Jackass Snowflakes

You're a Unique Snowflake, Just Like That Jackass Over There

 

 

Over the past decade or more, I've begun to notice this shift with society. At least American society. OK...at least Northern New Jersey American Society. Since I can't speak for the rest of the Universe, I'll keep it narrowed to my little corner of the world.

This shift I'm speaking of is the insistence that every child knows just what a unique and special little flower they are. This is accomplished by not having "winning" vs. "losing" teams and ensuring everyone receives a trophy of some sort. Regardless of talent. Regardless of prowess. Regardless of ability. We, as a society must make sure that little "Poo-Poo's" feelings aren't destroyed by any lack of acknowledgment or reward - thus saving ourselves from future guilt that said child might lay on us if they, say, have an inferiority complex, or determine that the reason why they suck at life as an adult is because they never got that Lacrosse trophy for coming in 8th place.

   

 

My issue isn't with the kids. If they're raised to believe that everything they touch is golden, then you can't blame them. I believe the parents are trying to raise confident and well-adjusted kids - remembering what it felt like to be picked last at sports and group activities - they are trying to spare their children that humiliation. The problem is that "humiliation" is what makes us "human". That humiliation makes us grounded and well-adjusted.

At some point (at many, many points) in our lives, we are going to experience humiliation. We are going to experience devastation and loss. Childhood "devastations" give us a thicker skin to deal with these bigger issues later in life. Allowing a child to experience the agony of defeat, grants him or her the ability to appreciate what it is to earn something by working for it. It allows him or her the ability to learn how to accept defeat, and to accept it gracefully. It forms "humility".
 

While I've seen a huge shift in the last decade or so, that doesn't mean that a few haven't always been around since the dawn of time. I'm sure there were some Cavewoman Mother's who thought that her hairy little beast's fire-making skills, Mammoth-slaying prowess, or stick-man cave drawings were just "Beyond Compare" (Please take note: My entire knowledge of Caveman history pretty much comes from the "Ice Age" movies). Carried in to adulthood, kids who were told they can do wrong and are "so special, so unique, so unlike-everyone-else" are effing bears to deal with.
 

Which brings me to my actual point. Yes. Everyone has something that makes them unique. Even if that's only their fingerprints and DNA. Being unique, however, doesn't necessarily equate to a good thing. Jeffrey Dahmer was pretty damn unique, for instance. As was Caligula.

 

 

As an adult woman who actually was told "No" on many occasions by my parents, and was picked last more often than not in school sports, I feel I can offer a pretty clear viewpoint on this topic. You can spot the adult version of "Mommy's Special Little (fill in the blank)" a mile away. You see them in meetings, you see them checking out at grocery stores, and there seems to be a large conference of them at any airport across the U.S.A. at any given point. Those "special little somebodies" who feel that they are entitled to do "X". Not only are they entitled, but you should already know this, you...you...you.... PEON!

 

Let's provide an example, shall we? All of us in NJ/NY that went through Super Storm Sandy and were on gas rationing can appreciate this. After the storm that devastated so much of the Jersey Shore and wreaked havoc at every place Sandy passed by, there were certain areas with gas shortages. First, it was due to days and days without electricity. Then it was because the trucks couldn't get to the fuel that was at the ports in Jersey. This combination caused many stations to be out of gas for weeks - at least by me. Those that did have gas required you to wait hours and hours in line to get your tank filled.
 

It's life. It happens. It sucked, but we were all in the same boat. Well, everyone except those "Unique Butterflies". Picture it: What would happen is you would wait in lines ranging from 3-5 hours at a time, and Mr./Ms/Mrs. Special would roll up to the front of the line and actually try to cut in. ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME? I don't care if you're a woman or a man, you must have some pair of balls to pull that move. Especially in New Jersey. 'Cause Jerseyians take no shit.

 

These entitled people felt that they had the authority...no, not the authority...the GOD GIVEN RIGHT to cut off hundreds of people who had waited since before dawn. Just because. Just because they were special. They were THEM. Don't you know who THEY are? They are above you. They deserve everything that is out there, whether they earned the right to receive it or not. They are SPECIAL. Someone hand these arrogant asses a binkie and tell them to wake up. You lose as an adult. I'm sorry you have to learn this lesson so late in life.

Now, I've never gotten into a physical altercation in my life. However, it would have turned into a serious smack-down had the police not been there to wave the entitled buffoon away. I could see a mob forming in front of me and in my rear-view mirror as soon as the car made the attempt to slip in front. " News Story at 11" was narrowly avoided.

People do have quirky, personal traits that make them THEM. If everyone is unique, though, doesn't that make everyone equal? If everyone is unique, doesn't that mean no one is special. Joe might have a talent for painting, and Sally might be a great skier, but (at the base level) unique + unique cancels each other out. It's just what you choose to see as a valuable and admirable trait.

Regardless of talents or ability, everyone can be a unique snowflake, just like that jackass over there.

With Love
Lady Butterfly
xoxo