But I think he may be overlooking that so many books and movies do that! It may even be a majority. Just think back to such a simple character as policeman McCloud from the seventies. He was a cowboy in the big city, and he was a kind of rebel, he always got chewed out by his boss because he was never "playing by the rules". But he got his man. You know the thing, it's everywhere.I think the really weird and wonderful thing is that in stories, we all celebrate the brave misfits. But in reality, we never do! What is this fantastic, universal double standard? This great blindness?
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Update:
L. Edwards said:
"...the message that you don't have to fit in, that sometimes your best qualities are your oddest qualities, maybe the same ones which make you a bit of an outsider."
That's not a very good lesson to be teaching kids, though. When you're young you have to fit in. As an adult you can be yourself. It sounds like it should be good advice to say "be yourself" but it's not - people who conform have happier - if less interesting - lives. As someone who definitely didn't fit in, but also someone whose quirks didn't lead to fame and fortune (although I woudln't have wanted the fame) I'd trade that for just having been normal.
I think this gets into a very deep area. Very difficult to put hard rules there.
I will do a little to fit in, I never had any weird haircuts for example. But beyond a certain point you just can't change yourself. Not without committing violence to yourself.
And while it's admittedly very difficult to learn, I do believe that it's healthy to work towards not caring too much what others think.
But sure, it's true that it makes for a smoother life if you whittle down a bit of the worst of the edges which poke others too much. If one doesn't try to get along, energy is wasted on conflict which could be used constructively.
Marshal McCloud.
ReplyDeleteWhat about Frank Cannon? Celebration of fattitude in the person of a private detective.
ReplyDeleteThe golden days of teevee.
The problem with misfits is that they just don't fit -- into comfortable, predictable, dependable roles. Most of us go for safe in daily life, and misfits aren't really safe.
ReplyDeleteThink of a dinner party for 8. How many misfits can you afford? Will the misfit enjoy being there?
This is not to say that misfits cannot be reviled or awe-inspiring. They tend to hang out on the edges of the bell curve.
And we're sometimes kinda lonely, out there.
No kidding.
ReplyDeleteThough some kind of success tends to balm the wounds.
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Does anybody remember Dan August?
http://youtu.be/uqMpYgtjmOA
... I didn't know that that was Burt R in the main role! (I was only 8 at the time.)
A friend called him Dan September. Such a wit!
I'm still hoping for a film called "Saturday the 14th, A Day of Rest".
And "Thursday the 12th, The Calm Before The Storm".
Both very soothing films where the worst that happens is spilling a cup of juice.
I've known a couple true charismatic misfits in my life, the kind you enjoy being around at least some of the time, and can generate some of your best memories. Many of us are the more quiet type, more common, no horses, just grumbling under our breath, and the occasional blog post.
ReplyDeletethe message that you don't have to fit in, that sometimes your best qualities are your oddest qualities, maybe the same ones which make you a bit of an outsider.
ReplyDeleteThat's not a very good lesson to be teaching kids, though. When you're young you have to fit in. As an adult you can be yourself. It sounds like it should be good advice to say "be yourself" but it's not - people who conform have happier - if less interesting - lives. As someone who definitely didn't fit in, but also someone whose quirks didn't lead to fame and fortune (although I woudln't have wanted the fame) I'd trade that for just having been normal.
I think this gets into a very deep area. Very difficult to put hard rules there.
ReplyDeleteI will do a little to fit in, I never had any weird haircuts for example. But beyond a certain point you just can't change yourself. Not without committing violence to yourself.
And while it's admittedly very difficult to learn, I do believe that it's healthy to work towards not caring too much what others think.
I do believe that it's healthy to work towards not caring too much what others think.
ReplyDeleteIn adult life. As a kid - and a teenager especially - you have to conform a little bit more.
"...When you're young you have to fit in...."
ReplyDeleteand just look what happens