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Punk. What comes into your mind when the word is uttered? Anarchy? Anger? Violence? All of the mentioned are society's misconception of the true punk. This misconception is, in my opinion, due to the British punks (hey, its just my opinion). All of the mentioned are also not the backbone of the punk ideals. But what is punk in its true essence? Why do people have a misconception of punks? What is it that differentiates poseurs from the true punks?
Punk is a reflection of what it is to be human. Punk is the personal expression of uniqueness that comes from the experiences of growing up in touch with our human ability to ask questions.
What makes humans different from animals? As mentioned above, we are unique because we have the ability to ask questions. We are also unique because we have the ability to recognize others and ourselves as individuals. And it is ironic because the common belief of society is that the punks and their music are "primitive" and "animalistic".
Violence is not common and violence is not unique to the punks. When it is manifested, the punk is, in a way just being human. Take, for example, a fight between a punk and the team captain of the basketball team. The team captain and his group do not accept the punk as someone of their status. So, they constantly taunt, provoke, embarrass, and at times, hurt the punk (which, by the way, is just a reflection of their insecurities).
One day, the punk is fed up and gets into a fight with the team captain. Since the basketball player is the source of school pride and since the school, due to the stereotypes, already has a bad impression of punks, the basketball player's views are taken and the punk is expelled.
Spontaneous anger due to taunting and not being accepted to an extreme level is not unique to punks. It is, in fact, a human trait and anyone would react if they felt de-valued. Sadly, there are many examples of violence among punks. And the worst part is, many of these violent outbreaks were not true punks but misguided and ignorant people who call themselves punks and do as much damage as possible.
Violence is not a trait of a true punk. The violence is just due to being human. The people who call themselves "punks" and do a lot of damage for no reason are just misguided idiots.
UNIQUENESS AND THE PRESERVATION OF MANKIND
As mentioned above, humans are superior to animals due to the fact that humans have the ability to recognize others and ourselves as individuals. Humans also possess the ability to choose their views and outlooks on the world. Factors such as society and/or culture can homogenize behavior and outlook of individuals.
Take, for example, a barangay might have 20-30,000 residents who are brought up with the same ideals, shop in the same stores, and enjoy the same sports and spots teams. As the younger generations develop, there is a constant clashing between the human abilities of choice and of individuality.
Those who loose touch with their nature become society's robots, whereas those who denounce their social development become vagabonds. Punk is the desire to walk the fine line between the two extremes with deadly accuracy and masterful precision. The punk wants to express his own individuality while, at the same time, embracing some of the communal aspects of their forceful upbringing.
The social connection punks have is based on a desire to understand each other's unique points of view. Punk "scenes" in their purest forms are places where those points of view are accepted, sometimes adopted, sometimes discarded, but always respected and tolerated.
AGAINST THE GRAIN
A powerful side effect of civilized society is the compulsion to conform. For example, we are taught to respect and abide by the views of our elders. Later on, when we find out that many of them are merely dogmatic opinions, we are taught not to make a commotion by asking difficult questions that question or ostracize their views. Many just go along with the established philosophy and never present their own views, which is just as good as a premature death of the person.
Assuming that everyone else is doing something and that by complying with them, we can't go wrong is very easy. Cattle or flocks of birds can recognize this advantage. The existence of the human race, on the other hand, can fail due to this mentality.
Thinking and acting against the flow of current and popular opinion is crucial to human advancement, and is also a clear manifestation of a punk. If an issue or phenomenon is found to be true only because an overwhelming majority of people find it true, then it is a punk's job to find a better solution or find solid evidence or proof to verify the issue, (at times, popular view is merely a reflection of human nature, punks don't deny that fact).
Punk is a process of questioning and commitment to understanding that results in self-progress could lead to social progress.
FEAR
The brain of a human being is an extremely intricate system of systems. One of the most complex among theses systems is the limbic system. The limbic system is a system of neurons that control our deep seeded emotions. It connects the midbrain to the forebrain. The midbrain is where the sensory information is sent (i.e. stuff we see, hear, smell etc…). The forebrain is where information is processed. Even though the forebrain has been around for over 450 million years (it existed in the earliest vertebrates), it has developed special functions upon the onset of mankind.
There is a special section of the forebrain called the cerebral cortex. This section is very developed in humans. Our cerebral cortex uses 95% of its capacity to execute mental activities such as contemplation and planning, while a mere 5% is used for processing motor and sensory information.
The highly developed limbic system plays a crucial role in what makes us human. Some might even call it the very core of being human. It is very powerful. The limbic system can over-ride primitive emotions and restrain deep desires.
There are two main types of fear. Running away from something dangerous, or reflexive fear is the first and the second is fear of doing/saying the wrong thing, or learned fear. The latter is a result of our limbic system.
Anybody who has seen a sad movie with friends, and deliberately held back tears because they didn't want their friends to see them crying, put to use the power of their limbic system. They were able to contemplate the reactions of their contemporaries, and held back the tears.
The limbic system can suppress the obvious and promote behavior that is conforming. Being in touch with our bodies leads to overall general health. Learned fear is not part of general health. In order to overcome the fear, one must be in touch wit the limbic system, and recognize when it is suppressing the obvious.
Etiquette and white lies are examples of when our limbic system "overpowers" us. These are necessary at times. Lying is the ultimate form of limbic system domination. It is denying the obvious. There are, however, some cases when lying is vital. But that's only sometimes. The people who tell the truth, are those who have learned to master their limbic system. They recognize the desire to lie, but they recognize the uselessness of promoting something untrue. Liars, on the other hand, are slaves to their limbic system. They are out of touch with their basic mental capacities.
The people who exercise abusive authority over other people, are masters of promoting fear. An example of abusive authority and fear is the authority of some politicians. There was a politician (no names mentioned) who didn't want a barbecue vendor to be hanging around. So he took the vendor's barbecue, threw it on the floor, and stepped on it. The vendor, afraid of authority, did nothing to the politician directly. People like this politician are excellent intellectual targets for punks because these people don't respect people who have mastered their limbic systems. Punks are not afraid to point out what is obvious, even if it means that their social status might be jeopardized.
Punk is the constant struggle against fear of the lowering of the social status of an individual.
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So, what is it that differentiates a true punk from a poseur? Quite simple. The person's ideals. What are the punk ideals? Here they are in simple bite-sized morsels ready for consumption.
1. Punk is a reflection of what it is to be human. Punk is the personal expression of uniqueness that comes from the experiences of growing up in touch with our human ability to ask questions.
2. Punk is the desire to walk the fine line between the two social extremes. One of which is being society's robots and the other is being society's vagabonds.
3. Punk is a process of questioning and commitment to understanding that results in self-progress could lead to social progress.
4. Punk is the constant struggle against fear of the lowering of the social status of an individual.
Four easy points to remember. So, What are you waiting for? Go ahead, punk, make my day.
Mail me... jayoayo@punkmail.com