i guess i have to post a new entry here since i said i would before i left for city on the hill.
since i have no plan for this post – what else is new? – i might as well ruminate on some broad topic and spout empty rhetoric in a blind attempt to perhaps catch your interest.
popularity is a mysterious thing. what is it that makes one popular? i understand the definition, but not the basest essence. what qualities attract people to any one person? is it kindness? some kind of “cool” aura? or maybe it’s ingratiating behavior. or a great sense of humor. could it be looks? insight? loyalty? understanding? indefatigable optimism, perhaps? what draws the public to a particular individual?
maybe it’s a very natural and attractive combination of all these qualities – good and bad.
or it could be just one.
or none. maybe it’s some kind of undetectable and yet irresistible charisma that results in popularity.
i wonder who sacrifices more: the popular one or his followers?
- (interesting note: in above “the popular one or his followers?” it is better to use “his” rather than “his/her”, according to The Elements of Style by E.B. White. i’m such a nerd.)
initially i thought that it would indeed be the popular one’s friends. i’m not sure why.
it then occured to me that there is not one type of popular, but several.
there is the type that initially comes to mind (for whatever reason): the hollywood cliche of a guy with many admired talents, made popular by his many fawning sycophants. there are so many other forms, when a bit of thought is put to it.
one that especially comes to mind is the kind that is popular due to his appeal to the interests of others in order to gain approval.
in this case, it’s evident the “popular” one has suffered the greatest loss in becoming what he is, gaining popularity but losing what makes him real: his interests, his personality, his opinions, his very state of mind. in molding oneself to others’ likes and dislikes, one loses touch with his own true perception of the world.
then again, is not our own “true” perception simply what we have gathered from the opinions and influences of others?
is there such a thing and a pure and un-influenced perception of the world?
are our opinions our own, or merely thoughts imposed on our minds through our lives by parents, teachers, and (most influentially, i believe) our friends?
jeepers.
in other news, kelsey and julia finished my Where the Wild Things Are hoodie for the movie (10-16-09!!!)
i wish i could show it to you but they have made me promise to keep it hidden until the movie comes out. 
go to the midnight premiere at regal and be one of the first to see the masterpiece of an overgarment!
i think i’m addicted to Hall’s.
i got my Puma Free Rider III’s and i love them.
i ordered my Kicker Zune dock and speaker tonight – it’ll probably be here when i return from city on the hill.
girls continue to fascinate, befuddle, surprise, and frustrate me. i echo the complaints of every man on planet earth, i am sure.
gotta finish packing.
i dont even know why i keep this thing up
who even reads this
Subtle, Ben. Subtle. ;D
Uh, a few points.
As to what makes someone popular. As you said, that is a point of debate. I would venture to guess that it is different, broad and varying combination of elements. Some elements here make this, and then other elements over here would make that.
I would think that, in many cases, merely having the complex to please everyone, in every way, is a substantial step in the direction of ‘popularity’.
As you pointed out, it might initially seem as though the ‘friends’ are the losing party. Yet then, you pointed out that the sacrifices made by ‘Mr. Popular’. But, why? What are the friends sacrificing, in the first place?
Again, to answer your question, I do not believe one can have an unadulterated perception of this world.
It takes a very special person to truly have such control over their mind, in such away in which they can mold their interests and beliefs in accordance with their conscious thoughts.
I guess the true question really is, is the above statement even possible? Maybe. Maybe not.