living in a box
I think of myself as a pretty laid-back person who isn't easily upset. (I may be biased :-) But there are just SOME THINGS that I have a hard time not getting worked up about. Well, one in particular.
I'm an Illustration Major. And I am easily offended when people make comments with negative implications about my major, or art majors/artists in general. The problem is often these comments are made innocently enough, and the people making them don't realize they're being tactless. They don't realize what they're implying in the thoughtless comments they make.
Like last night. I went with an old (as in since elementary school) friend to an activity, where of course one of the standard questions for college-age kids (I still think of myself as a kid) is "Whats your major?"
So I told them I was majoring in illustration. Whats that? She's an art major, my friend translated. Oh, an art major (said our new acquaintence)--I used to be an art major. But I didn't want to live in a box, so I changed to [insert practical won't-live-in-a-box major here].
I usually manage to keep my mouth shut. I KNOW that she just wasn't thinking. I know thats the stereotype everyone has got stuck in their heads. She didn't realize that she was being tactless.
But I said, "So you're implying that I'M going to live in a box?"
Oh, nonono. Just that I would because I'm not as good as you probably are, blah blah blah apology, conversation moves on.
This happens rather often, actually (people being tactless about my major, that is). What I *need* to do is just get over it before it happens and not throw it back in their face. I don't--didn't--always throw it back in their face--I guess because I just barely got home I have to get used to this situation all over again *sigh*.
But I felt better when this happened later that night:
"So what do you want to do with that major?"
"I want to illustrate picture books and stuff."
"PICTURE BOOKS ARE SO AWESOME."
I'm an Illustration Major. And I am easily offended when people make comments with negative implications about my major, or art majors/artists in general. The problem is often these comments are made innocently enough, and the people making them don't realize they're being tactless. They don't realize what they're implying in the thoughtless comments they make.
Like last night. I went with an old (as in since elementary school) friend to an activity, where of course one of the standard questions for college-age kids (I still think of myself as a kid) is "Whats your major?"
So I told them I was majoring in illustration. Whats that? She's an art major, my friend translated. Oh, an art major (said our new acquaintence)--I used to be an art major. But I didn't want to live in a box, so I changed to [insert practical won't-live-in-a-box major here].
I usually manage to keep my mouth shut. I KNOW that she just wasn't thinking. I know thats the stereotype everyone has got stuck in their heads. She didn't realize that she was being tactless.
But I said, "So you're implying that I'M going to live in a box?"
Oh, nonono. Just that I would because I'm not as good as you probably are, blah blah blah apology, conversation moves on.
This happens rather often, actually (people being tactless about my major, that is). What I *need* to do is just get over it before it happens and not throw it back in their face. I don't--didn't--always throw it back in their face--I guess because I just barely got home I have to get used to this situation all over again *sigh*.
But I felt better when this happened later that night:
"So what do you want to do with that major?"
"I want to illustrate picture books and stuff."
"PICTURE BOOKS ARE SO AWESOME."