From: alaric@sti.com (The Renaissance Man)
Subject: Re: The Difference Injure..
Organization: Software Transformation, Inc.
Date: Tue, 17 Nov 1992 04:26:33 GMT

In article <9ht16h@rpi.edu>, youngj4@aix02.ecs.rpi.edu (Jeffrey 'Taldin' Young) writes:
] "To Daring to be *DIFFERENT*, damn us all."

"I'll drink to that!"

Alaric is as good as his word, and his drained glass flies into the
fireplace no more than two seconds after Taldin's.

] "This is what I look like in real life.  This is what I wore
] out today.  This is how I choose to dress for my day, today.
] Change the shirt and jeans and socks, and you see how
] I've been looking every day this past semester."
....
] "So why the hell do they call me 'Robin Hood?' And *laugh*?

Alaric looks thoughtful.

"There's a lot of possibilities," he pronounces after a few seconds.
"Envy.  Spite.  Thoughtlessness.  Or simply to boost their own egos,
 because they think it makes them look witty or brave."

] ....
] He sighs.  Tonight on the dinner line I hear a soft comment,
] 'hey look, it's Robin Hood.'  I ignore.  'Robin Hood!' Louder.
] I turn.  White guy, blond hair, black woolen trench.  
] I give him an annoyed look. "My name is not Robin Hood. I 
] do not wish to be called that."

"In that case," Alaric replies, "why acknowledge it at all?  Don't
 turn.  Ignore them.  If they insist on forcing their presence
 upon you and demand to know why you were ignoring them, simply
 reply that you didn't realize they meant you, since that isn't
 your name.  If you acknowledge it at all, even by turning round
 to protest, you legitimize it.
"Learn to hear the tones in the voices, Taldin.  When there's
 interest or admiration there, them simply correct them...  gently.
 When there's spite, learn to hear the smallness that it shows.
 Learn to see that you are better than they, and draw strength from
 it.  If you stop giving them the reaction they expect, their game
 isn't fun any more.  And when it stops being fun, it stops being
 worthwhile."

Alaric smiles.

"Taldin, I shouldn't have to be telling *you* of all people this...
 Or should I say reminding you?"

] ....
] "Survival instinct, Suds.  Had I shaken that hand, I would
] be saying it was all right to call me that."

"Survival instinct needs to come a little sooner, my friend.  It's
 too late to try to close an opening after you've just opened it.
 Learn not to give the opening in the first place."

] "Is there something wrong with being myself?  With choosing
]  a fashion of clothing that I like?  Why do they pick on me?
]  If I were taller and stronger then they wouldn't do that."

Alaric chuckles.

"What was I just saying about the smallness that it shows?  Every
 time you hear their attempts to make themselves seem larger and
 stronger at your expense, draw strength from it.  Remember that
 *you* don't need petty spite to feel good about who you are - and
 be sorry for them, that they are so pitiful that they do.  Let it
 roll off you, like water from a duck's back.  It will pass, and
 ultimately, it will leave you stronger than you were before."

] << But then you wouldn't look good in it, and you wouldn't be you. >>
] 
] Taldin bows his head. "I know. And that's the important thing, isn't
] it.....but it shouldnt hurt to be me."
] 
] He sighs, and shakes his head.
] 
] "I ain't gonna change for them or anyone."

"And so it should be."  He turns towards the bar, and a golden coin
appears between his fingers.  He tosses it to Mike Callahan, behind
the bar; as it passed by the LOR, it is revealed to be a leftover
two-dollar bill, folded into a paper dart.  Mike fields it expertly.

"Mike, this is to cover my refill, and Taldin's..."



-- 
      "Eternal vigilance is the price of freedom."  --  Thomas Jefferson
    ......................................................................
    Phil Stracchino : phils@sti.com : alaric@sti.com : The Renaissance Man
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