Tri-Polar

  After my last rant about being alone and blah, blah, I started to think about the idea that we are a society that's based off what others think about us. Perhaps the best part is we will never be sure what their true opinions are, but we can be sure what we want them to be. Of course I'd like to think that I'm different, or special, but I am most likely not. (go ahead and start your "Special, like short bus to school, special" jokes!)

  I've always wondered if women are like us. Do they dream of having super powers, being a ninja, or fantasize about making it as pro ball player? I don't think they do. They seem so reasonable, and understanding. We sit on the floor and make a promise to a bunch of strangers that we will stand shoulder to shoulder with them on XBOX's Call of Duty. They don't. We portray an image of  a UFC fighter, or Nascar driver, even though we;re fat and drive a station wagon. A 30 yr old woman wearing sweat pants is coming from the gym, we think it's "going out" wear. maybe that's the balance that keeps us bouncing off each other. When I go to the park with the kids I want them to climb the side and jump off the top, but she wants them to be careful.

Granted women could learn from our perspective on not worrying about what other think, and we could learn from their ability to recognize that a shirt with Minny going down on Mickey is inappropriate for a birthday at Chuck E Cheese. What can I say, we're different.

   Now I've mentioned this before, but it's something that I truly believe in. We are not the clothes, car, or job we have. In fact the rolls that we play are completely separated from those things. A few years back we would shutter to think that people were leading double lives, but now we all are. Look at us...pretending to like our jobs and the people there. Upgrading our phones that are so advanced that they could hear a pin drop, yet we're talking louder so the people in line at Tim Hortons can see what a big shots we are. Getting clever vanity plates for a gigantic truck that has nuts and costs $200 to fill up with gas, but makes people believe that I am just as strong and tough as it. 30+ year old men dressing in Sean John jeans and hoping no one notices the grey peeking out from their fauxhawk.
    There was an article in a Toronto paper talking about how young men(early 20s) were the worst productive they've ever been. The idea of being a douche bag isn't enough to deter these hooligans from acting up. They'd rather cling together in groups, sharing stories of where they bought their Ed Hardy shirts, and scream JagerBombs at the top of there lungs. And I try to make fun of them, they take that like a pat on the back and continue to douche it up.

However, every 20+ woman I know is bonding with each other over the idea of success. They're holding onto their personality, and aren't changing it for anyone. Especially a man! All the women I work with are strong minded, opinionated, and sure of at least one thing, themselves. The have distinct career aspirations, they're driven, and they're hot(and they know it) Perhaps the greatest part about that is that they're comfortable within their limits. I've seen these girls get dressed up and go out, and they control the room the way that men used to. In my day(cause I'm so old) the men were the focal point of a night club. Their attitude and charisma were a huge part. The women stayed to the side of the room and waited for a stud to come over and make his move. Now there's all these primas getting streaks in their hair and singing audio message wake calls for girls they haven't even slept with!! What the fuck! These women are looking for a man with confidence, and personality, but I'm not sure they're still here. All of a sudden look who's out looking for a one night stand and not caring about the consequence, whilst graffiti shirt tough guy is weeping over the phone at 3am.

  Things have changed there is no doubt, and I can't help but wonder if there will ever be a middle ground with our behavior. I know that I still watch cartoons more than anything, that when I go up the stairs I pretend that I'm in the SWAT team. I know that Tam reads more than I write, and I finished the NHL season on XBOX in the same time it took her to read every Dexter novel. I know that my daughter reads every night and my son bites the heads off dolls.
  I know that it's hard to tell the truth, to be who you really are, but I'm gonna keep trying. I hope you will to, because I promise that I won't like you because of your truck, your shirt, or your image, it'll be because of who you are.
But I will dislike you for all of those things.

"Bee yourself" - Aladdin. (from the movie of the same name)
"...one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character." - Martin Luther King Jr (notice it doesn't say characters)