Justifcations.

Stereotypes are a good thing. They help us to categorize and identify people based purely on a limited amount of information. Quite a marvel, really, to be so concise and judgemental using less information than is on a driver's license. Stereotypes like pretty people can't be smart, smart people can't be pretty, funny people are dead inside are all fantastic.

It's when people start screwing with this framework that I become irked. Smart, attractive people who are social and well adjusted drive me nuts. Hell, even two out of any number of traits jumbles my world like an earthquake on a water bed. 

I think high school's to blame.

In high school, I felt (as I'm sure many did) that in order to survive the chaotic hormones, and awkward sense of self we had to "become" something. It didn't matter what, but we had to be jocks, or drama kids, members of the student council or one of the hippies. Finding yourself drifting amongst different clicks was tantamount to social suicide.

Unless you were one of "those".

Those types who could do it all. The ones who were good at sports, who were artistic, mathematic, etc. Essentially people who were insufferable to be around. Perhaps I'm a bit close-minded, but I like when people get stuck with labels. It makes it easier to know what I'm dealing with. What's most upsetting, however is that given enough time with any one individual you'll find that few people actually DO fit into stereotypes. We're all these horrendously multifaceted creatures, with varied tastes and opinions. Like some sort of grotesque layer cake composed of opinions and personality quirks . We're all unable to fit into those stereotypes so many of us attached ourselves to in high school.

When did that happen?

I think about my friends. Of the limited few I have, I am nagged by their uniqueness. Flawed in so many ways, but fantastic in their distinctiveness. They range from what I can politely call the socially retarded, to regular hummingbirds feeding on the nectar of familiars. Some are math-y, others are poets, gamers, athletes, romantics, pessimists, narcissists, humanitarians and even misanthropes. And not one of them looks like they should, and by "should" I mean if you were to just glance at them, you'd be hard pressed to wrap a stereotype around them.

So is it good? Is it good that they're capable of being successful at a multitude of subjects and disciplines? Is it good that when I'm amongst them I'm inspired to be better than what I would be without their involvement?

Is a layer cake better with frosting?