"There is a level of cowardice lower than that of the conformist: the fashionable non-conformist."
Ayn Rand
I saw a guy with a nail in his nose today. This isn't really a commentary on Stockholm because, really, cities everywhere attract these sort of attention needing types. The exception is, in Stockholm, they are generally drinking beers while walking down the street. I am guessing there are no open container laws here and if there are, they aren't enforced. So, yeah, here he was nail in nose, beer in hand.
How old was he you ask? 15? 17? Nah, he was about 35. As soon as he saw myself and kids he got louder, apparently to draw more attention to himself. You know to really freak me out. Because, having just fallen off the turnip truck and it being 2009-- I've never seen an idiot with a large piece of hardware in his nose. Well, maybe not one who's five years out from an enlarged prostate, I'll give him that.
Stockholm is full of them. Which is interesting, I guess. But, more than anything it's so yesterday. The non-conformists need to come up with something new. The 1970s punk rocker---not shocking. The over tattooed and pierced thing--seen it. The gothic look. For real? People are still doing this?
And isn't conforming to non-conformity--well, conformity?
I almost fell off my chair laughing at this one. Couldn't have been put with any more accuracy on the state of aged non-conformists and their lack of mirrors.
ReplyDeleteI found your blog thinking that it would be witty and insightful in to life as an expat in Sweden. However, I've found quite the opposite. It's constant complaining and quite a negative vibe. Maybe it gets better as time goes on, but I can't read any more of this.
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