I wanna be independent, Don’t label me, I’m my own person. These are the constant whines of the self-indulgent teenage population. It interests me how, when asked, no person would ever admit to being a chav, Goth or Emo but would quickly label others in this way. Label; another term which worms it way uncomfortably under my skin. I have a label maker, it’s pretty nifty. I don’t see the problem with a label. Yet most so-called independent persons use it as if it’s some vulgar obscenity. I mean, come on, its human nature to make a judgement about someone based on their appearance. In fact, it’s almost impossible not to. I know our Mother’s all told us that it’s what’s inside that counts, but we’re no longer five years old. We should know better by now. Appearance is everything.
When you first see someone the only thing you have to judge them on is their appearance so, naturally, you make a judgement based on that appearance. If this person is wearing track suit bottoms with their socks tucked in and Nike trainers you are obviously going to immediately think ‘chav’. Honestly, tell me that’s not what you’d think. But that’s okay, because everyone would. This person might turn out to be a lovely, kind and caring type but your initial judgement would still have happened. Obviously, there’s more to a person than appearance but it is the first impression that is everything. You may go so far as to decide whether or not to be friends with a person based on this appearance and stereotype. That, I think, is where the injustice is. I understand that people might be frustrated with this type of person, who acts on their prejudice.
Being ‘independent’ is, in a way, quite selfish. There are some who, in their strive for independence, disregard others and deliberately go against their ideals. Ever stopped to think that this might hurt someone’s feelings? For you to deliberately not wear what their wearing or deliberately not do what their doing. They might even start to think that what their doing is wrong and that they should change this. And remember guys, you should never change yourself for anybody. I say that in the most cynical way possible because sometimes, you really should change. For example, if you were a heinous character and somebody told you so? Yeah, you should probably do something about that.
Most of these people who claim to be independent are the least independent people that I’ve ever known. They have their own style, which just happens to come from Topshop from the fashion rail. They have their own taste in music, which just happens to be similar to everybody else’s. They have their own friends, who just so happen to be just like them. Get over yourselves, please. Nobody is independent, not in the way you imagine. Independent people are what you call ‘weirdo’s’, ‘geeks’, and ‘freaks’. Actually, some of the most independent people are in mental hospitals.
There are some cultures where being independent is not the done thing at all. It is better to be part of the group and work together as a team; the individual helping the group. I think that in some ways this is a much better ethos to have. It would certainly make us a lot less selfish. Communist! I hear you scream (well, I would if I were reading this article). I’m not saying ‘all animals are equal’ I’m merely saying that too much independence can be a bad thing.
I’m aware of several other articles, incidentally by some good friends of mine, that I am contradicting in this article. By no means am I beginning a feud; I merely wished to represent that other side of the argument. No harm done. The fact is: stereotypes are not always puritanical evil.
