08 May 05
teenagers are always trying to be different. i'm a member of two of the largest societies in my uni - rocksoc (the society with RWAK in it) and the CU. members of both have a way of standing out. however, members of one stand out by almost degrading themselves! i was at rocksoc on thursday, and there was a girl there wearing underwear and a see-through dress. another was wearing leather trousers that covered the legs thigh-downwards, but didn't leave the hips etc to the imagination! most members are complete alcoholics (i'm told that my ability to stay sober at meetings is rather worrying...) and "nakedsoc" is a faction of rocksoc. you can often tell a rocksoc member from 50 paces...
CU members stand out by being nice. often by being sober. by helping others. why are pretty much the only events where everyone stays sober run by the CU! argh!
bascially, what i'm trying to say is that there are two ways to be different. you can shock and scare people, and listen to weird music. you can sleep with anyone and get as nissed and a pewt etc, or you can be kind and helpful.
but which one is actually more different? which is the more radical lifestyle?
08 May 05
Originally posted by geniusooooh for ones time again knowing what we know now.
teenagers are always trying to be different. i'm a member of two of the largest societies in my uni - rocksoc (the society with RWAK in it) and the CU. members of both have a way of standing out. however, members of one stand out by almost degrading themselves! i was at rocksoc on thursday, and there was a girl there wearing underwear and a see-through dress ...[text shortened]... elpful.
but which one is actually more different? which is the more radical lifestyle?
Fill your boots and have a great time.
08 May 05
Originally posted by geniusI don't really see the point of making an effort to be 'different'. If this is done to impress people, which it generally is, it isn't really any different from making a conscious effort to conform. Better is to develop some interests and pursue them, and look for people who share them.
teenagers are always trying to be different. i'm a member of two of the largest societies in my uni - rocksoc (the society with RWAK in it) and the CU. members of both have a way of standing out. however, members of one stand out by almost degrading themselves! i was at rocksoc on thursday, and there was a girl there wearing underwear and a see-through dress ...[text shortened]... elpful.
but which one is actually more different? which is the more radical lifestyle?
If St. Andrews students' societies are named like Imperial ones, CU is the Christian Union. I don't think Christians have a monopoly on niceness or sobriety, although it's possible that the latter is more common among Christian students than students at large (although I haven't noticed this--compared to the people I know who do drink, I [non-Christian] drink rather little, and many of those people are Christian. I think you'll find Muslims have a monopoly on sobriety, and that religion is basically orthogonal to niceness.).
I don't think those girls were dressing to be 'different'. I think they were aiming for a specific reaction, either to shock or to attract, and they seem to have succeeded. I don't see a problem with that, but I do think that by passing judgement you've been taken in by the thing you're condemning.
(On another note, you just made me realise what a bad society member I am. I'm in Mathsoc so I know about interesting guest lectures and I'm in Rocksoc to get cheap tickets to shows at the union, but I havent' turned up to any meetings of either. Those of us who stand outside buildings in the cold every hour tried to start Fagsoc but were not approved.)
08 May 05
Originally posted by geniusimho, as soon as you join a group of people, you're not different. (though I'd say the alcoholics are the more radical ones...) You're different when you can't be placed into a group. Take me as an example: where do you put me? I like punk, but I also listen to old stuff (eg Dire Straits), occasionally rap and I also like quiet songs (Coldplay). So you couldn't really say I was a punk... as I also don't have any piercings (no, not even earrings) and I don't often dress that style.
teenagers are always trying to be different. i'm a member of two of the largest societies in my uni - rocksoc (the society with RWAK in it) and the CU. members of both have a way of standing out. however, members of one stand out by almost degrading themselves! i was at rocksoc on thursday, and there was a girl there wearing underwear and a see-through dress ...[text shortened]... elpful.
but which one is actually more different? which is the more radical lifestyle?
I normally wear black eye makeup. Does that make me goth? Ummm... no.
I'm good in school-does that make me a prep? Probably not, as I nearly never do my homework. I've dyed my hair orange. I drink, but I don't smoke pot. I smoke ciggies sometimes (social smoker). I don't give a sh!t what most people think about my looks-what does that make me? I'm in my school's chess club-am I a loser? I was class representative last year and get invited to most parties-so I don't think so.
So... am I different? 😛
08 May 05
3 edits
Originally posted by geniusNow this sentence really took me by surprise. If I would have been asked to say something about ("normal" ) teenagers and being different, it would have been the opposite: Teenagers are always trying not to be different. The rest of your posting actually seems to confirm this. So, obviously we mean something different 😉 by "being different". The question is, different from whom or what? In both societies you describe, the members try to fit into the society by behaving in a similar way, so they try not to be different within the society. However they might choose the society in order to be different from students outside the society, or from how their parents would like them to be. Is that what you mean?
teenagers are always trying to be different.
Being different is no value in itself, nor is a radical lifestyle. But I think it's a value to be able to do what you think is right, even if it means you have to be different (and being different within your peer group is something most people find difficult). If excessive drinking is part of the "culture" of the society, but you decide not to go with it, even though you might get negative feedback, I see that as a value. I could also say it's more important to try to be yourself than to be different. Depending on who you are, that might be extremely different from most people or quite "normal". There's nothing wrong with either of those, if that's who you are.
08 May 05
Originally posted by geniusWell, I think the girls are just trying to attract the kind of guy they want. You know, no Mr. Nice guys, just someone to have casual sex with. 😲
however, members of one stand out by almost degrading themselves! i was at rocksoc on thursday, and there was a girl there wearing underwear and a see-through dress. another was wearing leather trousers that covered the legs thigh-downwards, but didn't leave the hips etc to the imagination!
08 May 05
Originally posted by geniusI know which one sounds better to me.
teenagers are always trying to be different. i'm a member of two of the largest societies in my uni - rocksoc (the society with RWAK in it) and the CU. members of both have a way of standing out. however, members of one stand out by almost degrading themselves! i was at rocksoc on thursday, and there was a girl there wearing underwear and a see-through dress ...[text shortened]... elpful.
but which one is actually more different? which is the more radical lifestyle?
Ask yourself this - would any of that music you hold so dear - Iron Maiden, etc. have been quite so good if written by a bunch of teetotal, fun-avoiding christians?
09 May 05
Originally posted by geniusI dont know if they do it to be "different" or to fit in... or because they lik eit... i personally... was one of the kids in school labled a "freak".. but not due to in my opinion any thing besides the culture appealed to me... i still am kinda.. but i am "normal" at work... i still listen to all the same kindsa music though im all "grown up... and i enjoy being who i am... so it all depends on why there doing it.. to "rebel" or what not.. though i was a "freak" i was one of the most likes people in my school.. i got along with every one.. almost... theres allways a few people... but teachers, and students no mater what there "click" enjoyed my company and i theres... i guess tey realized i was not being me for "rebelion" but because i was me... so to each there own..
teenagers are always trying to be different. i'm a member of two of the largest societies in my uni - rocksoc (the society with RWAK in it) and the CU. members of both have a way of standing out. however, members of one stand out by almost degrading themselves! i was at rocksoc on thursday, and there was a girl there wearing underwear and a see-through dress ...[text shortened]... elpful.
but which one is actually more different? which is the more radical lifestyle?
09 May 05
Why do all these Christians feel the need to break the Mohammedan monopoly on sobriety- last time I looked, wine seemed rather a feature of the religion. If one follows Christ, why stop before drinking? It doesn't make sense. Drink, all of you, and be merry, damn it!
Royalchicken: I'd suggest you rename your society- Fagsoc. rings rather differently on the other side of the pond... Nicosoc, maybe. Not to be confused with seethroughKnickersoc., a subsidiary of the aforementioned Rocksoc., if I have understood correctly. Well worth a small annual membership fee...😵