I like Lady Gaga and watch “Glee,” but some people think only homosexuals or girls like those shows or artists — both of which I am not.

A person should not be close-minded to things that are not in mainstream just because they are rather controversial.

Do not judge the people who watch or listen to them because of what society thinks about them.

It really upsets me when I hear people judging others because of what they like, such as when I hear “That’s so gay that you do that,” or “Anything with singing and dancing in it is for fairies.” It really grinds my gears and makes me want to back hand the person into a wall.

I cannot believe people are so close-minded in society today. We have come a long way.

However, we are still fighting against many prejudiced issues, and there are still race issues that have to be resolved.

Difference is not grounds to make someone feel like they are lower than dirt.

In elementary schools, children are taught the golden rule, “treat everyone the way you would like to be treated.” However, no one seems to follow that rule in real life.

Metal heads are another group that tends to get bad reputations because of what some of them do. Just because some metal heads worship Satan and do illegal acts does not mean all of them are that way.

I am a metal head. Really, I listen to all kinds of music, and metal just happens to be one of my favorite genres of music.

However, that does not make me a bad person.

I am going to school and doing well, I volunteer to help out different organizations when I have the time, and I am a committee member for a venture crew — co-ed Boy Scouts for ages 14-21 — in Sellersburg, Ind.

How does what I like or watch affect what kind of person I am?

It does not matter nor does it affect what kind of person I am.

People have a lot of interests. I know quite a few people who would probably love many types of activities if they would just open their minds up and allow things that do not fit into society’s view of normal because they have been raised to have certain beliefs.

What people need to realize is they were raised by their parents who grew up in a different time. However, times have changed.

I just do not get it. I have been put down a lot of times because of what I like to listen to, watch on TV, activities I participate in and the places I go.

Pretend like the world is not what it is today, and everything looked down upon is the normal.

Would it be all right for that world to make fun of what is normal in this one?

I do not think so.

Maybe there is someone who wants to try and do something new, but the person is too scared and fears what popular individuals or friends will think of them.

My advice is to do it anyway, and if a person tells them what they are doing is wrong, get away from them and stand up against what they said.

It is not right to do that. It would be OK if a person walked up to me and said, “I have tried that, and it wasn’t my cup of tea.”

However, that rarely happens.

If there is something that strikes a fancy, do it.

Stop hating on people because they like activities that are generally marked as homosexual or womanly or any other stereotype.

Nobody wants to be remembered as the person who puts everyone down for what others feel is fun. If they do, get away from them.

Open up and do something that is not considered the norm, or, at the very least, try something new.

By BRYAN JONES

Features Editor

jonesbry@umail.iu.edu