Normal? Says Who?

What up, web-net? You good? Good.

There has been an article making the rounds on book of faces. An article that could well be poking a sleeping giant. An article many consider to be somewhat...controversial.
Now there are plenty of ways to go about dissecting what was said; the middle-class ramblings of someone still stuck in the past, the naive counter-argument of a young girl, the fact that something like this is even news worthy. The article draws a clear line in the sand and people have planted themselves firmly on either side. It came to my attention by way of the Download Festival group who for obvious reasons was angered by it and in turn have spread the article to tens of thousands of like-minded people, most of which probably have a new enemy in the media world. My personal opinion? I don't see what all the fuss is about. I can understand why a mother would be shocked and disgruntled over the dying of one's hair and the modification of one's body, just as I can understand why a teenager would want their mother to cede control over them. I for one have no tattoos, nor piercings, nor dyed hair and yet I am a fan of metal bands and the rock and/or roll genre. Were I to shave my trusty goatee into oblivion then that fact would be as elusive as Tom Cruise's sanity (ooh, more controversy). I don't have a problem with any of those things and truth be told it is more than likely fear that has stopped me from partaking in them. The small town in which I grew up doesn't have much in the way of sub-culture entertainment and neither of my parents nor any other member of my family, extended or otherwise, listen to the music that apparently causes this so-called rebellion. My father has tattoos and a pierced ear and when he sits down to listen to music you hear the sounds of the Rat Pack or motown drifting from the speakers, and if memory serves, Ol'Blue Eyes wasn't exactly the original metalhead.
You can probably tell by now that I'm leaning more towards the 'WTF, lady?' side of the argument than the 'Yes yes, kids these days' side. This apparent "normal" sense of dress that apparently is held for those of us who do not wish to shock and awe the masses has next to nothing to do with someone's personality as the writer makes a point of stating. There's that saying about books and covers that we all know, sure, but experience tells me more than an old idiom. The people I have met who dye their hair unnatural hues, stick shaped metal into bits of their bodies and dress in baggy, outrageous or scruffy looking clothing happen to be some of the nicest and most welcoming people I have had the pleasure of meeting. It's most likely safe to say that the judgement of their clothes and tastes has led to them being so open to others; if some of the world doesn't want you then "your own kind" will (a phrase I loathe to use). That isn't to say every metal fan and rocker are gems in their own rights. Anyone with half a brain knows there are more than enough arseholes populating the planet to find their way into any group, social, racial, religious of miscellaneous. The fact is the mother repeats over and over how beautiful her daughter is on the inside, how she has a "sweet, dreamy personality". With what seems to be hatred and disgust for something that's different, I'd say it's the mother that is lacking beauty on the inside. Were there less people like that around then perhaps I would have engaged in the "skin mutilations" that are increasingly common. Perhaps not. That choice is kept inside a cage made from fear of judgement.
Admittedly the daughter's response is intelligently worded and well argued up until the final two words "butt out", making her sound somewhat like a petulant child. The sounder arguments for her case can be found in the comments beneath the article. The point of the mother also has its own defenders, though some anger me a great deal, but then, I am bias in this regard.
In the end should this really be something in a major newspaper? Aren't there things going on in other parts of the country and planet slightly more interesting than the distress some "teenage rebellion" is causing between a mother and daughter who care for one another regardless? Or am I not being "normal"?

Merry October!

There is Christmas stuff on store shelves. It is not even mid-October! Halloween hasn't even had a chance yet, leaves have barely begun to turn and fall from their lofty perch, and Santa chocolates are being thrust in my face (at least unwrap them first and allow me to open my mouth). Don't get me wrong, I'm all for the holly-jolly season, but this is just...just...I don't know what it is! See my overuse of exclamation marks? That's how dumbstruck I am by these foolish goings on. Now when I see these things I become all too aware that I can't play my Christmas music yet. Jazz Christmas music. Yeah you read that right. JAZZ. You tease me high street shops and not in the good way.

Flashback! Free Track!

Remember that band I mentioned a wee while back? Those boys that Talk In Code? Well their first track is now available for your listening purposes. Best of all? It's free! You don't pay a penny. Nothing. Zilch. Nil. All you have to do is download it and you have a shiny new song from a shiny new band to enjoy.
Well? What are you waiting for? Get to it!