Scotch
So, I was thinking a few days ago in light of recent events. And some thoughts came into my head that brought the situation into a better state of clarity and really helped to solidify some disparate thoughts I've had over the years. Here's what I have been thinking.
Life is what you make of it. Goddamn, what a silly cliche. And it actually hurts me to write that. But no, really. Let me explain. (By the way, I only wrote that because it was funny to me.)
Anyway. Life is more an amalgamation of experiences than I think people tend to think of it as. This makes me think back to some psychology research Dr. Martin and I spent time examining...
The general belief in people is that beliefs precede actions. In other words, because I like ice cream, I buy and eat ice cream. That's the traditional belief. But some research seems to indicate that this is not the case. Rather, it's the other way around. Actions precede beliefs. In other words, I buy and eat ice cream, and thus I notice that I like ice cream. It's more of a self-awareness (or registering?) that lets you know that you like the ice cream.
Anyways, so I was applying this to the world at large, specifically in regards to people's actions. Most people reading this, most people I know, and most of the people who will be offended by what I'm writing are not involved, associated with, or accepted into the social norm. I think that, largely, there is a sense of pride or something about this. There's a feeling that normal things are not okay, it is in fact better to be the social outsider.
So, I'm looking at this behavior and just wondering, "Why?" Why think like that? And I, after years, came back to that research. People observe themselves not involved with the activities or persons of the social norm and assume that it is because they are somehow different in essence and in belief. But maybe it's just because there isn't participation on their parts in that social norm. There's nothing wrong with social norm type stuff. Just if you observe yourself as not included and not participating and not developing any sort of relationship with those people, those activities, and those beliefs there develops a sense that you are somehow different and not normal.
Really, though, if people would take time to sit around and talk to the jocks, watch football, and hang out in bars on a Friday night, you would find you are much, much less dissimilar than you think. And maybe you'll find you have some common ground and common interests with this other way of living.