Do I see Meme Here?

JuliaM comments on the socially awkward and how they experience school –  along with the pathetic assumption that there is something wrong with them. A notion Julia is quick to dispel. The Grim Reaper notes that his schooldays were similar. I have also said as much on Julia’s piece. Then I stopped to think. I have a gut feeling here…

I was an awkward child. Shy –  although I could mix if I chose to. Being obstinate, truculent, incredibly wilful and somewhat indifferent to my fellows and their opinions of me, for the most part, I chose not to. I would behave in class as long as the teachers were okay. If they crossed a line –  such as trying on mass punishment, I’d dig my heels in and rebel –  and on one such occasion, the teacher concerned was taken aback when an upstart teenager patiently explained not only why it was wrong and wouldn’t work, she acknowledged that I was absolutely correct. This, naturally, encouraged me in my endeavours –  something that continues to this day. My attitude towards authority is mixed at best. I recognise the rule of law, yet I despise utterly the prodnoses and jobsworths who exceed their authority and will stand up to them should the need arise, irrespective of the level of that authority.

If the games teachers sent me onto the football pitch to play a game I detested, I would refuse to partake, annoying the hell out of everyone else involved. But, and this is the nub, I didn’t care and their opprobrium was of no concern to me. Football was necessary for neither my education nor my physical health as the latter was already more than covered in my extra-curricular activities that did not involve team sports. The more annoyed they became, the more they played into my hands. And, yes, I’d do it all again.

According to the new “research” that Julia is commenting upon, that makes me disabled in some way –  as opposed to fiercely independent and individualist. I knew what I was, I knew what I was doing and I really, really couldn’t give a damn about what other people thought about it –  peers and adults alike. They and their opinions were of no concern to me. I didn’t need special classes or government funding to deal with my disability  as I didn’t consider that I had one. Still don’t. I merely played to my strengths. The sheep tend to follow others, I don’t, I do my own thing. My attitude today is the same as it was then –  you leave me alone and I’ll leave you alone. In adult life, this trait has been useful when finding myself having to lead others. It is useful not to fall into group-think. Interestingly, it gives a slightly false impression to others of self-confidence, something that is not always the case. It has given me the strength to stand in front of a group of complete strangers and deliver training, as well as coaching on a one-to-one basis. I learned to become a social chameleon. I can be whatever I need to be whatever the social situation demands.

Children like Victoria in the original story Julia refers to will, like me, learn to handle this personality trait. To hide their natural dislike of mixing with people and to cope with social situations. It’s called growing up. No research is necessary and certainly no government funding. It has always been thus and it always will be. As a child, those to whom I naturally gravitated were as independent, individual and bloody minded as I was. We made a fine team. We survived as those who follow us will survive.

The meme I suspect that will develop here is a series of political bloggers doing as I am doing and saying “me too.” Now, why am I not surprised by this? 👿

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Update: Looking at the comments, I wasn’t wrong…