Popularity

Popularity-what it really is

We all know what “they” do. We all know who “they” are. But we don’t all know exactly what “it” is. Popularity. It used to mean someone who was liked by everyone. Now it’s almost the opposite. Now let me say this first-whatever I say popular people usually look like, I am STEREOTYPING. I can do that, this is an editorial. I am NOT saying that all people with those characteristics are bad or wrong. It is MY opinion.
When I think of popular, I think of this: the Hollister clothes, the highlights, the mascara, the looks. Yes, my first point is the ‘look’. The way you look at someone can mean a lot. I know a few of the most common ones, including the “ok, why are you not giving me what I want” look and the “oh, you poor thing you’re partners with HER” look. Now, we ask what gives those people the right to do such things? That brings me to the most important thing of popularity-the HOW.
I don’t quite know how it started. I mean, I bought a Hollister shirt, and I didn’t become magically popular. I wore mascara once, and the same thing. But the popular kids do it, and they’re a hit! Why, you ask? I don’t quite know. I think it’s something they’re born with. They turn into a strobe light flashing, “I’m popular! I’m popular!” You can’t not notice it. It’s just an air that they have around them that whoever sees them knows they’re popular. I have noticed these few patterns among them-
Members of a sports team
PRETTY
Nice clothes
Were once girl scouts
The last one is where I think it started. The little groups of brownies who, while trying to do good, formed a clique. Since then, it has snowballed. That’s not saying anything bad about the girl scouts only about the people who abused the privilege. I think back to kindergarten Daisies, when I wanted to sit next to a girl, and she wouldn’t let me. (No, it wasn’t my breath) It was because I didn’t have that many badges. That’s kindergarten!
We know that popularity starts when you’re little. It doesn’t have to though. From my observations, people who become popular later on in life, (as in 5th or 6th grade) aren’t as bad. They’re more down to earth, since they can remember pre-popularity. However, I don’t know how they do it. I’m not sure anyone actually knows how to become popular. And if they do, they should write to the paper about it!
The main problem with popularity is that those who are popular think that they are better than everyone else. They think they can do whatever they want and get away with it. And what stinks is that usually they can. I have had a few experiences with this myself, but I won’t tell you about them. All I’ll say is that I was made to feel ‘lesser.’ Recently, I got a ‘look’ when 2 girls wanted to take my friend’s seat in a class. She had left her binder when she went to get a drink before the bell. The two wanted to sit next to each other. They asked if someone was sitting at my friend’s seat, and I said yes. Then they were quiet until they asked if they could move the binder. I said no, and they were kind of surprised, like, “Wait a sec, I want to do something and I can’t. Wow, that’s not supposed to happen,”
Another problem is sometimes the put-downs. I actually haven’t seen much of this, but the most common one is “that’s weird” or “you’re weird”. Then, all of a sudden you’re WEIRD. As in, ‘not cool’ and as in ‘why are you still here, you’re WEIRD.’ They don’t say it though, they just say it in a look. That look is evil. It makes you feel like you’re an outsider and you don’t want to be. Let’s face it. No matter how much you don’t like them, we all secretly crave the attention of the “popular people”. Goodness knows why, but even I do! You want them to like you, so once you’re their friend, you can dump them the way they’ve dumped you. But they never do, so you never can.
Now I’ve classified the popular people into two categories. One is the classic annoying, perfect, stereotyped snobs I’ve been talking about, and the other type, the down-to-earth type, which I like MUCH better. I call them “Ambassadors”. They are free to go between the popular group and the normal people and be friends with both. Those people have the nice clothes and the fancy cell phones and all, but they don’t flaunt it. I knew a girl who moved last year who was like that. I know one now, we’re science partners sometimes. You’ll know one when you see one. At first, you’re a little nervous because they’re almost royalty. Then you get to know them, and they’re cool.
Now, does that mean that “popular people” more privileges? Do teachers and coaches have a bias? As popular Glenda the Good Witch once said in song, “…heads of state or ‘specially great communicators, did they have brains or knowledge? Don’t make me laugh! They were POPULAR! Please, it’s all about pop-u-lar” As far as I know, teachers would never be unfair to a student based on their social status, but popular people do have that bubble around them that just make you want to be their friend. So, no matter what you have to work really hard to pop that bubble.
I could tell you now that being popular isn’t everything, and that you’re really popular with your friends. But I won’t, since you couldn’t count the number of times you’ve heard that. All I’ll say is this: There are popular people in the world. They’ll be there you’re whole life; there’s no getting out of it. All you can do is deal with it, hopefully without making a huge deal out of it. Just ignore it. Even if they think they’re better than you, let them think that. They aren’t really. Whatever you do, just don’t give into them. It’s just another speed bump on the road of life.
Signed, your friend with the pen,
Tarla