|
|
Murray
from Southend, Essex (United Kingdom) on 2002-07-29 00:00 [#00328398]
Points: 4891 Status: Lurker
|
|
It's just a first draft
Dear whoever it may concern
I write to you now as a fully pledged member of the ‘Offbeat’ society. I dawn the nail polish, the spiky black hair and the thirst for individuality that we all do. My name is Alexander MacDonald, I am 16 years old and I have experienced a lot in my short, little life. I write now, because for some odd reason, I am inspired to do so.
I, in my future life, would love to become a writer. There are a lot of ideas I have cooped up inside my head that I just need to get out of me. I thought the two ways that I could continue this was to either become a musician of some sort or to become a writer. I am, at this present moment, both. I am not saying that I am good, but this does at times work to get feelings out.
As I mentioned previously, I am an Offbeat. For those not familiar with the term, which is probably most of you, it is a person who is not particularly popular but has our own selection of Offbeat friends. We are not stuck to stereotypes as such things as music and fashions are concerned. I mean, Slipknot’s ‘IOWA’ album is quite comfortable sitting next to my Tom Waits ‘Mule Variations’ album and my Aphex Twin ‘drukQs’ album whilst I wear a T-shirt from Topman and baggy trousers covering my Vans trainers. An old friend and I lifted the term from a little cartoon skit with the same name. Being an Offbeat, I have the prestigious quality of noticing the ‘ups and downs’ of all the other life styles that are available. Make no mistake; being an Offbeat has its ups and downs as well. I have had my fair share of sorrow as everyone else has…perhaps a bit more.
As my close friends and myself sit by and watch the world and the people go by, we tend to notice things, sometimes serious and sometimes foolish and childish things. For example, why is there always a baby’s mitten or shoe on a long stretch of motorway? Why is it that the people, who least deserve the bad events in life, are the ones who usually get it all and more put on their shoulders? All q
|
|
Murray
from Southend, Essex (United Kingdom) on 2002-07-29 00:01 [#00328400]
Points: 4891 Status: Lurker
|
|
questions that are broadly retorted by the most biggest cliché ever: ‘Life’s a bitch’. There are answers, many answers, but most people don’t want to engage their brains enough to think. Maybe children playfully throw their shoes and mittens out of the car half way through a tantrum, or perhaps they are remains from a drive by dumping of the innocent toddler on the M25 to forage for food. Maybe God, if there is one that is (before anyone comments, I am not suggesting there is not a God, I personally believe there is one), is a sick and twisted individual that likes toying with people or perhaps to quote the pre-mentioned Tom Waits:
“There's leak in the boiler room, the poor, the lame, the blind. Who are the ones that we kept in charge? Killers, thieves, and lawyers. God's away on Business.”
Those are just some answers, but there are a lot more. Before we delve anymore into my thoughts and views, this letter / manuscript is not solely based on one thing. It is a collection of thoughts that I hope will interest you. One fact that I am going to address is the age-old battle of ‘Rudies Vs Grunges’. Being the Offbeat that I am, I am neutral to both sides, but I tend to favour towards the Grunges. The battle started, when Nu-Metal and Punk (Sum-41, Slipknot, Marilyn Manson, Papa Roach etc…) started to get noticed by mainstream popular acts. Mainstream being, in this age, a place where the likes of Kylie Minouge, N-Sync and ‘manufactured’ boy bands where common. There was an up-roar and the population was split into several categories, two of the most notable were the Rudies and the Grunges. Rudies who are all for Drum and Bass, Jungle and Pop, wearing popular brand name clothes. Whereas Grunges who are all for Nu-Metal and Punk and lesser-known ‘rebel’ clothes.
There has always been a big uproar between these two groups. One of the reasons is the ‘exaggerated’ stereotype that people have become familiar too. The Rudie stereotype being a person with trousers tucked in their socks, with visors or caps sideway
|
|
Murray
from Southend, Essex (United Kingdom) on 2002-07-29 00:01 [#00328401]
Points: 4891 Status: Lurker
|
|
, rings, HUGE chains and the smallest mobile phone possible in their right hand and a ‘fit’ counterpart of the opposite sex in their left. The Grunge stereotype being a white faced, black clothes wearing, Satan worshipping robot with the scales at very little emotion and high amounts of depression. There is a problem in this though, whereas the Grunge stereotype IS exaggerated, the Rudie one actually isn’t.
I have been round the world several times, know many people of different cultures and ethnic minorities and may I add, been to 3 of the biggest concerts / festivals for Nu-Metal, Punk, Metal, Ska and Hardcore and have only seen a handful of the Grunge stereotype. But all I have to do is look down the high street and I have already seen a crowd of the Rudie stereotype. But yet there is another problem in this argument.
The idea behind the way that the Grunge’s fashion sense and music listening was to be, as I stated as myself being at the start of this text, original: A stand out of the crowd, a rebel. Well I’ve got news for you people: ITS NOT ANYMORE. The idea has been used by so many people it is unbelievable the way it has seemed to become common as muck. The idea of wearing the stripy tights was homage to a witch, but more than half the people who wear them don’t know that (thanks to my girlfriend for telling me that).
|
|
Murray
from Southend, Essex (United Kingdom) on 2002-07-29 00:01 [#00328402]
Points: 4891 Status: Lurker
|
|
So…who is better? Neither is. They’re both as childish as the other is. Yes you can get an idiotic Rudie spray painting a ‘tag’ on a public toilet, but you can equally get a stupid Grunge grinding his skateboard along a monument ruining the paint work that’s been there for years. I have a collection of friends from both lifestyle and they are, mostly, very nice people with emotions and feelings as much if not more than the other genre. So put down your gloves and stop being so childish, life is too short to hate people and to rebel for you’re ‘beliefs’. Just respect the fact that other people have a different taste in clothes and music to you.
|
|
Murray
from Southend, Essex (United Kingdom) on 2002-07-29 00:02 [#00328403]
Points: 4891 Status: Lurker
|
|
It is nowhere near finished yet, and don't ask why i wrote it, i just did.
Hope you like it
|
|
WeaklingChild
from Glasgow (United Kingdom) on 2002-07-29 00:07 [#00328405]
Points: 3354 Status: Lurker
|
|
fuck stereotypes
|
|
Smyrma
from Beloit, WI (United States) on 2002-07-29 00:10 [#00328408]
Points: 2478 Status: Lurker
|
|
In other words, "Trends are dumb so I will join THIS trend."
I don't get it
|
|
Darth manchu
from Cambridge (United Kingdom) on 2002-07-29 00:10 [#00328409]
Points: 1897 Status: Regular
|
|
very interesting, nice one there murray. But i've never heard "townies" being called rudies.
|
|
Murray
from Southend, Essex (United Kingdom) on 2002-07-29 00:12 [#00328410]
Points: 4891 Status: Lurker
|
|
Cheers :)
|
|
J198
from Maastricht (Netherlands, The) on 2002-07-29 01:02 [#00328481]
Points: 7342 Status: Lurker | Show recordbag
|
|
cant believe i got myself to read all that in this state of mind :)
definitely an interesting read, but i didnt get the part where you mentioned drum&bass and pop in the same sentence as if its basically the same thing. But i might just as well be missing the whole point of your story so nevermind all this...
|
|
qrter
from the future, and it works (Netherlands, The) on 2002-07-29 01:57 [#00328560]
Points: 47414 Status: Moderator
|
|
god this does sound like its written by a 16-year old.
and yes, I mean that in a derogatory way.
|
|
Ubik
from United States on 2002-07-29 02:30 [#00328626]
Points: 662 Status: Lurker
|
|
Murray... you have a long long life ahead... and life tends to suck... so try to avoid putting people and music into groups and stereotypes, why does everything have to be this or that, why does everything have to be labeled, don't take things so serious, and try to look at everything from all perspectives... but no matter what life will tend to suck and no matter you are going to grow older and older and people are going to lie about themselves and about you, so.. my advice... well, don't overate people and life... the meaning of life is that there is no meaning to life except what you make up about your life... so... er... have some fun and try not to fuck people over too much
|
|
wayout
from the street of crocodiles on 2002-07-29 03:28 [#00328696]
Points: 2849 Status: Lurker
|
|
from what i gather...your essay seems to be against the forming of stereotypical 'cliques' and defining yourself through an allegiance to a group/subculture...yet within the first paragraph.. you describe yourself as being a member of a subculture, and as having all the defining features of a typical member of this group..
|
|
diemax
from somewhere in tennessee :( (United States) on 2002-07-29 03:48 [#00328707]
Points: 2040 Status: Lurker | Followup to Murray: #00328398
|
|
hm... isn't it kind of self defeating to say that you're not prone to stereotypes right after labeling yourself?
i would have read the other two paragraphs, but i'm a lazy, lazy man
good luck with whatever-
|
|
diemax
from somewhere in tennessee :( (United States) on 2002-07-29 03:50 [#00328708]
Points: 2040 Status: Lurker
|
|
wow- i repeated what wayout said... i must be getting retarted in my old age
well... only one cure for that
to the ganja mobile!!
|
|
MAGICNINJA
from G-ville of tha FL (United States) on 2002-07-29 05:25 [#00328782]
Points: 174 Status: Lurker | Followup to WeaklingChild: #00328405
|
|
Stereotypes aren't always bad. They can be fun. Hasn't anyone ever seen South Park or Family Guy. But then again, I'm taking it for granted that people understand that its just for comedy too.
|
|
brendan ether
from the beach (obx, NC) (United States) on 2002-07-29 05:28 [#00328785]
Points: 796 Status: Addict
|
|
(m)
|
|
SwitchFrontside
on 2002-07-29 05:43 [#00328812]
Points: 818 Status: Regular
|
|
no i dont fucking like it !!!!!!!!... i am a skater !!! i ruin monments... i listen to heavy metal..... i have many friends who listen to heavy metal with bitch hair that goes 3/4 of the way down their back... but guess what ????? they are nothing like what you describe.... then there are many of my other friends who listen to DNB IDM etc..... and they do not look like chumps ! or try to find the smallest mobile they can get their hands on !!!!.... and neither do i.... perhapse the UK may be fucked up like that but i have been to other places in europe and it wasn't loike that.... and in australia it isn't like that... i resent you putting me in a category like that... if you were to sicrace me like that in real life i would hesitate not in kicking your little depressed teenie bopper know it all ass.... fuck you... chump....
|
|
AMinal
from Toronto (Canada) on 2002-07-29 06:22 [#00328853]
Points: 3476 Status: Regular
|
|
HAAAAAAAAHAHAHahahahahaaaaa!!!!!!!!!
Murray: u really dont seem to know what ur talking about.
and wow, ur such a rebel
|
|
Murray
from Southend, Essex (United Kingdom) on 2002-07-29 10:26 [#00329015]
Points: 4891 Status: Lurker
|
|
ok just expressing some views
No need to de-mean me in such a way (if that is how its spelt)
and thanks for all your 'support'
I will go and impale myself for even trying
|
|
Murray
from Southend, Essex (United Kingdom) on 2002-07-29 10:27 [#00329017]
Points: 4891 Status: Lurker | Followup to SwitchFrontside: #00328812
|
|
sorry for pissing you off
|
|
Murray
from Southend, Essex (United Kingdom) on 2002-07-29 10:29 [#00329018]
Points: 4891 Status: Lurker
|
|
I suppose its more of a personal thing, the 'Offbeat' thing is between me and ...
im not gonna bother, you all hate my views
|
|
Murray
from Southend, Essex (United Kingdom) on 2002-07-29 10:31 [#00329019]
Points: 4891 Status: Lurker | Followup to SwitchFrontside: #00328812
|
|
Plus, you obviously don't live in Essex, where there are shit loads of 'Rudies'
|
|
Murray
from Southend, Essex (United Kingdom) on 2002-07-29 10:40 [#00329023]
Points: 4891 Status: Lurker
|
|
Also, every single person i have met who is into Drum and Bass dresses like that, i am sorry but thats my view, plus if you read the last paragraph i sya there are faults on both sides and neither one is perfect and they are all nice people
And for the record, i said the Grunge Stereotype does not even exsist (well very rare)
Anyway, thank you everyone for you're views (if they werent a bit harsh at times for a kid who wants to become a writier) they are much appreciated
|
|
Ceri JC
from Jefferson City (United States) on 2002-07-29 11:01 [#00329032]
Points: 23533 Status: Moderator | Followup to WeaklingChild: #00328405 | Show recordbag
|
|
You mean "FCUK Stereotypes", rude boy ;)
|
|
Murray
from Southend, Essex (United Kingdom) on 2002-07-29 11:03 [#00329033]
Points: 4891 Status: Lurker
|
|
Are you backing me up Ceri?
|
|
jand
from Braintree (United Kingdom) on 2002-07-29 11:26 [#00329049]
Points: 5975 Status: Moderator | Show recordbag
|
|
I love DrumNBass....
but I dress in black most of the time...
Wonder where I'd fit into the Rudie / Grungie spectrum?....;)...
p.s. Murray..I've answered your other thread directed to me about this subject so have a look there for my other thoughts, mate...
|
|
anon
from ^_^ (United Kingdom) on 2002-07-29 11:30 [#00329054]
Points: 1828 Status: Lurker
|
|
hmm , ok , well i think that murray was just trying to get a view across.i understand that you all have the right to slaughter him if you wish to do so but its not very nice when somone sits down and bothers to write out some views ,share them with you and you just trash him.i know he contradicted himself , but think about it , theres no way that in this twisted world that your not going to come back on yourself at somepoint in your life.
and as for ubik, life has to be in groups or we simple minded people would go mad , we wouldnt know how to cope.
and aminal , i dont think the point in murrays 'speech' was to rebel , just to put out an opinion.
why dont u all relax ? please take no offence in what i have written cause i mean nothing by it all .i also realise none of it has much to do with me , and i have never been on here b4 so ya know , im not really 'one of you' but i just thought id say what i though
thanks anon
|
|
jand
from Braintree (United Kingdom) on 2002-07-29 11:56 [#00329073]
Points: 5975 Status: Moderator | Show recordbag
|
|
^^^ very true...
Another of the Essex cru...HiYA!!! anon...
I like it when I see a nice long post to read here...so many are like 3 or 4 words, it gets kinda chatroom-like at times...
So yeah, props due to Murray for taking the time to post his thoughts...
|
|
Murray
from Southend, Essex (United Kingdom) on 2002-07-29 11:57 [#00329074]
Points: 4891 Status: Lurker
|
|
I love Essex people
|
|
jand
from Braintree (United Kingdom) on 2002-07-29 12:01 [#00329076]
Points: 5975 Status: Moderator | Show recordbag
|
|
I used to go this tiny little monthly club in Southend at the Football Club bar called FUNNYSKINS...fucking wild times there; hard hard acid all night, yum yum...
Was years ago so dunno if it's still going...
|
|
anon
from ^_^ (United Kingdom) on 2002-07-29 12:08 [#00329080]
Points: 1828 Status: Lurker
|
|
hey back to u all , even though only jand said hiya and thank you , i would write more but i 'baking' ( cookies ) , and they are going wrong
thank you anon
|
|
jonesy
from Lisboa (Portugal) on 2002-07-29 12:15 [#00329084]
Points: 6650 Status: Lurker
|
|
The whole 'camps' thing among young people is really strange. I would have put myself in the grunge category at school, or 'moshers' as we were known. It was a case of others pigeonholing you because of the way you dressed and I hold my hand up to say I did likewise.
When you're young, the way you dress is a more central from of expression. When you get older you find other ways to express yourself (although some don't obviously) and these camps seem to dissipate.
One thing I've noticed though is that the whole 'grunge' set seem to think that they are more individualistic than the 'townie' set. This is of course a complete fallacy as they all dress the same and listen to the same music. They're still sheep, its just a case of following a different herd. They also tend to be the middle class kids who rightly deserve to be beaten and ridiculed by the urban working class youth of the council estates. Its class war motherfuckers and we're taking no prisoners.
Townies of the world unite. You have nothing to lose but your Reebok classics! Ahem.
|
|
anon
from ^_^ (United Kingdom) on 2002-07-29 12:37 [#00329100]
Points: 1828 Status: Lurker
|
|
lol , very well said ( except the end bit , though funny) , i myself hate being classified , although i often am. i consider myself to be , not unique but not the same ( if u understand have a gold star)i've never claimed to beanything except a shortass girl who's on the odd occaison a loser.other peopel classifiy me as a 'grunger' , yet i hang around with some of the least grungey people i have ever met as oppossed to the 'witches and wizzards' as they like to be called at my school.
but i think if your going to be classified its better to classify urself rather than let others decied what u r 4u .
thns g2g cookies are burning anon
|
|
korben dallas
from nz on 2002-07-29 12:41 [#00329104]
Points: 4605 Status: Regular
|
|
a-hoi jonesy
all i can say is "postmodernism motherfuckers"!!!
:)
|
|
Ceri JC
from Jefferson City (United States) on 2002-07-29 12:44 [#00329107]
Points: 23533 Status: Moderator | Followup to jonesy: #00329084 | Show recordbag
|
|
"You have nothing to lose but your Reebok classics! "
You're obviously soul crew thru & thru...
|
|
Ceri JC
from Jefferson City (United States) on 2002-07-29 12:45 [#00329109]
Points: 23533 Status: Moderator | Followup to jonesy: #00329084 | Show recordbag
|
|
"You have nothing to lose but your Reebok classics! "
You're obviously soul crew thru & thru...
Murray: Yes, I am backing you up :)
|
|
Murray
from Southend, Essex (United Kingdom) on 2002-07-29 12:46 [#00329110]
Points: 4891 Status: Lurker
|
|
Yay, nice one Ceri
|
|
Murray
from Southend, Essex (United Kingdom) on 2002-07-29 12:47 [#00329112]
Points: 4891 Status: Lurker
|
|
I like Anon, she is cool
|
|
jonesy
from Lisboa (Portugal) on 2002-07-29 12:51 [#00329114]
Points: 6650 Status: Lurker | Followup to Ceri JC: #00329109
|
|
Believe! Nah, I transcend these pointless categories. I like to distinguish myself from the rest of humanity, who are nothing but maggots (small, blind & worthless). I like nothing better but to walk the streets of Cardiff and savour the bittersweet taste of my contempt for the rest of humanity, particularly the Welsh. I feel it well up inside me and it makes me hard.
|
|
anon
from ^_^ (United Kingdom) on 2002-07-29 12:57 [#00329120]
Points: 1828 Status: Lurker
|
|
LOL , and thank you murray , ur not too bad urself ;) .well whatever you all are hopefully it wont affect what u type on here seeing as you have to chance to be faceless ,theres no physical appearance so how can we tell 'what' or who u r ?.
anon
|
|
anon
from ^_^ (United Kingdom) on 2002-07-29 12:57 [#00329121]
Points: 1828 Status: Lurker
|
|
p.s my cookies are nice and only 1 got burned anon
|
|
anon
from ^_^ (United Kingdom) on 2002-07-29 13:14 [#00329132]
Points: 1828 Status: Lurker
|
|
jand where did u get ur twirly whirly thing from ( ur pic thingy) its reli reli cool , i have been looking at it 4 ages lol
anon
|
|
jand
from Braintree (United Kingdom) on 2002-07-29 13:20 [#00329135]
Points: 5975 Status: Moderator | Followup to anon: #00329132 | Show recordbag
|
|
cheers.:)...just a little home-made thing I did ages ago...
|
|
anon
from ^_^ (United Kingdom) on 2002-07-29 13:31 [#00329145]
Points: 1828 Status: Lurker
|
|
u made it? , wow !im too dumb to make sonthing like that , thought yuo'll probably say it was easy.wish i was smart enough to do kool things like that
anon
|
|
Murray
from Southend, Essex (United Kingdom) on 2002-07-29 13:38 [#00329148]
Points: 4891 Status: Lurker
|
|
Jand is cool, hes from Chelmsford, ure fave place Anon
|
|
anon
from ^_^ (United Kingdom) on 2002-07-29 14:08 [#00329165]
Points: 1828 Status: Lurker
|
|
i love chelmsford to bits, its my fave place in the world.used to liev there till my mum destroyed my life.but out of the bad coems the good, u meet nu people , make nu friends.
anon
|
|
wayout
from the street of crocodiles on 2002-07-29 15:35 [#00329239]
Points: 2849 Status: Lurker | Followup to Murray: #00329148
|
|
we dont hate your views murray...
if youre going to be a writer, youll have to be prepared to accept criticism.. you will never have 100% agreement amongst your audience
when you present your views in a discussion forum like this, you have to be ready to have them picked apart (especially from this crowd...) ..which is a good thing, thats how people develop more informed opinions...if everyone just said "yeah...thats a nice essay" you wouldnt really get anything out of all the time you took to post it
|
|
anon
from ^_^ (United Kingdom) on 2002-07-29 16:17 [#00329262]
Points: 1828 Status: Lurker
|
|
i'm very sure if murray was able to answer he would totally agree with you on that one.
anon
|
|
anon
from ^_^ (United Kingdom) on 2002-07-29 16:17 [#00329263]
Points: 1828 Status: Lurker
|
|
not that he's dead or anything , lol , sorry i made it sound liek he was knocked out . or maybe he is?....hopefully not
anon
|
|
Messageboard index
|