An Open Letter to American Teens
Dear kids,
I know that at this point in life, you'd rather die than be unpopular. If you don't say the right things to the right people at the right times in the conversations you have today, you forfeit your chance to say the right things to the right people at the right times in the future, since those right people could, because of your reaction to their complaint about the algebra test today, never speak to you again. Worse, the Romeo and Juliet passion you harbor for your hottie of the month may continue to go at best unnoticed and at worst unrequited. The stakes are clearly high.
But back to that "give me popularity, or give me death" thing.
Some of you kids get a little mixed up on this one, and think, "give me popularity, or I'll give you death." And this is when it gets messy.
See, of all the kids who have walked into school and exercised their second amendment rights while creating Clockwork Orange style performance art, none so far have been prom kings or quarterbacks. They all seem to come form the teen social caste of "untouchables", with whom speaking costs the speaker social standing.
Now don't get me wrong, I know that to actually exchange a friendly word or two with the outcasts would probably mean getting voted off the island of social acceptability which you've struggled so hard to swim to and remain on. And being popular is, as we've established, basically worth dying for.
But the suicide notes thus far haven't cried for vengeance on "all the kids who smiled at me". They seem to execute the kids who exacerbated their ostracism-fueled depression by mocking, teasing and humiliating.
So when the spooky outsider kid in your school finally snaps, will you be on his list?
I know you want to put all your energy into social climbing, since, after all, your social standing in high school will basically determine your lifetime happiness. But it might be a good idea to hedge and spend a few popularity points being kind to the untouchables. At least, it's a good idea if you'd like your brains to remain safely and neatly inside your skull when that dark angel spreads his wings and walks your hallway.
Sincerely,
One who knows the heart of the outsider
I know that at this point in life, you'd rather die than be unpopular. If you don't say the right things to the right people at the right times in the conversations you have today, you forfeit your chance to say the right things to the right people at the right times in the future, since those right people could, because of your reaction to their complaint about the algebra test today, never speak to you again. Worse, the Romeo and Juliet passion you harbor for your hottie of the month may continue to go at best unnoticed and at worst unrequited. The stakes are clearly high.
But back to that "give me popularity, or give me death" thing.
Some of you kids get a little mixed up on this one, and think, "give me popularity, or I'll give you death." And this is when it gets messy.
See, of all the kids who have walked into school and exercised their second amendment rights while creating Clockwork Orange style performance art, none so far have been prom kings or quarterbacks. They all seem to come form the teen social caste of "untouchables", with whom speaking costs the speaker social standing.
Now don't get me wrong, I know that to actually exchange a friendly word or two with the outcasts would probably mean getting voted off the island of social acceptability which you've struggled so hard to swim to and remain on. And being popular is, as we've established, basically worth dying for.
But the suicide notes thus far haven't cried for vengeance on "all the kids who smiled at me". They seem to execute the kids who exacerbated their ostracism-fueled depression by mocking, teasing and humiliating.
So when the spooky outsider kid in your school finally snaps, will you be on his list?
I know you want to put all your energy into social climbing, since, after all, your social standing in high school will basically determine your lifetime happiness. But it might be a good idea to hedge and spend a few popularity points being kind to the untouchables. At least, it's a good idea if you'd like your brains to remain safely and neatly inside your skull when that dark angel spreads his wings and walks your hallway.
Sincerely,
One who knows the heart of the outsider
posted by Kenneth at 3:24 PM
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