Inspired by Kevin,written by Josh

As the title suggests,this blog is much in the same vain as the one that Kevin wrote earlier this week(for those that read or follow it)and apologise for that. However, this will not be the same blog as Kevins.I think I will be touching on similar issues,but at least telling them in a different voice, way or perspective, basically,it is a similar argument to Kevins, but with differences,exciting huh?haha
Before I unleash my stream of conscience on you, I feel compelled to tell you that this blog will talk about problems that I have with the Western World and Western society. However, I alos understand and see the good points to this society,this just touches on some of the problems I have and thoughts that I contain in my little head, and seeing as I started this blog thing up,I figured I may as well use it. Now after that long winded and unnecessary introduction,lets get to the crux of the matter.
I have a problem. That problem is in regards to identity. Today I find that our identity is wrapped up so much in WHAT we DO,WHAT we WEAR,WHAT we SAY, as opposed to WHO we are.
Our society is so steeped fashion, both clothing wise and in terms of what people have to do to be accepted. For example, so many of us(myself included) by brand name clothes, not because we honestly believe they are a better product, but because we believe they are the "cooler" option. In reality though, not much makes Billabong, Quicksliver or Rusty better than the shirts/pants at JayJays. More often than not all labels,both from the "surf shops" and JayJays or other "non-branded" labels are of the same design, same pattern, even made in the same country(usually China or some other country where things are cheap to manufacture). All labels, even serve the same pratcial purpose, that is, to clothe and protect us. Do you think a $40+ shirt does this better than a $20 or less shirt?I don't. We simply pay the extra money for the label and for the sake of being seen as cool. We all have this inherit desire to be accepted.
That desire is a fine and normal thing, but the way that society plays up this desire and what it now forces us to do to be accepted,is just stupid. It also causes us to lose our identity within this search for acceptance.We deny ourselves and pretend to be someone different for the sake of being "cool" or for the sake of being "accepted". In a sense, we change or identity and lie to ourselves for the hope that a certain group of people will like us more. This, my friends,is crap. Absolute crap.
Allow me to give an example that is highly applicable to our age group(that being early to late teens),something we have all been involved in, the so called "party scene". Don't get me wrong, I love parties and have had some amazing times with my mates at parties and I love hanging out and having a few drinks. However, my issue is this: the party scene changes people and re-defines their identity, to something I believe is worse than it originally was.
When people go to parties, the whole way they are defined changes. Everything suddenly becomes a competition,it becomes the competition scene,and I'm gonna say it, a competition of study,meaningless and minor things.It becomes a competition to see who can drink the most,who can hook up with the most chicks/guys.This competition of shallow and meaningless substances,defines who we are. By the end of the night(a night many often can't even remember)people are defined by how much they had to drink,how much "they got".They find their identity with this.You know what?Who gives a shit.Honestly.I don't care if you had 20 drinks or zero.That doesn't define who you are.You think when you die you'll be remembered for the night you had 20+ drinksor how many girls you hooked up with?Let me tell you,and history is evidence to this,you won't be.Why then,strive so hard to achive this and to be accepted by the amount you drink?It just doesn't make sense,its stupid and pointless.Even worse than this,is when people pretend to be drunk in an attempt to try and find acceptance.This probably one of the saddest things I have seen. People, pretending to be drunk, it just angers and frustates me that people would do this.
The real reason people get drunk and caught up in the party scene,is because, a)it is fun(lets face it,that much is true) and b)because it helps them to escape and hide from themselves. When people are drunk,they do things they usually wouldn't do,sometimes,things they wish they could do without getting drunk. Again I find this stupid. You are valueable,value yourself,value your identity and who you were created to be, value what you can and can't do,value your difference to people. Don't hide, change or distort your identity.As kevin said in his,this also leads to awkwardness. Most teens spend an insane amount of their time and money on alcholo and being drunk. This then leads them to forgetting or not being able to relate to people properly when they get out in real society. They only ever engage in the "drunken small talk" of meaningless topics. They don't who they are, or what they believe, so they are awkward in the world.Find your self and your identity,don't hide behind the bottle!
JD in the 4th season of scrubs(sorry but I had to get my love and knowledge of that somewhere in here) says something along the lines of "The reason of first dates and dating,is for people to hide who they really are,until they are comfortable to show who they really are to the person". Saddly, I think this true. So many people in this day and age,hide who they truly are for fear they will be rejected and shunned.The fact of the matter is,you are lieing to yourself and to the group of people you are seeking acceptance from.If you are going to be liked and accepted,wouldn't you rather it be for who you truly are,as opposed to someone you aren't?there is enough people out there in this world that you should be able to find someone you gell with and can accept,it may take work,alot of work,but it's worth it,just don't be a lazy ass.
I know this gets said alot and is way cliche,but be yourself!Most people,whether they admit it or not,would rather be remembered for what they did,who they were or what they believed, as opposed to how much they drink.Find out what you believe,find out who you are,and as Kevin said,talk to people,deep discussions,that is the best and almost only way to truly know someone.Find your identity,and if you have found it and know who you are,then don't hide it.

I must admit,this is a generalisation and it is not aimed at anyone particular,just society in general.Also this was not a planned out essay or anything like that, I simply wrote my thoughts as they came into my head,so I apologise if it doesn't make sense,but hopefully you understand and see my point in that people lose,hide or try to find their identity in the wrong place.
Also,I don't want to be or sound like a hypocrite. So yes I have been drunk(althought I have stopped that,but I am not perfect and do slip up at times) and I do go to parties, however, this is not where I find my identity, I don't attach myself to their. I personally find myself in my beliefs and who I am.