The Rudolph Antisocialization Theory
Dec. 17th, 2002 12:57 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
podlingTo start with, I'd just like to say that this is a repost from a mailing list. I wrote this, oh, 2 years ago. I've been asked to repost it here for the amusement of others. And just in time for the holidays!!!! Ahem. I haven't written anything on LJ lately anyway. Read this.
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Strangely enough, several people want to hear this both on and off list. I'll
try to be to the point here, but I'm not sure how well I can explain it. Oh,
and it's really *really* not meant to be offensive to anyone. The part about
computer geeks is based on my personal experiences in real life and should in
no way reflect on any of you. :)
Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer: A study of the evilness contained within
Rudolph is brought into the world and straight off the bat is labeled a freak
for something he has no control over. The adults who are supposed to cherish
him and love him for who he is take one look and say, "My boy's a freak!" Now,
if I was Rudolph's mother, I would've kicked daddy's butt right out of the cave
at that point for being an ass, but that's something else entirely. And Santa,
who is supposed to be this loving (and in his own way quite freaky guy) drops
by and basically says that their child is a freak who has no future. Nice guy.
Rudolph goes to join in the games, and in fact, excels, does better than anyone
else. But because he's got that whole nose glowing thing going on, he gets
kicked out and made fun of by adults who should know better and children who
are learning these lessons early. So he gives up and runs away.
Meanwhile, Herbie the gay elf wannabe dentist has his own issues. He doesn't
fit in because he's the only boy elf that's got hair like only the girl elves
do, and because he'd rather be a dentist than a toy builder. Oh, so he'd
rather have a different career for which he shows natural aptitude and
interest? Poppycock! He'll be a toy builder like everyone else! So he runs
away too. Because running away is obviously the thing to do.
So they meet up, get to the Island of Misfit Toys, where they are told that
while they're both freaks, they are either too freaky or not freaky enough to
live there. And the toys that live there aren't all that bad, might I point
out. I'd totally want a polka-dot elephant.
Right, now Rudolph's dad has decided that maybe he was a bit hard on the boy,
and goes after him, only to get into a world of trouble. And this trouble is
one that the two freaks managed to avoid, so obviously they're cooler.
Meanwhile, there's horrible troubles afoot because of natural phenomena like
fog and toothaches. Now of course, the two antisocial misfit freaks come to
the rescue with their innate talents, saving the day and making everyone love
them for it. This also teaches a horrible lesson that many computer geeks that
I know believe in their heart of hearts... that that skill they have, whether
it be web designing, making fabulous mix cd's or whatever, will one day be
really really important and people will love them for it, regardless of whether
they have any social skills whatsoever. There's something that only I have the
skill to do, and it will one day save the world. Huzzah!
What do we learn from this?
1. Adults don't have to be loving and respectful of the feeling of others.
2. Running away is a perfectly acceptable solution sometimes.
3. Social ineptitude and/or antisocial behavior can be excused by being really
useful to others.
4. There's a lack of responsibility that seems okay here, whether it be parent
to child, other adults to children, coworkers, or whatever.
5. Mean-spiritedness is okay, as long as you can focus it on someone besides
yourself.
6. By whining and running away, you might get the career you've always dreamed
of.
Incidentally, that "Misfit" song still cracks me up, just thinking about it.
It makes *such* a good drag show number.
So that's my take on it. Take it or leave it. I think it's a great idea to
blame any and all of society's woes on Rudolph. It deserves it. :)
p.s. I was told that I'd given this much too much thought, but several people
agreed with me too...
------------------------------------------------------------------
Strangely enough, several people want to hear this both on and off list. I'll
try to be to the point here, but I'm not sure how well I can explain it. Oh,
and it's really *really* not meant to be offensive to anyone. The part about
computer geeks is based on my personal experiences in real life and should in
no way reflect on any of you. :)
Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer: A study of the evilness contained within
Rudolph is brought into the world and straight off the bat is labeled a freak
for something he has no control over. The adults who are supposed to cherish
him and love him for who he is take one look and say, "My boy's a freak!" Now,
if I was Rudolph's mother, I would've kicked daddy's butt right out of the cave
at that point for being an ass, but that's something else entirely. And Santa,
who is supposed to be this loving (and in his own way quite freaky guy) drops
by and basically says that their child is a freak who has no future. Nice guy.
Rudolph goes to join in the games, and in fact, excels, does better than anyone
else. But because he's got that whole nose glowing thing going on, he gets
kicked out and made fun of by adults who should know better and children who
are learning these lessons early. So he gives up and runs away.
Meanwhile, Herbie the gay elf wannabe dentist has his own issues. He doesn't
fit in because he's the only boy elf that's got hair like only the girl elves
do, and because he'd rather be a dentist than a toy builder. Oh, so he'd
rather have a different career for which he shows natural aptitude and
interest? Poppycock! He'll be a toy builder like everyone else! So he runs
away too. Because running away is obviously the thing to do.
So they meet up, get to the Island of Misfit Toys, where they are told that
while they're both freaks, they are either too freaky or not freaky enough to
live there. And the toys that live there aren't all that bad, might I point
out. I'd totally want a polka-dot elephant.
Right, now Rudolph's dad has decided that maybe he was a bit hard on the boy,
and goes after him, only to get into a world of trouble. And this trouble is
one that the two freaks managed to avoid, so obviously they're cooler.
Meanwhile, there's horrible troubles afoot because of natural phenomena like
fog and toothaches. Now of course, the two antisocial misfit freaks come to
the rescue with their innate talents, saving the day and making everyone love
them for it. This also teaches a horrible lesson that many computer geeks that
I know believe in their heart of hearts... that that skill they have, whether
it be web designing, making fabulous mix cd's or whatever, will one day be
really really important and people will love them for it, regardless of whether
they have any social skills whatsoever. There's something that only I have the
skill to do, and it will one day save the world. Huzzah!
What do we learn from this?
1. Adults don't have to be loving and respectful of the feeling of others.
2. Running away is a perfectly acceptable solution sometimes.
3. Social ineptitude and/or antisocial behavior can be excused by being really
useful to others.
4. There's a lack of responsibility that seems okay here, whether it be parent
to child, other adults to children, coworkers, or whatever.
5. Mean-spiritedness is okay, as long as you can focus it on someone besides
yourself.
6. By whining and running away, you might get the career you've always dreamed
of.
Incidentally, that "Misfit" song still cracks me up, just thinking about it.
It makes *such* a good drag show number.
So that's my take on it. Take it or leave it. I think it's a great idea to
blame any and all of society's woes on Rudolph. It deserves it. :)
p.s. I was told that I'd given this much too much thought, but several people
agreed with me too...
no subject
Date: 2002-12-18 08:57 am (UTC)Um, anyway, moving on... There are weird messages in everything really. The reason I've given it more thought is just that really, these are specials that are shown again and again, every season. So if you're a television oriented child (which I was) these things are thown at you over and over again, same time each year, each with their weird ass messages that, when actually examined, seem insidious. It's like having blipverts. Or subliminal messages. And it's pervasive. I once had a teacher in high school ask us a bonus question on a quiz about Herbie.
no subject
Date: 2002-12-18 11:22 am (UTC)Read "the practice effect" by david brin, which is a sort of science fictiony fantasy (in my highly advanced coding system) about a world that has entropy reversed. Not to mention he's a damn fine author. :)
no subject
Date: 2002-12-20 07:37 am (UTC)But you may have a point there about spooky houses and stuff. Plus, some stuff just looks cool when it's started to fall apart. And then there's that "enemy of entropy" guy from that book by daniel keys moran. He was cool, but I really think having the enemy of entropy around might be weird. But! I've digressed! I think the colliseum would look interesting with all it's sides intact.
no subject
Date: 2002-12-22 05:33 pm (UTC)And the colliseum would look like just another everyday neighborhood amphitheater with all it's sides intact. None of that old world charm or anything.
Re:
Date: 2002-12-23 05:30 am (UTC)Old world charm? C'mon now, I live in NJ, we don't have everyday neighborhood ampitheaters!!! (never mind old world charm, oh look, that building is 75 years old! I can't believe it's still standing!)
no subject
Date: 2002-12-23 06:42 am (UTC)Are you channeling Eddie? "We've refurbished this theatre to how it looked over 50 YEARS AGO!" "no, it cannot be true... no one was alive then!".
Just remember... I live in England, where the history comes from. We have to drive round amphitheaters and castles just to get to work. We all live in castles here. ;)
Re:
Date: 2002-12-23 06:53 am (UTC)Subdivided castles maybe? But are all your castles in pristine original condition? I thought not!!! You probably added modern roofing or plumbing or something. ;)
Oh, I should point out, I live in a 'historical building' and it cracks me up all the time. Our building used to be a playing card factory...
no subject
Date: 2002-12-23 07:06 am (UTC)My current flat is older than Western civilization in Australia, and nearly as old as the same in your country. And while i'm rubbing salt in open wounds, i'm off to visit stonehenge in a few weeks which sort of leaves the whole historic discussion moot really.
Oh... and with the castles thing, sadly most of them do have alterations, however there's a few with none, and some of those even have historians use traditional tools only to restore them as they begin to wear down (which is pretty cool all in all). A renfair inside an actual castle inner courtyard somehow adds just a hint of authenticity to the event. :)