Comments from the general public

[cupcake_goth]

This past weekend was, apparently, the comment on Princess Moonbeam's appearance! weekend for complete strangers.

Now, let me be perfectly clear on this. I'm pretty used to complete strangers coming up and asking me about my clothing, why I'm dressed the way I am, am I going to a party, and so on. I freely admit I Do Not Look Like Everyone Else; not only that, but I work pretty hard at Not Looking Like Everyone Else. My eccentric wardrobe is my hobby, thankyouverymuch.



Over the weekend, three different little old ladies asked me if I was from Teatro Zinzani. Wha? Does anyone know if the current ad campaign for that features someone wearing a top hat?

On Saturday, while at the MAC cosmetics counter in Bel Square, a flock of teenage girls stared at me (which is normal, in my world), then walked over to me. One of them grabbed my hair and said, "Ohmigod, your hair is so long! Is it real?" I gently removed my hair from her clutches and said "Yes, it is." Thankfully, she and her little friends were then distracted by something and wandered off without asking any more questions or grabbing anything else.

On Sunday, I walked to the local thrift store. I took my usual route, which means I get to walk through the little neighborhood park. Since it was a sunny day, the park was full of families, and a bunch of young boys practicing soccer. As I walked by one family, I heard "And she's a devil worshipper!" while the man uttering this statement was pointing at me. (I'm pretty sure he didn't intend me to hear him, but it's amazing what you can hear people say when you're only about 10 feet away from them.) I'm used to (and amused by) people calling me a witch; 'devil worshipper', however, kinda bugs. Mostly because it seems a touch more disapproving and harassing than 'witch', and more suggestive of a mob of angry villagers just waiting to break out the pitchforks and torches.

I kept walking, which took me past the practicing soccer team. One young man, standing on the fringes of the practice, decided to yell "Hey, Halloween was two weeks ago!" I turned, smiled at him, and took two steps off the path toward him. He bolted toward the rest of his teammates, so I kept walking. (Honestly, all I was going to do was point out to him that Halloween was rather more than two weeks past, and that he probably needed to start paying more attention in school.)

I'm hoping the rest of my week isn't filled with more of these sorts of incidents. Of course, hoping isn't going to keep me from being wary ...

Comments

Damn!

[tolkiencub.livejournal.com]

I wish that happened to ME more, because - onlike you - bolting away from me only causes me to PURSUE YOU, TEETH BARED, SNARLING.

*ahem*

Anyway: no, I don't think there's anything Going On to encourage such rudeness. And I don't think *you* have changed. That leaves - yes, wait for it - a DEGENERATING GENERAL SOCIETY. *gasp*

Say it ain't so, Alex!

I'm verrrrrry bitter today. Shall we dance on Wednesday, m'dear?

Re: Damn!

[cupcake-goth.livejournal.com]

Yes, we should dance on Wednesday. I haven't seen you in FOREVER (or so it seems), and we can rail about the decline of society together. That's always fun.

Re: Damn!

[tolkiencub.livejournal.com]

Hm.

Perhaps I should appear in the park some afternoon when the soccer players are playing, and if one of them looks at me, I'll just whisper, loudly, "She doesn't worship the devil - but *I* do, and she's my FRIEND."

And see what they do.

Probably call the cops, and you'll end up being watched by Bad People with Guns(TM), so I won't. But it's a charmingly UNPLEASANT idea.

Oh - I talked to a Mrs. Greenlaw today, and immediately thought of you and the ticking hatbox.

Re: Damn!

[paperdol.livejournal.com]

I never got used to the comments about Halloween in college, or the circus freak comments. Oddly, all my clothes were off-the-rack. Black skirt, tights, t-shirt, sweater.

My makeup isn't even outlandish by any sort of standard. And still, the rude comments. Strangers touching your hair is completely weird, I think transcending rude into a total ignorance of you being another human. So weird. I wouldn't have dealt with it so well.

Re: Damn!

[cupcake-goth.livejournal.com]

Oh, I bet you have to put up with people touching your hair all the time, don't you?

Re: Damn!

[paperdol.livejournal.com]

Oh no! Children stare sometimes, but that never bothers, I think it's cute. It's different so interesting to them.

Adults most often just smile and say it looks like this is the color my hair is supposed to be, which makes me really happy.

Other than the hair, though, I blend pretty easily so don't in any way have to deal with the pointing and whispering you have to deal with.

Honestly, your dress makes me smile, it's happy-making and makes me want to clap and say "well-done!" Although, that's probably just as rude.

[darkmane.livejournal.com]

Ummm, is this an old story or was the soccer player so out of it he didn't realize it was February and not November?

[stroppy-baggage.livejournal.com]

Clue One: Entry reads "This weekend..."

Clue Two was this line: "(Honestly, all I was going to do was point out to him that Halloween was rather more than two weeks past, and that he probably needed to start paying more attention in school.)"

The Clue-inator mocks you.

[darkmane.livejournal.com]

I'm sure that he does mock me, yet I mock him because he has yet to make a clue powerful enought to penetrate my skull!

[oldhalloween.livejournal.com]

Hate to say it but ever since Bush was re-elected and all the family values...hoo..haw....I started paying more attention to what the "normal" public thinks of as normal. Its a pretty bland world out there in suburbia. We get jaded because we have seen it all and our household is so liberal. My mouth just drops when in a crowd of "normals" even at Borders..I overhear "freak" comments said about our local Goth kids. Were talking about wearing black with maybe a bright hair color! I just think if you that is what you call freaky...what I define as freaky might cause fainting in this town.

[cupcake-goth.livejournal.com]

I *really* don't want my suspicions about how the general public is becoming more conservative and insular about everything confirmed, I really don't.

But you're right. I've been noticing the same things.

[oldhalloween.livejournal.com]

What confuses me in terms of counter culture is that Goth has become so main stream. Goth characters on TV shows, commercials, and even a Goth gal on Survivor this season. She was picked last when they divided up in to teams but she didn't get voted out..yet. That would tend to make me think it wouldn't be all that shocking for kids or their parents to have come across a positive role model.

[rimrunner.livejournal.com]

Over the weekend, three different little old ladies asked me if I was from Teatro Zinzani. Wha? Does anyone know if the current ad campaign for that features someone wearing a top hat?

There's a reasonably current poster featuring a man wearing black, with a hat that might be a top hat, and a monocle.

I suppose this could be taken as a sign that my old boss, who got moved to TZ full-time after my contract ended, has succeeded in raising TZ's visibility.

Those other incidents, though...wow. Though I confess to being rather amused that the soccer player fled when you turned in his direction. Silly boy.

[caliban1227.livejournal.com]

Young boys are generally cowards when confronted by forceful women, so the guy in the park is no surprise. The Devil Worship thing is annoying.

[vorona.livejournal.com]

I *really* don't want my suspicions about how the general public is becoming more conservative and insular about everything confirmed, I really don't.

Ah, but this seems to be the case. It's happening, and it seems to be getting creepier by the week. It's dumb out there.

What I've been getting - in black tights, MaryJanes, plain black skirt, black sweater, scarf, Coach bag, brown hair pulled back, light pink nail polish & lipgloss, BCBG sunglasses - is, "Where are you FROM?"

Uh. From?

"Insular" is one word for it.

[butterflake.livejournal.com]

Agreed.

[audiblecell.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately the general public gets no formal education in fashion whatsoever...as depressing is that is for all of us...you kind of have to be a little forgiving because...all they get are the Old Navy ads on tv and what they see at WAL-MART to tell them what they are supposed to be wearing...so when they come accross someone as well dressed and outfits that are as well thought out as yours are they get confused as to what they are really seeing. I think you must look magical to them because of all the beautiful fabrics and details that they really dont ever get a chance to see on an everyday basis...it is too bad that they put it in a negative light though...I am ALWAYS thrilled to see what you have put together...you are so wonderfully creative and beautiful!

[rimrunner.livejournal.com]

There might be something to this, especially in Seattle where it's considered formal if your jeans don't have holes in them.

(Is wearing jeans right now...)

[sistawendy.livejournal.com]

Is wearing jeans with holes in them right now, but I'm sick at home.

Seriously, prncsmoonbeam, I hope you don't let this get to you. You're a heroine. Why? Because if anyone's going to put a stop to this sort of idiocy or even make a dent in it, it'll be you.

[weaselmom.livejournal.com]

Don't forget the biznatches at the Brighton store who studiously ignored me--actively shopping with my Brighton handbag and wallet, looking to drop a wad of cash on yet more overpriced accessories--just because I was there with your fabulousness. Wish I had the guts to call them up and complain about the treatment.

I don't suppose you know...

[tolkiencub.livejournal.com]

...that a "biznatch" is actually a creature you can kill in Star Wars Galaxies, right?

I'm not making this up. :)

[cupcake-goth.livejournal.com]

You should. Because in the next day or so, I'm going to be sending email to the owner of Crave about a particularly rude employee who has ensured I will never, EVER attempt to go to Crave for brunch again. We can fight rude service together!

[minim_calibre]

WTF is up with the world?

We have nine zillion things on furnaces for you, BTW.

[bluejay23.livejournal.com]

When the weather gets nice, the human vermin come out from under their rocks where the torpor of winter has kept them (and their underdeveloped brains) nicely ensconced in their trailer parks and tiny, tiny mindsets.
I'm sorry you had to deal with a plethora of idiocy in such a short time frame. The level of shameless rudeness seems to have carried over to today nicely. Must be that "3 day holiday" thing, which does not apply if one works retail. Being stuck at the ass-end of hell today was truly a treat.
Hopefully the ignorant hordes will calm down once they realise that they are experiencing "spring", and not Halloween.
Gah.