2¢ - Non-Conformity

Quotes of Inspiration: “Didn’t you know there is an elephant in the house? JUST kidding!” – My Boss’ Toddler Boy ; “Who is so say what’s proper is right?” –Alice in Wonderland, Lewis Carroll

You never hear quotes like that from “big kids” or “grown-ups”.

In the 60’s, the Hippie Movement was all about avoiding the tendency to conform to “The Man”. Who is “The Man”? If you’ve ever read 1984, by George Orwell; “Big Brother” would be the perfect example. Fictional, but still everywhere you go. The all seeing eye. The Laws and Norms of Society trap us inside what I’ll call “The Box”.

Last Year in my Literature class, we studied the Victorian Era through a series of research reports on people and topics from the time period; Lewis Carroll being one of them.The boy who studied Lewis Carroll from my class, (we’ll call him Andy) was warned by my teacher…

“Andy…” he said, “There is a disclaimer to using this topic.”

“What is it?” Andy replied.

“This guy… is WEIRD.”

I was offended. I have looked up to Lewis Carroll since I first read his poem, Jabberwocky. “Weird” is insulting. I would use words like, “Original”, “Bold”, “Independent” and “Hero”

People look down on him because he did something everyone in this world is afraid to do. Even I!

As Carroll aged, he found new questions in the world. Not scientific questions like “Why did the apple fall to the ground?”, questions more geared towards human nature, such as, “Why is it improper for a girl not to wear her stockings?”

Stockings were uncomfortable … but they covered your legs, made sure you would not get dirty… etc., etc. Is it worth it if you’re uncomfortable? Does it seem right? Saying that the benefits outweigh the consequences should not matter it any situation. It would be like your doctor giving you a medication that would kill you a week from taking the first pill, but it cured cancer, schizophrenia, and cleared up all of your acne… Because it has multiple benefits, does that make it good?

If more “grown-ups” thought like Lewis Carroll, maybe “The Man” wouldn’t be a big expectation to live up to. People could change the wrongs in the world.

Perhaps not change… but at least make enough of an impression to make a difference.

The people who say they know what’s good for you might not be good people… To think for yourself, you must question everything.