Thursday, January 27, 2011

Cool

 From Robin Hood, to Jessie James, to Bonnie and Clyde, to John Gotti to today's street gangs - thugs have always been thought of as being somewhat 'cool'.
In high school this group usually garners a bit of respect (or fear) from the general student body.
Many thugs still manage to get many hot women.
Few would call this group 'Nerds'.
 But in adult life the thug can keep his status by becoming a rapper (or an even bigger thug - or both).
 The same cannot be said of those who take part in drama.
"Band Fag" or "Drama Nerd" are more commonly used than "Cool guy in the school band" to describe those who are more inclined to act or sing.
Guys in the school band or in drama usually get the homely girls (if they are so inclined).
 But in adult life these former geeks can become quite successful.
 But what of the popular sports star?
The jock always gets the girl.
In high school he may seem to have it all - but if he fails to progress in his field (or any other) he will be like Al Bundy sitting on his couch with his hands down his pants telling stories about his past glory days.
 But the cool jock can become the cool professional as well.
 The biggest leap in status is usually accomplished by the Nerd.
The Nerd never gets the girl.
Nerds are smart enough to change what is considered to be cool to fit their own accomplishments.
-High School Thug to Successful Rapper = Ostentatious and Classless
-High School Artistic Type to Movie Star = Vapid
-High School Jock to Highly Paid Jock = Dumb Jock
-High School Nerd to Rich Nerd = Rulers of the World
Nerds diminish the accomplishments of those from other fields because they wish to put all those cool guys back in their place.
Nerds elevate themselves because they finally want their chance to get the girl.

(Now don't think I'm hating on smart people. Being smart is one of the few traits I respect. But being smart without being able to do anything with it is a waste. Being smart without being good in something else is boring.)

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

All these mega rich white computer geeks had a head start in their education. They left everybody else in the dust. The minorities did not have access to the education they did!

uglyblackjohn said...

I'm not mad at them.
Some had just as much but didn't do nearly as much.
I'm just impressed with any leap - regarless of discipline - in which one makes great gains.
It's just odd that what was not cool as kids (except in sports) is now thought of as cool as adults.

brohammas said...

Nerd is nerd, no matter the color.
Dubois probably got beat down by the cool kids.

I went to a superior school, we all had a leg up, (we were nearly all white), and there was still no Bill Gates among us.

Anonymous said...

The Gates and his ilk were all studying software and computers when we didn't hadn't even seen one! and yes it does annoy me, I can't help it. The inequality!

But then again, who said life was fair????

Ce la vie ;)

DF said...

@Desertflower - A lot of people have a headstart but they don't turn into Bill Gates. There is something more in these guys than just that headstart.

I just don't want to use the excuse that we all start off behind because the majority of all people are mediocre at best. So even if you started off behind there is a great chance you'll still be at the top if you choose that route.

@UBJ - The nerd knows he has to master more than his one discipline that's why Nerds have the biggest transormation. Everyone else believes the skill that everyone likes in them whether it charm or brawn will carry them forward in life. Only the nerd knows he needs to become more social, to lift weights, and to always stay smarter than everyone else. Through his teenage ridicule he learns what the ignorant value while maintaining what he knows the world values.

uglyblackjohn said...

@ brohammas - Yep, but what is thought of as being 'uncool' as a kid is often an asset as an adult.

@ Desertflower - LIfe ISN'T fair - you know that. But everyone can have the best life posssible for themselves if we all stop chasing things we don't even really want or things that don't even matter to us.

@ FreeMan - Band Nerd, Drama Nerd, School Nerd - all can become rich and famous if they can translate these into something more desirable.
Cool Guy, Tough Guy - these can be sad if the highlight of ones life was back in the 11th & 12th grades.
But yeah... the Nerd has to add to his repetoire to become respected.
The cool guy or stud only has to refine and inprove his skill set to remain valid.