The clear and thin line between being yourself and being an asshole

There are those days that we don't want to be ourselves. We want to be Barney.

A campaign named The Freedom To Be Yourself was founded in 1999 was supposedly about public nakedness without terming it as sexual like exhibitionism and perversion. The founder, Vincent Bethell was subjected to trial because of public nuisance when he protested naked. While on trial, he also defended himself naked.I wonder if he was also charged with obscenity following that trial.

The emergence of Being Yourself campaigns have started slowly in other form of arts especially in the music industry through the decade icons; David Bowie in 1970s, Madonna in the 1980s, Christina Aguillera in the 1990s with her powerful song,”I am Beautiful” and in the late 2000s was by Lady Gaga. These icons are known to have vibrant personalities equipped with exhausting performance stunts.Each of these celebrities have inspired each decade to not be afraid to be who they want to be. In Lady Gaga’s 2011 song, “Born this way”, was objectified by a diocese of the church in the Philippines when Lady Gaga was to hold a concert here. “’Yung kanta niya na ‘Born this way’, so kung isa akong murderer, tanggapin niyo ako kasi nga I am born this way.” Though it was a funny and at the same time, a feeble-minded opinion, it made a point. Which, in being yourself, in wasn’t always about your uniqueness or how different you are from the sea of mainstream people. Being yourself rounded up everything that you are in your personality, given in sexuality especially.

There was this meme circulating around the social sites describing that society wants you to be yourself but when you do, society reprimands you not to because it's very unique you make it weird. Is it social injustice? Fairly.

Being yourself has extensive possibilities. How do we make 'Be Yourself' create a response that is still sane whether accepted by norms or not?

1. BREAK THE RULES NOT THE LAW

Laws are there for a certain reason that everyone needs peace and order. Laws were there to prevent further chaos and if you break 'em, you pay for 'em. Unlike for rules. Rules can be broken or can be bent. Rules are the softer version of law since law is a little bit cold and harsh. When you break a rule, there is no permanent damage. When being yourself it is often associated with breaking the rules because you can't live with so many rules. Some of this rules are the one automatically followed within the norms. Though there are unwritten society rules you have to be sensitive at like closing your mouth when eating. Would you want me to let you hear my mouth grind and crunch?

2.DRESS TO YOUR OWN UNIQUENESS WITHOUT BEING AN EYESORE

The power of being yourself is projected to how you dress up or dress down. The truth is, nobody really cares if you wear a Pokemon suit or an outdated jeans. It doesn't really matter. It matters only where you go. If Lady Gaga could rock a meat dress in the Oscars so do you...in another red carpet. Take Sex and the City 2 for instance as the ladies were subjected to obscenity because they were bluntly wearing a glamorous and skin-showing dresses in UAE, an Islam country. The thing about 'I will wear whatever I want because this is my body, this is my life' is a really slap-inducing thought to your face. Yes, you can wear whatever you want not with the approval of others but with appropriation. In formal institutions, you can never say that. Although there are dress-codes everywhere, it will not limit you to be creative on you fasyown.

3. BE POLITELY OUTSPOKEN, NOT RUDE

'I am just saying what is on my mind' is a misinterpreted and abused adage to your rudeness.While giving your opinion exercises your brain to think, you are exercising your rudeness. Someone was being mean to you, tell him off firmly and not shouting nor cussing. If there is anything you disagree of or you need to spit it out, do so politely as possible without being a total uncivilized bitch. Although, we can't really help that because what you say reflects on you and not on others.

4.STAND UP FOR YOUR BELIEFS BUT RETAIN CIVILITY TO OTHERS WHO DON'T

Everyone in this planet has the right to believe to which he believes in and you should consider that others that doesn't belong to the same boat as yours. If you are a proud Christian you don't have to rub it on our face and compare that your religion is better in morale than the rest. If you believe in something, stand up for it, defend it with your right cause without stepping on someone's belief just so you could validate yours. Nobody cares what you believe in anyway, you are still going to die.

5. ENRICH YOUR GOOD PASSION

If you have illegal hobbies and interests better surrender yourself to the nearest police station. If you have a passion that benefits your self-awareness, development and the betterment of others, continue doing it. 'Being Yourself' adage might make a literal and norm-contrasting meaning. Like if being yourself mean coming to terms that you love doing things that would risk you jail-time, it doesn't cut it. Have a passion, enrich it and show it to the world. It will be the last thing you'll ever remember when you have Alzheimer's.

6. BE YOURSELF WITHOUT BEING AN ASSHOLE

The society have unwritten rules so people could live harmoniously and if people don't live harmoniously it means that some prick is insensitive to social cues. Example is playing music in loudspeaker when on a public transportation, this isn't' your wheels, man! There are other irritating things that you shouldn't do especially with other people abruptly stopping at a busy sidewalk. 

7. DON'T ABUSE THE OTHER VAGUE ADAGE 'BE OPEN-MINDED'.

When someone asks me ,'Open-minded ka ba?', two things snaps on my mind; Either this is sexual or this is about networking. Remember, if you open something widely, things inside it might fallout. This open-mindedness is often used for larceny. Open-mindedness are taking new information and considering new behavior. There are right situations when one is supposed to be open-mindedness, the otherwise is not being broad-minded but ridding the risk of gullibility.

To put it simply, Be Yourself. Don't pretend because you can't hack it for the rest of your life and being yourself is easier. Be yourself in a legal, appropriate and less annoying way.