There are few things that enrage me. Ignorance is number one.
Yesterday, a guy I've talked to all but a handful of times popped up on my Facebook chat. It was the usual pleasantries, the ones I so hate to exchange, and then I was walloped up the head with a comment that made me angry. He so casually mentioned that my eco-friendly subject matter on my vlog makes him want to pull his teeth out. As does my accent.
Well, the accent is one thing. I can't change it. I'm not going to start talking with an Irish or English accent just because a couple can't stand the way I say 'about' or how I tack 'eh?' onto the end of random sentences.
But then I got to thinking about all my Eco-Friendly subject matter. And really, asides from mentioning I was vegan like twice and maybe mentioning that we should try to clean up the Earth a bit. I haven't really focused on anything related to the environment. For the most part, I've kept it light and airy. Easy, breezy and beautiful...and yet, I am not a cover girl.
Then, something else dawned on me. It delivered a big ole WTF? moment.
For some reason, I felt a little dirty about being an eco-friendly female. Why is that?
And this isn't the first time it's happened. I often get called a modern day hippy, which also gets me going. At first I thought I was offended by being called these things. But after looking at the whole picture, I realized I am a eco-friendly modern day hippy, so why should I be irate. Then I though maybe it was my hatred for labels. I am not defined by my decision to not eat meat or recycle or support women's rights, and so I do not call myself a vegan environmental feminist. In the end, that was a long shot...and so off base. The anger didn't come from the label or the name calling, it came from the attitudes of the people.
It came from the inflection of tone, the lift of their lip into a sneer, the roll of their eyes. It came from the fact that they automatically dislike those qualities. It came from the fact that, in their eyes, these things are annoying, pathetic and an inconvenience.
It came from their ignorance.
They think I'm going to sit them down and lecture them about all the reasons they shouldn't eat meat or what their children are going to have deal with in 2050. I have better things to do with my time.
They think I hold myself higher than everyone else because I don't eat dairy or because I shop second hand. Those things have nothing to do with why I hold myself higher! ;-)
They think I love animals more than them and want to seclude myself in a forest without all their stupidity. Well, that's true.
To be honest, I've only ever answered questions people have. I don't think I've ever lectured anyone about anything. Except good music vs bad music. I keep to myself. I live my life the way I want to live it, and I don't force myself on others.
But when did being a hippy become a bad thing?
Oh, those stupid hippies who want to live in a world without unnecessary suffering, who don't want war, who want everyone to get along and have a love-in. DAMN THEM!
Huh?
If you ask me, this world could use a few more hippies.
And then I posted a vlog about Animal Rights and being a decent person because I'm a dirty, stinkin', animal lovin' hippy!
9 comments:
Well, from one dirty, stinkin', animal lovin' hippy type to another:
Keep up the good work.
You need a 'Tee'-shirt and a bumper sticker, girl. And a fan club.
I think you're accent is fine. You're not a crazy hippie. You're a person with values and morals, since when did that become a bad thing? oh, wait it's not!
I don't think you've ever been in my face about anything hippie related. Geez, "hippie"? Really? I live in california, I know hippie. I know crazy hippie. You're not crazy hippie. I don't understand this person...
Gosh darn it.
I actually was a hippy for a short time back when it was invented.
Nothing wrong with hippies, they invented the computer age.
You keep on fighting for the planet and the underdog girl and don't let the idiots get you down.
What accent? Love both your blog and vlog.
ARGH! YOU DON'T HAVE AN ACCENT! There. Chew on that, everybody. Watch it or I'll start up my own vlog just to show you.
I'd say you should definitely UNfriend whoever that jerk was. You need him NOT.
You carry on regardless of what small minded people say. Im not vegan or even vegetarian but i respect your right to be, that doesnt make you less of a human being. If we were all the same how would we ever learn from others. I love your writings & even though i live my life differently to yours i enjoy your difference of opinion.
You are you. That's the only label worth being true to. And you, like the rest of us are a complex, dynamic, unique individual. Labels get in the way of communication and you're right to resist them. They narrow, constrict and blur the vision.
Your accent's great. Your views are stimulating and you're an interesting, intelligent and warm human being.
Those who don't like that - and there'll always be some - can go sit on a sharp stick.
More power to you, Ma'am.
Honey, screw 'em. People like to knock things they can't understand. It makes them feel elevated in their own sad little minds. You are many things to many people T. But above all else you can hold your head high for remaining true to what you believe.
That is a difficult thing to do in a world filled with conformity. I'm proud to call you friend.
Soooz
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