Last night my daughter and I were walking towards the bus stop near her preschool, when my daughter bolted and ran up to this stranger standing at the bus shelter. Ever the over-protective parent, I ran after her; and in my most patient, sensitive, supportive male-role-model voice, kindly requested that she calm her body for the betterment of the whole.

"I wanted to tell that lady what I liked her makeup and cool boots," she said, standing next to her new fashion friend.

I chuckled.

"I like your makeup," my daughter said to the person standing next to her.

I chuckled again.

My daughter is five years old, and a pink freak. Ninety-nine percent of her clothes are pink. Her favorite color is pink. Her dolls are pink. Her comforter is pink. Pink pink pink.

Her new fashion friend? A totally decked out goth. Long, straight black hair. White face paint makeup. Over-painted black lipstick and black Cleopatra eyes. Black clothes, plenty of silver crosses and studs, and knee-high multi-buckle platform leather boots.

And he wasn't too happy about standing next to an uber-pink preschooler.

Which was why I was amused. I find it interesting that people who choose to put on an appearance for the express purpose of being different or being noticed can become so incensed when people actually notice them. If one put their appearance out there in such an extreme  manner, then don't be surprised if people notice and comment. Regardless of how extensive our attachments are to our own subgroup, family, or clique, we're not cut off from others in our own silos.

Whenever we choose to be different, to buck the trend, we put ourselves out there to be judged. Is it fair? Is it just a part of human nature? I don't know - maybe I'll write about that later. But, it does happen. And what I find most interesting, through my own personal experience, is that the louder the difference, the more incensed one gets at questions or criticism. I mean, this cultivated look or position must be appreciated by all! To question means you do not understand, you are ignorant, you are naive, a tool, a pawn, brainwashed, meat-puppet, whatever.

This extends well into the political sphere through war protesters, war promoters, Republican talking heads, Liberal talking heads, pundits, leaders, etc.    

Clinton and Obama supporters, too. More so than most, I'm afraid. Both sides throw out ad hominem attacks, dig up totally irrelevant dirt, use ALL CAPS TO MAKE THEIR POINT!!!111!, and generally find any way to make two similarly competent people seem the total extreme from one another.

And whoa be unto those who question The Supporter.

Don't be surprised if you get attention by choosing to be the political goth. Put yourself out there long enough, loud enough, and extreme enough, and you're bound to get noticed. Some of the comments will be positive, some will be negative, some will be highly ironic and miss your point entirely like with my daughter.

Just don't get upset at them for noticing your purposeful political extremism.