Before winter break, after an event at our high school, my friends and I started talking. After a while, a poster on the wall brought up a new topic. “Did you hear that Dominic started dating Meagan? Yeah, I know, how can one fall so low?” (Hypothetical names, so my classmates don’t sue me.) At the time, I didn’t think anything about it, and laughed along uneasily, as usual. But now, I am saddened and a little bit disgusted. (I don’t blame my friends, let’s make that clear. It’s obviously a product of the society that they’ve been born into, and they haven’t met the circumstances yet to overcome it. They will eventually).
Now, as my fingers are adjusting to the heat of my house, I come with a renewed opinion on the topic. I just came back from the mall, and I am struck by how much our opinions are based on looks and how much effort people put into their appearance. I am wearing a completely black hoodie and completely black pants without much texture, so you can imagine the fashion disaster I am right now. But I’m actually not a disaster- I’m a focused girl with white earbuds and a solid idea in my head.
Psychology tells us that first impressions are formed within a matter of seconds, or even nanoseconds. Because of this, people are constantly obsessed with how they look. What if you meet someone that could be your soulmate, but you are underdressed and he or she disregards you? It’s sad to think about, but this is how we are hardwired. Getting rid of this type of thinking would require an intense change in thinking, which many people aren’t up to.
So, while this was supposed to be a rant about how materialistic our society is, instead, I find myself praising something else- the Internet.
I know, I know, how biased of me, a resident of the internet, of course I’ll admire it. But listen- the internet is a place where we don’t have to share how we look. You could, and many people do, but you don’t have to, and people can judge you based on your content, your words. Which is what you’re doing right now. Judging me based on my words.
So, even though the internet has its faults, this is one of its good parts. I’m not suggesting that you spend all of your time on the internet, but instead, maybe adapt an internet-type perspective when dealing with real life. For people like me. Thanks.
(Sorry for a rambling post, I had an unproductive winter break.)
(Also, happy new year!)
Skies and Clouds 