Proud of our differences, Judged by the same standards

I have opinions. Sometimes very strong ones. And sometimes I voice them a little too loudly. That does not mean, however, that I am wrong. It only means I believe something different.

A good number of my friends automatically discredit me on a number of subjects. Whether this is because I believe too strongly about a particular matter or not, it still hurts. It could even be because they feel threatened by something that is not what they believe.

In any case, it seems to me that the more knowledgeable I am about a subject, the less credit I have with certain friends about that subject.


On one hand, there's my music.

Music is my life. Sitting down at a piano and playing whatever comes to mind. Even more, I enjoy singing. It's the easiest and best way to get out everything that I'm feeling. I can pick a song, any song, and go with it whether it sounds good or not. My emotions are coming out and that's what's important.

Although, honestly, fine tuning a piece until it sounds amazing is what really feels good. Not just learning a song, but perfecting it. Finding what notes I can play with to make it my own, where I need to be loud, or just a little quieter. Which voice to use in my mid-range and where the appropriate place to switch voices comes during a run.

That, to me, is the true magic of singing.

I've been singing ever since I could remember. My mom placed me on a stage before I was mature enough to be there on my own. I remember making her and one of my closest friends stand by my side as I sand "Jesus loves me" to a sanctuary filled with people.

I've learned a lot of things on the way, and developed an ear for music. I can easily pick out melodies and harmonies that most people don't see. In fact, it's a challenge for me to sing the melody of a song I know well. I always want to harmonize.

This ear, though, comes at a price. Not all of the things I hear are pleasant. If somebody is off-key, whether largely or barely noticeable, I can hear it. To be honest, it hurts. The worst is when somebody doesn't quite make the high note, but it's close enough that most people don't notice.

Then again, most people haven't spent years training to hear those kinds of imperfections.

This makes it difficult for me to listen to many kinds of music. I can hear problems that a lot of people can't, and some think that I am "snooty" with my music, and can't appreciate a changing world and society. They discredit me because I hold music to different standards, whether they be "higher" or "traditional" is only opinion, and one that will be different for everybody.

I believe the difference is, however, that I hear things differently, though different ears.

In any case, it is not my opinions that matter. I don't care whether or not you agree with me, you don't have to. All I ask is that you respect my opinions, respect that I have them, and don't try to "correct" me of my "wrongful ways".

In the end, everything is only opinion. Each and every person will believe something different and that, that point right there, is what makes us who we are.

No Title Here

Let me begin by saying that these are my thoughts, unedited. They might be rough and I can guarantee some of you may not like this.

When did it become socially acceptable to be a slut, whore, or pig?

Here is my thought process, and attempt to answer the question.

It used to be that if a girl (or a woman) gave herself away before marriage, she was considered unworthy of a healthy relationship with a worthwhile man. Over the past several decades, societal change has brought about the addition of alcohol as more than a way to loosen up the tongue at fancy parties.

Being in college has shown me one thing: It's all about getting drunk and/or high.

Part of being drunk is that it erases your inhibitors, making it easier to do things you wouldn't normally do, be they right or wrong. Instead of holding back, a person who is drunk will be more likely to follow their impulses, not thinking about the consequences. They are carefree.

You get drunk to get that feeling so you can be free to do whatever you please. Then, when it's all over and somebody asks why you stuffed your pants in the back of a toilet, you can say "Dude! I was so smashed last night. I can't be held accountable for anything weird that happened."

To a point, that's true. Once intoxicated, it can be extremely difficult to harness your actions, and it is hard to blame someone for doing something they were not conscious of doing. However, it was that persons choice to drink in the first place, knowing they could not be held accountable for their actions.

Drinking is used as a way to become carefree, and do whatever you want for a night (or however long one stays drunk).

For those of you wondering when I'll get back to the original question, here it comes.

At parties, especially but not limited to college-type, it has become a goal to find someone to go home with. This is partially because in the morning, you can excuse yourself and not be held accountable.

For men, it is all about finding someone (the hotter the better) to "hook up" with, and finding different women every night (or men, though I would guess gay men stay away from heterosexual parties). This is not new, it has been this way for long time.

For women, on the other hand, it is fairly recent that this became true. They are no longer cautious about what happens, and often no longer ashamed. Sure, they may regret it later, but the fact that they keep going back and making the same choices only proves my point.

Over the years this kind of behavior has become more and more prevalent, to the point where it is now expected.

This is made worse by the fact the majority of women in movies and on TV are sexually loose, unless they find themselves morally superior and most often Christian (because according to TV, being Christian means you're a "morally superior" nut, but this rant is for another time). So when a girl, or woman, rejects sex for too long it becomes more than an annoyance, because it is something they are "expected" to participate in.

Now that I've spent far too long on one point, let me finish quickly with the rest.

These changes are dictated by society. While societal change is good for the advancement of our world, not all changes are good.

It is still "acceptable" for parents and older siblings to want their daughters "first" to be special, with someone they care about (preferably love) because a bond is created between the two that will never go away. If that is true, why is it only true about the first time. Wouldn't that be true about all sexual encounters? Unless, of course, you turn those feelings off.

I won't continue, because I already wasted a bunch of time on the beginning and, frankly, knowing my audience I've already made some of you roll your eyes or discredit me as soon as I said the first words.

Thank you for reading as far as you have, you don't know how much that means to me.

Currently I'm listen to nothing besides the typing of my keys, because the silence helps me think.

I am, however, smelling the delicious chicken and vegetables waiting for me in the kitchen.