Asgard High
There's quite a bit of social misbehavior we've seen in Heathenry. In particular, a lot of stuff looks like typical High School antics. Then it hit me--it is High School, Asgard High! ;) Some people never grew up from the roles they had at that time. Let's look at the examples. BTW, the roles are so obvious that I don't need to mention any names, their own deeds and behavior speak for themselves.
First, we have the meat-headed jocks. Grunting, fighting, anti-intellectual, and proudly alcoholic. Sneers at gentler, more thoughtful ways of looking at things or interacting with people.
Next, we have the Beavis & Butthead dorks. Also anti-intellectual, and non-violent, but strips everything down to 'cool' and 'sucks'. May break or burn things just to alleviate boredom.
We have the socially-entangled drama queens. Catty, gossipy, making up and/or expanding rumors for the excitement of spreading a bigger tale. More concerned with social status than with decent behavior.
There are the nerds, of which there are different varieties. There are library nerds with overflowing vocabularies and philosophy, math and chess nerds obsessed with process, and gamer nerds who are more concerned with character interaction than social improvement.
Of course, there are the bullies. Often with obedient flunkies, they make both implied and direct threats, and focus on people physically weaker than themselves. Likes putting others down directly, rather than the indirect drama queen approach.
There are the overly preppy types. Image and status conscious, but more focused on looking good and becoming class president than in things like spreading rumors. They always look friendly, but with some that can be deceiving.
We have the rockers. Generic glam-rock image, often in a garage band that plays badly but blithely. Boasts about themselves or their icons, but has no patience for those outside their little world.
There are the punks. Not quite fitting into the other roles, their rebellion becomes their reason for living, rebellion for its own sake. May have wild hair or clothes, but it's their behavior that sets them apart from other roles, while alienating other people.
Then there are the angsty goths. Morose and dark, overly concerned with the hopelessness of a group, a goal, or even life itself. Often dressing in dark clothes, but mainly defined by the insistence of doom in everything.
I'm sure that you'll recognize these roles among several people in Heathenry (and even paganism in general). The good news is that life isn't limited to the High School experience, and one can grow as a person beyond these limitations and behaviors.
First, we have the meat-headed jocks. Grunting, fighting, anti-intellectual, and proudly alcoholic. Sneers at gentler, more thoughtful ways of looking at things or interacting with people.
Next, we have the Beavis & Butthead dorks. Also anti-intellectual, and non-violent, but strips everything down to 'cool' and 'sucks'. May break or burn things just to alleviate boredom.
We have the socially-entangled drama queens. Catty, gossipy, making up and/or expanding rumors for the excitement of spreading a bigger tale. More concerned with social status than with decent behavior.
There are the nerds, of which there are different varieties. There are library nerds with overflowing vocabularies and philosophy, math and chess nerds obsessed with process, and gamer nerds who are more concerned with character interaction than social improvement.
Of course, there are the bullies. Often with obedient flunkies, they make both implied and direct threats, and focus on people physically weaker than themselves. Likes putting others down directly, rather than the indirect drama queen approach.
There are the overly preppy types. Image and status conscious, but more focused on looking good and becoming class president than in things like spreading rumors. They always look friendly, but with some that can be deceiving.
We have the rockers. Generic glam-rock image, often in a garage band that plays badly but blithely. Boasts about themselves or their icons, but has no patience for those outside their little world.
There are the punks. Not quite fitting into the other roles, their rebellion becomes their reason for living, rebellion for its own sake. May have wild hair or clothes, but it's their behavior that sets them apart from other roles, while alienating other people.
Then there are the angsty goths. Morose and dark, overly concerned with the hopelessness of a group, a goal, or even life itself. Often dressing in dark clothes, but mainly defined by the insistence of doom in everything.
I'm sure that you'll recognize these roles among several people in Heathenry (and even paganism in general). The good news is that life isn't limited to the High School experience, and one can grow as a person beyond these limitations and behaviors.