My Inner Aussie
I like fake accents. Those closest to me know that I frequently
break into a British, Irish, Scottish, German or Australian accent in public at
a moment’s notice. I don’t know why I do
it. Perhaps because I’m very, very
strange. I think that’s the explanation
most would offer for that type of behavior.
However, I think I use fake accents for the same reason many of you are
goth. Yeah, I’m probably about to strike
a nerve.
I like to use fake accents because
sometimes it’s just fun to not be me. I’m
known to travel a good bit, therefore, I spend some time in airports. From time to time, if I’m in an airport that
isn’t my “home” airport, I’ll pretend to be Australian. Why?
Hell, I don’t know really. I know
it’s fun, I get to strike up brilliantly stimulating conversations with
complete strangers, and people I’ve never met before buy me beers. There is, however, that earnest fear that one
of these days I’m gonna meet a real Aussie in the airport and the jig will be
up. Even I can’t fake out a native. I’m not exactly thrilled about the potential
for that to happen. I know I’m rolling
the dice every time I do it. But it sure
is fun…for now.
So,
back to my point. I use fake accents for
the same reason many of you are goth. Am
I Australian? Nope, there’s not an
Aussie bone in my body. I pretend. Yes, that’s right. I fake
it. I do it because it’s fun and I’m
getting over on everyone around me.
There’s a weird self-satisfaction that goes along with it, I
suppose. Some goths are just faking
it. You know the ones to which I’m
referring. They kinda dress it, they
kinda talk it, they kinda seem like it, but they just don’t get it. How does one deal with such a character? First, I think we have to have an
understanding of how sad it is for someone to not know who they really
are. Nothing, in my opinion, is much
sadder than the human with a lost sense of self. Yet I hate how cruel the world is to those
who are in such a state. We’ve all been
there. Lost, rejected, no idea who or
what we are, etc. Can you remember what
would have been most helpful to you during that time? I sure can.
It’s love. It’s acceptance. It’s approval and validation. Nothing can replace a sense of belonging or a
hand on the shoulder that says, “your place is here.” When is the last time you went out of your
way to explore the fringes and find that lost soul and give them a safe
place? I’ve made up my mind to do it as
often as I can. Someone did it for me
once…
-Silas McBane
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