Does anyone remember Underoos? They were quite the rage when I was in first grade; I had several pairs myself.
From a psychological standpoint, Underoos had some interesting effects on the adolescent psyche, both for myself and others; in essence, they took a "naughty" subject, underwear, and made it a subject of focus and attention. Now, I do not really believe underwear is "naughty" per se, but when I was in first grade underwear was certainly in the "naughty bits" category; being seen in one's underwear was roughly equivalent to being seen naked.
These days I could care less about either of those, but in first grade, it definitely mattered. (Funny how things change as we get older...)
Anyway, in first grade, one of my female classmates came to class one day and was talking about the new Supergirl Underoos she was wearing, and how cool they were; talk about a very direct and in-your-face way of getting me to think about a girl's underwear! I very much wanted to see them, both just to see this different girls set of Underoos that I'd never seen and, of course, the allure of seeing a girl's underwear at all was present in me even in first grade. And, I have to tell you, I still recall the gleam in this girl's eye as she was telling me and some other male classmates about her Supergirl Underoos; she was taking delight in getting us to think about her underwear too.
She was wearing a medium-short loose skirt, maybe just about knee length. She turned around to walk away, and must confess, without really thinking at all about what I was doing, just acting on impulse, I lifted up the back of her skirt and took a peek.
And, understandably, she was very NOT happy with me for doing that.
She went and complained to the teacher very loudly, and I got a good talking to from the teacher about things, quite honestly, that I didn't understand. And after a good berating and the Supergirl Underoo wearing girl looking on in a very smug and satisfied way at watching me squirm, the matter was dropped.
It is interesting to observe how times have so drastically changed during the short span of my life. Back then, such an infraction on my part was met with a squirmy berating; and, I have to say, it worked just fine; that the last time I took a peek at a girl's underwear (without her permission
).
Consider how such a thing would be handled today: In all likelihood, I'd be arrested, handcuffed, drug off, and changed with sexual harassment, ultimately to stand before a judge and be sentenced to 10 weeks of sensitivity brainwashing.
Are we more evolved now? Or less? I think less; human society seems to me to be in a retrograde evolutionary tailspin. I have often wondered if citizens of the Roman empire were cognizant of what was happening just before the empire fell. Same wonder for folks living in the USSR. My gut tells me where in a similar position.
Where is Aldous Huxley's Brave New World when we need it...?
Good fortune,
- Icarus liked what he saw...
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Please forgive me if, in the heat of battle, I sometimes forget which side I'm on.