Learning in the Age of the Trigger Warning
11 years ago
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Second Part of Hine
What I thought was very interesting was in the chapter Goths in Tomorrowland. In a place that is supposed to be safe and open to the world adolescents and families, those who were different were banned from going there. Maybe this is just a nod to the type of country we are and have always been. Afraid of what is different? At the beginning of the book teenagers or young adults were looked down upon if they had a dream of moving out and not supporting their family, afraid of those who were being different. During the last few centuries that trend of not helping out your family and staying home have had mixed meanings. There were times that teenagers were expected and sometimes forced to help out their families and then other times they were sent loose on the world and were told to find their own way. These trends in staying home or leaving home usually have a direct correlation to the economy. So why is it that adolescents who come from poor or rich homes were not able to express themselves in what is suppose to be the happiest place on earth, who cares if they dressed in Goth clothes what is so different then dressing in completely namebrand clothes? Both are making a statement. So why is it so bad to make a statement of doom and gloom in black when others can wear every shade of pink and be just as miserable but accepted? It’s just because people do not like different. Goths today are more accepted but will it ever be mainstream? Will I ever have a teacher or an employer who is a Goth? No because it is not accepted, it is strange and weird which is what many adults have thought of teenagers. Maybe the idea that adults are afraid of what teenagers are doing behind closed doors and out in the public had some loose idea then but now with the ridiculous amount of technology the years of a teenager have become more like a convict who is being sentenced to house arrest. Cell phones can now have trackers in them so adults and guardians can know every whereabouts, online status updates and pictures can put truth into parent’s worst fears.
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I find what you said to be very interesting and to have a great point. If someone who dresses in name brand clothing and looks like an "ideal" member of society were to listen to heavy metal music, it is just a phase, but if they were to dress the part then they are seen to be a future criminal and outcast. I also think that it is unfair that the kids were not able to even be at a family theme park. It was stated that they were bringing misery to one of the happiest places on earth, but who said these teenagers dressed in black were acutally miserable? If someone were to take the time to talk to them, they may have been surprised by how wrong (and possibly right) they were. A person's clothing doesn't define them.
ReplyDeleteSince you chose to talk about the goth chapter, and you stated some very good arguements, I'll vent on your comments and agree with you that what people wear or look like shouldn't influnce anothers judgement of them. I always get very heated about this subject because of this stupid tattoo on my neck. I regret it every day, but because of the personal meaning. And to top that off, I have the world limiting my options because of it's location and appearence. Apparently it look's gang related so move people judge me as being "thuggish" and trouble. Even just today a rap song came on and some one turned to me and said I bet you like this song. I'd never heard the song in my life, I actually prefer country music. Now I'm currently being denied contract in the ROTC program because it's not professional in appearance (like a goth teacher would be). If it actually mattered they would recognize my qualifications over my apperance. But I guess that's just the world we live in, same as it always has been.
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