This actually happened a while ago but i felt like bringing it up...
My english 3 Honors class. Our awesome teacher let us do a presentation based on Catcher of the Rye, which is an awesome book. Our class had some cool people in it, but it was pretty competitive and a lot of them were those over-achieving types. Half the class is in ELC (top 4% of their class based on GPA, which included me), 2000+ SAT scores, many extra curriculars wanting to go to top colleges and stuff. Some of them I can't stand.
Well anyways the project was a creative presentation in which we explain why or why we are not like Holden Caulfield (the protagonist of the book, a teenage rebel that actually reminds me of many newgrounds users).
When I say creative presentation, I mean REALLy creative. One guy dressed up as Holden Caulfield and interuppted the teacher in the beginning of class to start his presentation, one girl made a rap, one person spoke on a loud speaker, one guy spoke to himself on a video projector, tons of really good stuff. The not unique presentations recieved a B or lower, while thse unique ones recieved an A or A+. It was graded out of 12 points.
Well mine, I decided to create a 3 diagrams illustrating 3 types of fake people (the thing holden hates most about the world). These types of fake people that I talked about were mostly a part of the top AP's and Honors demographic of students who are really competitive (like half our class). Although I did not aim my presentation at these students specifically, they though I was addressing them and felt extremely offended.
WEll this was my presentation:
* represents actions that occurred.
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*I go up to front of the class with large illustrations and hang them on the board, covered up. I begin*
I am Holden. Holden hates phonies. Almost every chapter he has some new commentary about phonies. From Movie goers to family friends, Holden speaks his mind boldly against fake people.
I myself am here to share my thoughts with you too. Here are some phony archetypes that I have seen constantly just from the students at this school.
*I unveil first diagram*
Exhibit A:
The Kiss Upper.
I know we may have phony teachers, but we have phony students too...
These are the guys who absolutely abhor their teachers, but in front of them, they kiss-up, and act like kind and enthusiastic students. Total phoniness. Their fake smile, to laugh at the unfunny jokes the teacher cracks, the gifts, I know the most hated teacher of this years Junior class received a barrage of presents, from the same people who crack jokes about in other classes.
Disgusting...
Moving on...
*I unveil 2nd picture*
Exhibit B:
The Attention Whore
Obviously, this type, guy and girl, just constantly seeks attention. If they have a problem, It becomes everybody's problem. They always announce to the world about their lives, with loud obnoxious voices, trying to get everybody to hear. Thing is though, no one gives a crap.
And their clothes! With girls, they wear revealing clothes, obviously not for comfort. They expect guys to walk down the hall *pretend Im walking*, see them, and go "Woahhhh" *I turn my head quickly the other direction and put my hand above my eyes like a visor for a second* *The class laughs* But whats worse is, they get offended when guys look at the wrong places. Phoney baloney. What was the whole point of them dressing that way in the first place then?
Moving ON
*Unveil last picture*
Exhibit C
The dumbass genius
Sometimes modestry goes too far, and it turns people into ridiculous phonies. Lots of incredibly smart kids I know, for whatever reason, try to act like they have subpar intelligences. I don't know why they portray themselves this way, they just want people to think they are stupid I guess. Especially with girls again, Ive seen it a lot. They act clueless and slow, thinking its cute or something. Trying to invite guys to just tease them more. If people do want others to see them as way less intelligent than they really are though, I guess they are idiots.
That's It with that.
But hey, I cant say I'm not guilty from presenting myself with these facades. I hate phonies, but once in a while, I, like Holden, with take a slightly different identity to match my situations.
Why?
Because I am Holden.
*people clap*
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Well that was it. It was short and sweet. I got lots of laughs but from half the class, the laughing might have been nervous laughter. Yes my teacher let me cuss in class, and I actually ended up getting a 12/12 on this assignment. An A+. He loved it.
I can't say that for many others in the class. They started talking about me amongst their friends, thinking I was a total asshole for calling them out in front of class or something. Many of them thought I was trying to "attack" them. I am guessing around 10 people were totally pissed while many others, like my teacher, loved the presentation.
I read some of their facebook convos and they were totally bagging and talking shit on me, the over-achievers and grade mongers. I thought it was hilarious. If they were offended, I am thinking they should only blame themselves.
haters
