Last week, I wrote about something I overheard in a fast food joint. Larry had the following observation:
There is a different number motorcycle gangs use to describe themselves, its the "1%" often inside a diamond, or "One-Percenters", which comes from the Brando movie "The Wild One", where when asked about the life depicted in the movie, the American motorcycle assoc said that the 1% of these bad characters give motorcylcing a bad name.
My current wife was a friend of Sonny Barger, the Oakland Hells Angel Chapter founder. She was at the Altamonte festival when they were providing security for the concert for the Stones. While living in the Oakland CA area, she meet lots of entertainers that liked to associated with them, Willie, Waylon, Kris, Johhny and Hank Jr.
And Larry has an interesting point.
We all have our experiences; we tend to assume that what we have experienced is "normal." From an old stats class, I translate normal to "68% of the population."I think that is one standard deviation for a normal distribution. But we aren't all normal; at least I don't think I am normal.
For instance, let's say you go to a football game. Georgia verses Georgia Tech. You notice that the Georgia fans are a bunch of animals. You assume all Georgia fans are animals. But that may not be the case.
Similarly, at work, one of your coworkers happens to be lesbian. She is also a Goth and perhaps Wiccan as well. You may conclude that all Goth-Wiccans are lesbians. And you would be wrong. Sure, they may have books on Gerald Gardner, and even have a large stash of porn, but that does not make it so.
Our minds really try and reconcile what we experience with what we believe. If one of your arch-enemies does a kindness to you, you might believe there is an ulterior motive.
What is the lesson to learn from this? Perhaps nothing. Perhaps, however, if you are a member of a group that is quite visible and you do stupid stuff, perhaps your actions will be painting a picture for those of us who are not embedded in your group.
Grace vs Shame
2 weeks ago
3. My Stories. Yeah, I have a few erotic stories here. I know, they are not all that good, but they were fun to write. Don't read them if this offends you (and they represent less than 1% of the content here). These stories have elements of truth and fantasy, some more true than others. Complain about something that is a bit more substantive if you must complain. I have lots of faults.
11 comments:
I just think it's funny "normal" is the same as D+.
I am learning that we think normal is something that shifts around and it's based on opinion. If that's the case how can "normal" be normal. It moves. Normal should be a standard, ... right? Otherwise how do we define normal?
Knot
knot: normal changes, sure. I mean, look at diversity in the workforce. It has changed quite a bit in 50 years.
Model train club members, people who race pigeons, monkeys playing organs, accordion players who only play polka music, yeah, normal isnt what its cracked up to be.
I was the supervisor of a man that was going through a gender reversal process but was also going to become a lesbian. I would ask her, wouldnt it have been easier to stay a guy? But I clearly understood her mind, and well, I have always thought of "normal" as being odd.
Hell, my first wife had multiple personalities, yet she was normal. It was only when she changed those people in 5 minutes that made you wonder WTF?
Leesa, this amy/annon, what is her problem? I mean here, we are ALL anonymous. Is it herself that she is hiding from? Let those who are pure cast out the first stone. And I haven't seen anyone walking on water lately. Sad lonely lady, all that perfection and she still hasn't found Diogones.
I am totally, relentlessly normal. Unlike the rest of you feckin' weirdos.
Pffffbbtttttttt!
larry: the gender reversal process seems a bit extreme. but I guess that is a type of 1%er as well.
~deb: You labeled the poem, "the biker". I have seen it called "I Saw You", "You Didn't See Me", and "Just a Biker." I am not sure if the author is known - but it is a poem that speaks to bikers everywhere.
grant: yeah, you and your glowing chickens. Normal as rain. Or as Deb would say, Pffffbbtttttttt!
Yeah, this is what he had on his profile and I don't know who wrote it. I saw one that said, "author unknown" as well. Hrmm. Great poem though, right?
Excellent observation (as usual).
What we define as normal tends to be based on the sum total of our experiences to date. In my experience, the broader those experiences the broader your definition.
Well said.
Whenever we label, we cheat that thing or person out of the whole that really is. We also especially cheat ourselves out of all that we can experience from that thing or person.
I hope this example serves for the sake of illustration and clarity: To merely call a bird, a bird, severs our ability to look beyond and experience the completely astounding mechanism and energy really going on.
Evolution has taught us to classify for survival. I think too often these days it is used to feed an ego.
Lessa rocks!
joe: well said.
dr. deb: thanks, sweetie. Happy Holidays!
anon: she is not old enough to be a granny.
anon: you hit the nail on the head. Evolution favored those who label. Sabre Tooth Tiger = not a good pet; squirrel = good on toast.
And ~Deb's poem also talks about labeling.
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