What the hell’s the matter with you?” is a question that’s often been fired at me point blank in varying contexts, by an even more varied collection of people. Parents, sibling, employers, and colleagues have all hurled this inquisitive barb in my direction. My answer? Well, in general, I’d suggest that the question is moot.

To be honest, I think it’s a strange question, because more often than not, it’s a question that’s asked through a veil of perception that gnaws away at the inquisitors’ sensitivities… or expectations. In fact, I’d argue that it’s not really even a question, but more of a statement of exasperation, spoken by a chafed few who have yet to fathom that there are just some things, situations or people that they can’t control in life.

For better or worse, some people have self-destructive tendencies. Maybe the term ‘self-destructive’ is a bit overkill in relation to some, yet on the other hand, its an understatement in relation to others. Nevertheless, in our society’s ever mangling penchant to label and pigeon hold everything, terms tend to have more function than brains.

Usually, when non-conformists fail to conform, as is their nature to do so, they tend to be embraced by some and vilified by others. Ok, so it goes without saying that we can’t be loved by all people, all of the time. That’s a given. Regardless of who you are are or what you stand for, some people will love you and some people will hate you… even on principle! For non-conformists, this seems true to the extreme.

Yet, there are those odd occasions, when some non-conformists actually succeed in breaking through into dizzying heights of mainstream popularity, much to the dismay of their detractors’ bile. When this occurs, industries spring up around such new found ‘celebrities’ as everyone scrambles to jump on the grandstanding bandwagon to gain purchase, or stranglehold. But wait, it’s gets stranger, as an eventual realignment of sentience takes place.

Our society has a bad habit of perverting ‘the unique and different’ in a profane attempt to remould them in its ‘socially correct’ or ‘fashionably sensible’ image. When that fails, then at some point it is inevitable that what goes up must come down… usually in spectacular flames. Indifference sets in as interests turn to seek out ‘the next big thing’ and the ‘haters’ are let out of the closet, and into the arena, to mercilessly pick, peck, poke and point fingers, in true vulture fashion. Ok, so I know that vultures don’t actually point fingers, but well … you know what I mean.

There are those who just enjoy stating the obvious. I don’t. I’ve written before about defying the expectations of others and of engaging in self destructive career nullifying behavior. On that note, you can pout all you want, roll your eyes, and drop your jaws to express the best alveolar click (tsk) you can muster, but how do you really respond to the following: