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Message: <blockquote data-quote="kreynolds" data-source="post: 320463" data-attributes="member: 2829">Re: Re: Re: kreynoldsWell, you gotta loosen up man. <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /> If I took stuff like that too seriously I'd be a basket case (Quiet Crothian and mikebr99! I know you fellas, and I know a comment is brewing. <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f609.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=";)" title="Wink    ;)"  data-smilie="2"data-shortname=";)" />)Oh crap...I'm probably going to inadvertantly insult you again, and believe me why I say that I don't intend to, but I won't be held responsible for your quirks that developed due to actions that had nothing to do with me.If there's one thing in this world that I can't stand more than anything else, it's being expected to walk on eggshells simply because there might be someone out there that would find my critiqueing of an apple pie personally insulting and permanently emotionally damaging.I'm sure you can tell, I'm not very PC. <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f609.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=";)" title="Wink    ;)"  data-smilie="2"data-shortname=";)" />To help put this in perspective, I now know exactly where you're coming from. I was the day-care dork. I was the elementary school dork. I was the junior high dork. I was short and heavy, and had to wear glasses. But I'm not just talkin' about plain ol' glasses! Oh no! I'm talkin' about big ol' fat, thick coke-bottle glasses baby! I had braces for seven of my scholastic years. I had to wear a headgear during 6th and 7th grade (that most certainly does not help get the chicks <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f609.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=";)" title="Wink    ;)"  data-smilie="2"data-shortname=";)" />). My clothing was always at least a year behind in style than everyone else and I had a really bad haircut for half my life.Then, suddenly, high school comes around. I weighed the exact same as I did before (165lbs) but I grew taller. I got bulkier, more athletic (I still don't know how). My dress completely changed from a year behind to "I don't give a damn". I wore the same thing every day: bluejeans, white t-shirt, black boots, black belt, black leather biker jacket (you know, the rebelious type <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f600.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":D" title="Big grin    :D"  data-smilie="8"data-shortname=":D" />), but I did so for simplicity's sake. Also, due to reasons that I won't get into, because it would take too much time, I was constantly expressionless, except in the rarest of circumstances. Suddenly, I wasn't picked on anymore. I wasn't looked at funny anymore. I got chicks (how the hell did that happen!? <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f600.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":D" title="Big grin    :D"  data-smilie="8"data-shortname=":D" />). But, the strangest thing? When I would walk through the halls, the crowds would part and let me pass, just like it does when the proverbial school bully would walk by, but I wasn't a bully. Never, not once, did I get in a fight at high school.That's when I realized that poor treatment from adolescents is primarily driven by image. Somehow, my "image" was no longer objectionable, and people began to respect me, but they didn't even know me. How can someone respect you when they don't even know you? Took me a long time to figure that one out. Simple. They don't. It's about acceptance of others. By accepting one person, you might be accepted more by others. Conversely, by refusing to accept a different person, you very well might be accepted more by others. It's a game. It's not fun, I'll admit that, but it's just a game, and a child's one at that.Long story short (though it might be to late), you gotta let go of that kind of crap. I got picked on just like you did, but I got over it. I don't need anyone else's respect or acceptance (with the exception of my father). I only need to respect and accept who I am. You should too. Just let it go and move on. Trust me, it's worth it. OK. The "Dr. Phil" session is over. <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" />For those of you that fell asleep, you can wake up now. <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f600.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":D" title="Big grin    :D"  data-smilie="8"data-shortname=":D" /></blockquote>

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