Has Anyone Ever Tried To Make You Feel Inferior?

A fellow artist on MySpace posted a blog a day or so ago that really struck a chord with me. It seems that an 11-year-old child committed suicide because of being harrassed and bullied in school.

I was in this same situation years ago, and I think a lot of us who were or are, don't talk about it. I generally don't. I will say that I, too, was suicidal at one point and time, for a plethora of things, including things that happened in school years. Fortunately, I didn't explode like some others have.

But on to the point. I was given a nickname that I hated in high school, and some of the idiots I went to school with still refer to me in that manner to this day, to which I give no reply. My philosophy is that is someone can't refer to me with my proper name, then they're not worth my time.

Well, it just so happened, that shortly after I started my business, one of these idiots saw me and started trying to get my attention by shouting that nickname that I hated. When I didn't respond, he approached and kept repeating it like a mantra.

I just looked up at him and said, "Do you even KNOW my real name?" Surprise, surprise, he didn't.

"So what makes you think you know me well enough to talk to me?"

Of course, he starts with the "Yeah, you bum, you drive a cab," blah, blah, blah.

To which I simply looked at him and said, "Yeah, well, who do you work for?"

He worked for a local construction company, which I will not name, since that's not the point.

"Well, here's a few questions for you," I said. "Do you make your own hours? Are you your own boss? Do you have to answer to anyone?"

He said nothing, to which I continued. "You see this car? I own it. You see the company name on this car? I own it. I'm my own boss, and I don't have to take shit off of anybody to keep MY job. Can you say that? Not to mention I'm working on recording music. I'm trying to do something with MY life besides just putting food on the table."

So, word up, Jeffree Star....... I may not be quite as unique as you, but you're an inspiration to all of us that don't quite fit the "template".