actually genetic programming to do so, to spot possible "enemies" by outer appearance. Low, I realize, but crudely effective. Unfortunately, we haven't outgrown this biological trait.

Additionally, I think your example with the dog collar and kidnap movie was an enormous stretch. Perhaps it was just the morning dooziness, though =]

Myself, I'm bi. My mom's fine with that, but there's no way I can tell my dad. I'd get kicked out like your friend. =/

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Yahappynow

So yes I totally agree with you that it is human nature to judge people and that it will never stop. I'm just trying to let parents know what happens so that they can choose to ignore it or not. I'm not saying not to judge people, just to think twice about saying something in front of their kids.
Also, oddly enough, all the examples really happened...
tyvm =)

etceterae

Idealistically so, that would happen in a utopian society. Unfortunately, we can't all watch our mouths so well, and I have a feeling that if we did, we'd end up saying very little.

The dog collar incident happened? Judging by your wording, perhaps it was a personal experience of yours?

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Yahappynow

Yes all of them happened and I can tell you where and when. I thought, ironically it seems, that they would be more realistic if I didn't make them up. xD

etceterae

Lol =] True true.

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