Recently, I’ve found myself unfollowing many of my social media friends. I’m technically still “friends” with them on Facebook, but I’ve just eliminated them from popping up on my feed. It’s just that I can’t stand their perspective anymore – especially in this political climate. I understand that we form our views based on experience – rightly or wrongly – but sometimes, it’s just a bit over the top. Take dress codes for example. I grew up with them. I wore uniforms of some sort for many years, whether it be at Brownies (to be quite honest, I never really got why we wore dresses well into the 80s/90s. If you’re going to be an active little girl, give her a t-shirt and pants! Brownie and Guide uniforms didn’t even LOOK like play clothes until fairly recently) or at school. Even my wardrobe now is fairly conservative and I believe anything too crazy – large, very visible tattoos, multiple piercings, etc, etc… is tacky. I don’t even wear much jewellery because, well, it seems….inappropriate (plus I’m quite petite, so it would look out of place on me, anyway). Sure, requiring women to wear heels is sexist, but it doesn’t mean that a dress code shouldn’t exist. At the same time, I think men’s facial hair should be kept neat if they have it and non-religious headgear doesn’t belong indoors unless it’s part of a uniform. One thing not old fashioned about me is this: I don’t have issues with guys who have long hair (in other words, I’m okay with man buns).
Physical appearance isn’t the only issue I have. Anyone who has read this site over the past few years knows that I pay pretty close attention to people’s table manners. I find it weird that many adults don’t know what “finished position” looks like (FYI: it’s an analogue 4:20-ish on your plate) and some don’t keep napkins on their lap (I get it if you have a big belly, but if you are fit, you SHOULD place it there). I understand if you come from a different culture – I don’t expect, for example, people from non-chopsticks cultures to know what to do with them and what is rude and not rude (though they can easily look it up) – even if most at least vaguely know how to use them if they’re from a larger, urban area (though it’s a good idea to look it up. It’s 2016, and most of us have some sort of Internet access). However, if you grew up eating with a knife and fork, it should have been your parents’ job to tell you. Heck, my GRANDFATHER taught both my mom and uncle how to use a fork and knife – utensils that were NOT from their own culture IN ADDITION to chopsticks. I DO have to admit that sometimes, I eat much too quickly and, yes, stuff myself. But that’s a nasty habit that I tend to keep at home. I am talking about the public here.
I’m sure there are people who think I’m extreme. And I probably am. To them. And perhaps even too conservative. However, unless you’re Donald Trump/crazy conservative, there shouldn’t be anything wrong with being so. I often feel that today’s “do whatever you want” attitude, especially coming from my so-called “friends” on social media is just a little too…liberal (okay, too “politically correct” is probably more accurate). And I’m not comfortable with it. I’m sure they’ll just tell me to “live with it.” Well, I don’t have to, do I? Besides, they should live with MY beliefs, too. And just agree to disagree – rather than criticize and “yell.”
Image courtesy of: rvlsoft/Shutterstock
