What’s wrong with getting in trouble?
Hey rebellious folks,
On the way out of my painting class, one of my classmates said, “Stay out of trouble.”
I responded, “Actually, I look for trouble.”
Trouble to me means challenging the status quo. Curious what it meant to others so I looked it up in the dictionary. All negative definitions such as “the quality or state of being troubled esp. mentally” and “a negative feature: drawback.”
But is flirting with “trouble” really negative? Or is staying out of trouble — being obedient — negative as well?
Do we pay an emotional price for staying out of trouble? For doing what we’re told? For being good little boys and girls even when we are adults?
Beginning in elementary school, I seemed to butt heads with some of the teachers — mainly the ones that wanted complete control. I spent quite a bit of time standing in corners or being sent outside the room. Did I harm anyone or myself? No.
I simply didn’t agree with what the teacher either said or did not do what s/he asked me to do — like stop laughing (yes, if you can believe it.).
If we’re all being raised to be obedient and ultra polite, how can we ever change the world? Won’t we be too scared to stand up to folks or systems that aren’t good for us?
Take airport body scanners — something I’ve researched and written a newspaper column about. Folks are going through those devices even though a) the sign says they are optional and b) no health safety data exists. Your body (including brain and eyes) is being bombarded with t-rays, a form of radiation, from every conceivable angle for a half a minute.
Since there’s no health safety data, how can anyone declare them safe? Not that long ago, we were assured that CT scans were safe. Then the long-term safety data comes out last year and it turns out each one is the equivalent of up to 500 chest x-rays.
Folks who’ve bypassed the scanners and gone through the pat down, told me they pretty much felt like they’d gotten in trouble.
Again, back to trouble. Is trouble a negative word? Or do we need to risk getting in trouble if we want to be the change in the world that Gandhi suggests?
Muse thx,
Giulietta
RSS
This is a strip-search, period. It makes no difference that the technology allows it to be done on an industrial scale, it’s a violation of privacy that ultimately has, at best, no effect on safety. At worst, it exposes frequent fliers to elevated doses of x-ray radiation which may cause more deaths by cancer than the terrorists could ever kill with an airplane.
Body-cavities are not revealed, thus making this simply an exercise in power-mongering voyeurism.
YOU HAVE THE RIGHT to opt-out of these intrusive searches, and maybe be wanded/patted by a same-sex guard. I did this a few months ago, which gave me the opportunity to officially express my displeasure – the guard wrote down the reason for my opting-out for their official records (it’s a strip-search, I said). I suggest more people do this.
Plus – do you want your kids showing up to Beavis & Butthead in the back room looking like this:
http://www.rupture.co.uk/Terminal%204.html
Join us on Facebook:
All Facebook Against Airport Full Body Scanners
14,000 strong
Hi Wimpie,
Thank you for sharing your experience with the scanners. The other info I found doing research for my column was that the explosives carried by the “underwear bomber”(UB) would not have been detected by such scanners and all known or would-be terrorists are known to the government. So, scanning the rest of us who are simply going on vacation or attending a work-related meeting has no impact on airline safety.
G.
That is a scary picture in the link posted by Wimpie. I never really gave any thought to the scanners in airports. I guess I was just “following the herd.” You’ve both given me food for thought today.
Hi Liz,
The more folks who research body scanners the better. What are we exposing ourselves and our children to in the name of maybe safety?
Here’s a link to a recent article that says the scanners now give of “20 times” more radiation that originally stated. This is just a few months after implementation. What will the health findings be in a year? That it’s “60 times” more radiation?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1290527/Airport-body-scanners-deliver-radiation-dose-20-times-higher-thought.html
Thx for the comment! G.
I’d never go through one of those scanners on principle.
To skip back OT: living a ‘troubled’ life is worth every perceived sacrifice it takes to live it. “It is the individual’s task to differentiate himself from all the others and stand on his own feet. All collective identities… interfere with the fulfillment of this task. Such collective identities are crutches for the lame, shields for the timid, beds for the lazy, nurseries for the irresponsible…. C. G. Jung
To be an individual, I would posit, requires a willingness to get in lots of trouble. Not always a need mind you, but a definite willingness. Individuals rebel against tribal hegemony, group think and the herd mentality, even if only to remind people to be individuals.
Personally, I’m petrified of the thought of a society of only trouble-avoiders. How boring and easily manipulated would that be?
Cheers, G.
Hi Julie, Glad to see that you show the positive side of looking for trouble.
I read your article and passed it on to my friends. This fact needs to be more widely disseminated as it may affect the health of several generations.
As for looking for trouble, I actively did that, including challenging authority, for the first fifty years of my life. Since coming to this country, I’ve calmed down – except for some anti Bush, anti Iraq invasion protests and stickers. When I get my book published, I have several pieces/anecdotes/opinions that question the status quo, and in particular, one Texas owned gas company that has a monopoly in the South and charges customers indiscriminately in order to provide larger profits for its already immensely wealthy shareholders.
So I guess I haven’t stopped looking for trouble.
Michael,
What a fantastic quote. Never heard it before. Thanks for posting it. This line is the best, “Such collective identities are crutches for the lame, shields for the timid, beds for the lazy, nurseries for the irresponsible.” Folks need to start making trouble. Every time I reread 1984, I’m reminded of the direction we seem to be headed in. “Freedom is slavery. War is Peace. Ignorance is strength.
Penelope,
I appreciate you passing the article around. Time for ordinary folks to take back their power and stand up for their lives. We do not have to “accept” our lot in life. Can’t wait to read your book!
G.
Giulietta –
I have to say that I’m naturally hardwired to look for harmony rather than trouble. I’ve learned over the last few years that sometimes doing what comes authentically might upset people, cause trouble and make waves. Well that is ok, as long as I’m doing what feels right to me. Keep making trouble, G!
Phil
Hi Phil,
You really do exude harmony. I have always observed that about your writing. And you’re so right that sometimes to keep the “inner harmony” we may create a wave in our outer harmony.
Have learned myself that there are ways to look for trouble and still keep the peace. If I have a riff with someone in say a public forum, I usually make it a point to talk to the person at the conclusion.
We can agree to disagree in most situations.
Thx, G.
I enjoyed the comment exchange between you and Phil. As a self-proclaimed good girl… I understand the value of being authentic. It has definitely been a process for me. Learning how to be authentic and peaceful, while being okay with the fact that some people still won’t like it.
Hey Angie,
Interesting point about feeling peaceful. I know many folks who keep the outer peace at great cost to their health. If you’re feeling right with yourself, then it may be others who are not peaceful and out of harmony. Maybe they need to embrace their own real selves. I wonder why the world encourages us to hide our real selves? What’s it afraid of? Thx for stopping by.
Giulietta
Hi Giulietta!
Wow, I did not know that airport scanners are optional! And I had never thought of them being a potential health hazard, but “duh, of course”!
We’re exposed to enough radiation as it is with TVs, computers, and other electronic machinery. Perhaps I shall have to try opting out of the scanner next time I fly… 😉
And of course there is nothing wrong with getting into trouble – at least if it’s the CONSTRUCTIVE kind of trouble. I’ve always been a rebel myself and hate to conform or just go along with the flow. I want to live my life MY way and believe what I BELIEVE, not what I’m told I *should* believe, etc. 😉
Great post! 🙂
Hi Jess, fellow rebel!
My guess is they’re optional because down the road when people try to file claims for radiation exposure, they’re going to say, “Hey, you CHOSE to go through the scanner. The sign said it was optional.” I imagine the claims for millions of people would be impossible to pay.
Really pleased to hear that you live life your way! Congrats. Living someone else’s way gets increasingly painful. Then folks need to find some kind of mechanism to dull the pain. Unfortunately, everything gets dulled.
Appreciate you dropping in! G.
Read this article about the “safety” of the naked body scanners:
http://www.npr.org/assets/news/2010/05/17/concern.pdf
Excellent! Thanks Wimpie.
Everyone who travels ought to download the above PDF. When I wrote my column back in March, this info wasn’t available and it still seemed like a hazard. Now there’s even more health questions.
This line really hits home, “Because this
device can scan a human in a few seconds, the X-ray beam is very intense.” Also mentions concerns about breast cancer, testicular cancer, fetuses, corneas, etc.
How can we submit our precious eyes to radiation of any level? We’re supposed to be wearing sunglasses for average daylight and at the dentist’s office we’re shrouded in lead for even 1 tooth x-ray. Yet, that x-ray is like “walking around outside.”
Thx. G.
Nothing like a bit of critical thinking to stir up the pot 🙂
Hey J.D.,
So glad you mentioned critical thinking. It appears to be an endangered educational species. Will write a post on that soon! Thx for the idea. G.
Wow – I am flying on Thursday and again on Sunday… I didn’t realize we could opt out of the scanner… and now I am considering giving it a go.
It is one thing to cause harm but trouble is not speaking one’s mind or being human. I do believe that we focus on too many rules over just the big ones and thus prohibit expression.
Hi TE,
It scares me that so many people do not realize that you can “opt-out” of the scans for the pat down. The sign must be very small at some airports. It boggles my mind, that innocent folks have to be strip searched virtually or actually in a supposedly free country when all potential suspects are on terrorist watch lists. Instead of focusing on 900 people, the airports are now focusing on the 1 billion. That method appears to be diluting the effort.
Thx! G.
Sorry try these:
http://epic.org/privacy/litigation/EPIC_v_DHS_Motion.pdf
and
http://epic.org/privacy/backscatter/EPIC_reply_final.pdf
Mmm, trouble. Reminds me of that oft-used phrase in the old film noir movies: “Careful, she’s trouble.” Meaning that Barbara Stanwyck or some other heavy-lidded damsel was about to take you for a ride you never imagined. But then, I always liked film noir heroines. So complex, so much more interesting than the run-of-the-mill good girl.
But I’ve certainly had my days as a good girl. And they were exhausting. At this point, I think a mix of sweet and sour is just about the right way to live my life.
So, G, you’ve given me a whole new way to think about trouble. Thanks for that.
Patty,
Heavy-lidded damsel – a super description that places Barbara S right in front of me. The mix of sweet and sour sounds cool. That seems more realistic than the “good girl” syndrome so many women find themselves trapped in. I remember in Jr. High school, you were either a good girl or you had a reputation for doing the “bad deed” with guys. We’re all so terrified of what people say about us, that we act against our own emotions and desires. The irony? People say “bad” things about you anyway. It just takes you half your life to find that out that being true to yourself was the only way to go!
Thanks! G.
Sometimes I think we need to take a risk and get ourselves into a little trouble.. I know that it is pressure point situations that bring me to the greatest realizations in my life.
Best,
Hannah Katy
Good to hear from you Hannah!
I agree that most of my aha moments came when I was swimming against the current in some way. Thx. G.