Life-Clowns

Some people pride themselves in doing or saying what others only think of or want to. But I think such people don't consider that there's a reason people don't, and it's not just about "inhibitions" in the common sense of the word.

I think a lot of those things people don't do or say even though they think about it is because those things are just a part of their whole thought process, a part which, if it were expressed, would overshadow the parts which actually win out and occupy the majority of their thoughts, so to express them would not be genuine or sincere, even if sometimes people feel the impulse to express them and "wish" they "could".

So as I see it, the world is full of fools touting their losses under the guise of living audaciously. Lost opportunities to choose the higher road in favor of the sensational one. Lost relationships due to rash words and actions. Lost virtue and character for the sake of gratification and earning the applause of people too cowardly to admit that they are cheering on others in living a way they never really would themselves, like a real-life sitcom or soap opera...cheering on a sort of life-clown. And these life-clowns parade their pride that they do what others think of but inhibit due to sensitivity, reservations, principles, or commitments.

While these "do and say what everyone else only thinks" personalities are often refreshing at first, I think the folly of such an attitude becomes not only annoying but somewhat sad when you see someone making that the pattern of their life. Occasional outbursts of irreverence or flippancy towards norms and "standards" are one thing. Basing your entire decision-making process on the emotion of the day and current impulse is quite another.

There's another version of this impulsive action, though, that I actually love. The person who actually stops and offers to buy the beggar a meal. The person who compliments the virtues and beauty they see in others around them whether or not it's convenient. The person who dares to take the high road even when it seems nobody around them is doing so due to various "inhibitions". Those are worthy of respect. Taken to extremes, they can become annoying, too, but I'm going to go out on a limb and say that sort of extreme is a touch more rare than others.