Big
attitudes and trucks common with short men
Safiya
Elkhaldy
I
hopped a curb and almost hit a car that
was pulling out of 7-Eleven as I was pulling
in. I can't take complete responsibility
for my reckless driving. I mostly blame
the bright headlights of the monster truck
that was making out with my bumper.
The
monster truck entered the parking lot too,
and I sat in my car waiting to see what
the manic looked like. I envisioned a wrestler
like the Rock getting out of he beast and
flexing his muscles a few times in the window,
before he opened both convenience store
doors so him and his muscles could fit through
the door.
Imagine
my surprise when a little man who looked
like Lord Farquad in "Shrek,"
fell out of the truck. It was a scene straight
out of the movie when Lord Farquad arrives
on his huge gallant horse. However, he needs
a ladder to help him get off of his horse.
I laughed from my car as I watched his highness
get lost among the 5'6" and 5'7" customers
in the store.
I
decided to watch the grand finale: how was
Lord Farquad going to get back in his truck?
I watched as the little-engine-that-could
made not one, but two, attempts to get back
in his truck.
As
I blatantly starred in awe and amusement.
His highness looked at me from his horse
and yelled, "Where I'm from you can
get hurt for starring." Not only did
he try to act crazy, he actually thought
he was crazy. He skidded out of the parking
lot and I saw a huge sticker on his back
window that said, "Bad Boys Drive Big
Trucks."
Now
I have nothing against short males. My problem
is guys (short or tall) who insist on regressing
to barbaric behavior by sticking out their
chests and beating on it.
My
problem is guys who hide behind big toys
to take attention off, or make up for, their
lack of man hood.
They
flex their power by tailgating small compact
cars, cutting people off, flashing their
tall brights, and taking up two parking
spaces.
I
find it ironic that most of the men I see
driving aggressively on the road look small,
pissed, and bitter. It's not like it's my
fault their parent's genes didn't bless
them, yet I'm harassed and bullied by them.
The
last time I checked, paying $30,000 to $
40,000 for a truck to tower over others,
and charge behind them, as if they are going
to demolish everything in sight, is not
masculine.
The
proper diagnosis for small men who drive
big trucks is called little man syndrome.
I do sympathize with them because I understand
that in Southern California, image is everything.
I can attempt to see how it's hard for males
to deal with issues of height. Our society
puts pressure on men to be tall, strong,
and the protector. I know the male ego is
a very real and sensitive issue. But don't
take it out on me and other drivers.
Most
truck owners who have small man syndrome
think they are fooling someone. It's no
secret that they fork out thousands to compensates
for their small assets and their height.
Safiya
Elkhaldy is a journalism major at Cal State
Long Beach.
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