Opinions

A Story by Flylikethesun

So. This isn't exactly a story, just a lesson. I read Anatomy of a Misfit, which is amazing, and it totally inspired this, and idk if it's good, but I do feel it's true, so yah. Say if you disagree!

You wake up, look for what to wear.
And what are you thinking as you chose? Perhaps, what would look nice on me, or look the best on me? And that seems to lead to, will my classmates like this on me?

You go downstairs. Do you eat breakfast? Well, let's see. If you feel you are 'fat', in your opinion, maybe you wouldn't. Why? Because you don't want to end up fat. And why don't you? Maybe it's because it is seen as generally unacceptable to be fat, or considered fat. Think about it. You see someone across the street who seems bigger than average, and you may say, hey, look at that fat person. And if you are considered that person, you could not even be overweight. But who knows? And the exact same can go if you do eat breakfast because you are skinny. And that's of course not why everyone does or doesn't, some just want to or don't want to, are busy or have too much time.

Now, you get to school. Let's say 0 is neutral, 10 is popular, and -10 is unpopular.

Now, let's say you are a 10. Who do you hang out with? Certainly not the ones considered geeks, right? Oh gosh, no. That could ruin you. So you settle for the pretty ones, or the cute ones, the ones who you know wouldn't go against you, they're lucky that they don't get picked on as is. And who do you date? Well, that's obvious. Your equivalent. You are the most popular of your gender, you date the most popular of the other. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. It's expected. And what do you do? You gossip. You gossip, and you use your phone 24/7 and you backstab and you get what you want, and if you don't? Well..... You do. You do, or someone pays dearly. Your hair is perfect, your makeup (if you're a girl) is perfect, you're flawless. Flawless under coats of makeup and hair gel and designer clothes.

Now, let's say you're a -10. Who do you hang out with then? Well, other negative tens. Why? Well, you are considered so unpopular that you drag down anyone and everyone else. A nine is spotted talking to you? Well, they have joined the negative tens. And so no one does. No one takes chances talking to you. You could be Einstein, and no one would know or care. To everyone, you are a model of what could happen. And you care. I mean, how can you not? You walk down the hall, they whisper. You turn, they look away. It's a never ending charade for them, a game, but it's not a game. Not for you. They just don't get it. You spend the morning, trying to look your best. You wear expensive clothes, too. Or maybe you are the one who is yourself. You be yourself, and get harassed and tormented for it. Now, you could continue this path, or try to change. When you try to change, You spend the morning, trying to look your best. You wear expensive clothes, too. And then you go to school, maybe the bus, or you walk, or get driven. Whatever way, you get to school. And what do they do? They laugh. 'Those are knockoff brands,' or 'your hair is a wreck,' or even, 'ew, you stink.' And you tried, so very hard, but it never seems to work. Never.

So you get home. Maybe you're happy, maybe sad. Your brain is turning over what you have heard today, not all good. But, you never realize something. You never realize how much opinions effect you. One person may say so and so is annoying and suddenly you're fed up when they say hi. And you live like this, love like this, breath like this, until your own thoughts and opinions are gone. All you are is a reflection of other opinions. And you have been living in the future, wondering if you go down this path what will others think of you, and you don't do what you wanted to do because of this fear you will be hated, and then. Then you realize what you wanted, but it's too late. You followed the herd into an ambush. You can't turn around now. You saw safety, but what would they think if only you survived? And so you followed them. Die together. And now you know who to listen to. You realize you need that safety, more than anything. Anything.

Honestly, don't even take my word for it. I could be lying. But toss it around in your head that maybe, just maybe, we could be entirely focused and dependent on other peoples thoughts and opinions, so entirely focused that we loose our own in the process.