Trying
to attract attention not always awesome
Kellie Richardson
The bass of the stereo system pulsates the room and the scent of alcohol hangs
heavy in the air. One minute, you’re
singing “Happy Birthday” to some guy you just met, and in the next
he’s pretending to be a pole and you’re dropping it like it’s
hot all up in his grill. Camera flashes illuminate your performance, and the
only difference between you and those girls at the strip joints is you are not
going to be getting any tips from this cheap crowd tonight. Your friends egg
you on, but soon you’re dizzy from all the swiveling and swinging and booty
shaking. It is time to retire from the stage for the night.
Such a scenario seemed like a good idea at the time, right? But how many times
that thought has crossed my mind in retrospect? I should be embarrassed by all
of the ridiculous things I have done to get attention. Luckily, I have no shame
and the next day the memories of bad pick up lines, pole dances and midnight
swims in the fountain during orientation simply make me shake my head and laugh.
Whether it’s to draw interest from a member of the opposite sex, to achieve “life-of-the-party” status,
or just to make your friends laugh, I assure you, my friends, we have all committed
many silly acts for the sake of attracting attention.
Take for example, the time you tried to show off your masculinity by smashing
a beer can on your head or that night when you thought it would be a great idea
to make out with another girl just for the hell of it. What exactly is it that
is so appealing about being the center of attention that compels us to do these
things that later become the punch line of many-an-inside joke?
The
more I ponder this question, the more I truly
believe the underlying cause of this behavior
stems from a desire to fit in. No one can deny
it feels good to be liked, and it’s hard
for people to like you if they don’t
even notice your existence.
That can make giving a sultry lap dance, competing in the who-can-take-the-most
shots competition or wearing slutty clothing seem pretty alluring. As a naturally
shy person, it sometimes feels necessary to draw attention to myself in order
to convince people I am a fun person to be around.
I have also been guilty of making a fool of myself because of peer pressure.
Admit it, you probably have as well. It is hard to resist a gaggle of friends
demanding you go make out with the next-door neighbor or flash oncoming traffic,
because you don’t want to disappoint them and risk becoming, gasp, a party
pooper. Often this means you find yourself as the subject of the guess what so-and-so
did last night conversations.
Sadly, in many instances this need for attention seems to reflect insecurity.
When a person’s self-confidence is lacking, he or she will act in ridiculous
ways in order to get noticed.
Many people, especially when under the influence of alcohol, will attempt to
attract attention because it’s flattering to be noticed, even if it’s
for something like your cleavage or the awful jokes you tell.
You know, there are some people who were destined to be the center of attention.
Those people who thrive on attention, who seem to feed on it for survival. This
is simply who they are: the loud, hilarious, look-at-me people who you can always
count on to have a good time.
Sometimes I wonder, though, if it gets tiring to constantly be on stage performing.
To eternally be competing with everyone around you for attention, to feel pressure
to always be a source of entertainment. I wonder if they ever feel as if they
are obligated to live up to expectations.
Maybe, but maybe not. In all honesty, I am rather jealous of these people. I
wish I had the ability to effortlessly draw the interest of everybody in the
room. How nice would it be, to have the type of personality that never fails
to make people laugh.
Nevertheless, I have faith I am not the only person who has done crazy, bizarre
things while possessed by the “I-want-to-be-the-center-of-attention” demon.
I’m sure others have been caught up in the party/club/karaoke night atmosphere
and have created many embarrassing moments. Lately, I have begun to notice those
people who have the self-assurance to live life not caring whether people notice
them or not.
While attracting attention is not always a bad thing, wouldn’t it be nice
to be free from constantly depending on the attention of others?
Kellie Richardson is a sophomore history major.
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