When your a kid, playing "Follow The Leader" is adorable. When you're an adult, not only are they shooting 3000 units of thorazine into your system, but the whole idea of being a "follower" and not a "leader" is deeply frowned upon. Why? Is it really so bad to "follow?"
The other day in my Geology class, my teacher, Mr. Talbot, droned on in a robotic-like voice, about how the layers of rocks in mountainsides and cliffs have helped scientists determine how old the world really is. But no one really cared. The information he was giving was nothing we couldnt learn from watching The Discovery Channel. And because the class took place right after lunch, no one was really in the mood to listen.
No one but Robert. Robert was a mouse-y looking kid with a high-pitched voice (that oftens crack) and whiskers growing out of his chin and cheeks. The fact that he has big floppy ears, didnt really help the mouse-like image he had going on. And it was with those same big, floppy ears, that he hung to every word Mr. Talbot was saying. Up until he came to the part about civilization.
ROBERT: Wait. Weren't there any humans living before 4000 years?
MR. TALBOT: No. The world was still being formed and...
ROBERT: That's a lie.
MR: TALBOT: Excuse me?
ROBERT: What you're saying is a farce. In the Bible...
It has been my personal experience, that whenever someone starts with the phrase, "In the Bible..." it only leads to fustration, arguing, and the occassional police restraining order. Robert carried on about what the Bible said about evolution, and for looking like a mouse, the kid knew his scripture pretty well. He and Mr. Talbot argued about science and God's creation for 10 minutes, while the rest of us groaned and talked about the million other things we could have been doing. We also tried to come up with ideas on to shut the debaters up, as neither Robert nor Mr. Talbot was about to throw the towel in. Until, out of nowhere, a voice bellowed out, "Who cares?"
The class grew quiet. Robert, Mr. Talbot, and the rest of the class all turned into the direction of Stacey Something-or-other. I dont think she meant to be so loud, it just happened that way. She was the voice.
ROBERT: What?
STACEY: Who cares?! You're arguing is pointless. You're not gonna change his mind, after he's been teaching the same thing for the past 30 years. And he's not gonna change your mind, because obviously you have strong beliefs in the Bible and all.
ROBERT: You dont believe in the Bible?
STACEY: I didnt say that.
ROBERT: Well, I dont appreciate you putting me and God down!
Robert was off his rocker. Just plain nuts. Stacey didnt talk smack about anyone. She just wanted him to shut up. So did everyone else, but no one else had the guts to say anything. So, unknowingly we annointed Stacey as our chosen leader.
STACEY: Well, I dont appreciate you arguing about something that wont make a difference on the test he gives later on. Whether your right or not, doesnt matter because the test will be about what he believes in. Not what you do.
At that very moment, Mr. Talbot's took his alarm clock out, turned the knob, and made it ring (thank God Mr. Talbot doesnt believe in school bells). Saved by the bell, I was totally glad Stacey had the last word. Robert probably had a Bible verse he wanted to throw at her and the rest of us heathens, but since half the class was already out the door, what good would it do him? As I picked up my backpack, he came up to Stacey and I overheard him say: "Just cuz you said something doesnt make you cool. You only did it because someone told you to. You're like a sheep. Get thee behind me Satan!"
Was Robert right? Was Stacey our "sheep"? And if so, were we her shepherds, who led her astray? I thought Stacey was the leader. Was she not Mel Gibson a la Braveheart with a painted face and kilt, leading the geo troops to victory? Or was she just following the crowd, listening to us and doing what we said. The whole situation was weird and confusing. I wanted to talk to somebody about what had happened and that's when I ran into my friend Ivan.
IVAN: So guess what?
ME: What?
IVAN: I quit my job!
ME: You quit? Why?
IVAN: I took your advice!
ME: What advice?
IVAN: Your advice. Remember how you said that an employee cant do a good job if the employer treats him like shit?
ME: Vaguely...
IVAN: Well, anyways, yeah, I quit.
ME: That wasnt advice, that was conversation! And what about your kid? You still have to take care of him!
IVAN: And I will. I still have my other job. Plus my tax return? Yeah. I just feel like I got rid of all this stress. And I have you to thank.
Stacey led my Geo class to an early out, Danny followed my "advice", and yet none of these options led to a good outcome. If your a leader, you're admired for taking a stand and for opening doors to other possibilites. But when you fail, you're mocked for even taking a chance. When you're a follower, you're frowned for trying to be something your not. Yet, you never have to worry about being blamed for failure. Which makes me wonder...what's better?
The other day in my Geology class, my teacher, Mr. Talbot, droned on in a robotic-like voice, about how the layers of rocks in mountainsides and cliffs have helped scientists determine how old the world really is. But no one really cared. The information he was giving was nothing we couldnt learn from watching The Discovery Channel. And because the class took place right after lunch, no one was really in the mood to listen.
No one but Robert. Robert was a mouse-y looking kid with a high-pitched voice (that oftens crack) and whiskers growing out of his chin and cheeks. The fact that he has big floppy ears, didnt really help the mouse-like image he had going on. And it was with those same big, floppy ears, that he hung to every word Mr. Talbot was saying. Up until he came to the part about civilization.
ROBERT: Wait. Weren't there any humans living before 4000 years?
MR. TALBOT: No. The world was still being formed and...
ROBERT: That's a lie.
MR: TALBOT: Excuse me?
ROBERT: What you're saying is a farce. In the Bible...
It has been my personal experience, that whenever someone starts with the phrase, "In the Bible..." it only leads to fustration, arguing, and the occassional police restraining order. Robert carried on about what the Bible said about evolution, and for looking like a mouse, the kid knew his scripture pretty well. He and Mr. Talbot argued about science and God's creation for 10 minutes, while the rest of us groaned and talked about the million other things we could have been doing. We also tried to come up with ideas on to shut the debaters up, as neither Robert nor Mr. Talbot was about to throw the towel in. Until, out of nowhere, a voice bellowed out, "Who cares?"
The class grew quiet. Robert, Mr. Talbot, and the rest of the class all turned into the direction of Stacey Something-or-other. I dont think she meant to be so loud, it just happened that way. She was the voice.
ROBERT: What?
STACEY: Who cares?! You're arguing is pointless. You're not gonna change his mind, after he's been teaching the same thing for the past 30 years. And he's not gonna change your mind, because obviously you have strong beliefs in the Bible and all.
ROBERT: You dont believe in the Bible?
STACEY: I didnt say that.
ROBERT: Well, I dont appreciate you putting me and God down!
Robert was off his rocker. Just plain nuts. Stacey didnt talk smack about anyone. She just wanted him to shut up. So did everyone else, but no one else had the guts to say anything. So, unknowingly we annointed Stacey as our chosen leader.
STACEY: Well, I dont appreciate you arguing about something that wont make a difference on the test he gives later on. Whether your right or not, doesnt matter because the test will be about what he believes in. Not what you do.
At that very moment, Mr. Talbot's took his alarm clock out, turned the knob, and made it ring (thank God Mr. Talbot doesnt believe in school bells). Saved by the bell, I was totally glad Stacey had the last word. Robert probably had a Bible verse he wanted to throw at her and the rest of us heathens, but since half the class was already out the door, what good would it do him? As I picked up my backpack, he came up to Stacey and I overheard him say: "Just cuz you said something doesnt make you cool. You only did it because someone told you to. You're like a sheep. Get thee behind me Satan!"
Was Robert right? Was Stacey our "sheep"? And if so, were we her shepherds, who led her astray? I thought Stacey was the leader. Was she not Mel Gibson a la Braveheart with a painted face and kilt, leading the geo troops to victory? Or was she just following the crowd, listening to us and doing what we said. The whole situation was weird and confusing. I wanted to talk to somebody about what had happened and that's when I ran into my friend Ivan.
IVAN: So guess what?
ME: What?
IVAN: I quit my job!
ME: You quit? Why?
IVAN: I took your advice!
ME: What advice?
IVAN: Your advice. Remember how you said that an employee cant do a good job if the employer treats him like shit?
ME: Vaguely...
IVAN: Well, anyways, yeah, I quit.
ME: That wasnt advice, that was conversation! And what about your kid? You still have to take care of him!
IVAN: And I will. I still have my other job. Plus my tax return? Yeah. I just feel like I got rid of all this stress. And I have you to thank.
Stacey led my Geo class to an early out, Danny followed my "advice", and yet none of these options led to a good outcome. If your a leader, you're admired for taking a stand and for opening doors to other possibilites. But when you fail, you're mocked for even taking a chance. When you're a follower, you're frowned for trying to be something your not. Yet, you never have to worry about being blamed for failure. Which makes me wonder...what's better?
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