Outsiders and Insiders

June 28, 2008 – 1:37 am

Let me tell you about insiders and outsiders in New York City. There are many communities and groups here, not one main group to join. So it would be difficult to say where the “inside” is.

New York City attracts many creative people, like actors, actresses, performers, artists, and writers, and such people are usually considered outsiders. But if they make it, become popular, they can become celebrities. Psychics, astrologers, and tarot card readers are another category of unusual people, and they often earn about $125 per hour.

Here are more types of outsiders: Alcoholics; homeless people and beggars; pickpockets and thieves; musicians and comedians; poets and priests; hermits; circus performers; anyone wearing a large tattoo; and anyone connected with prostitution or pornography.

A man whose hair is raised into tall, orange spikes is clearly announcing his outsider status. We see such outrageous outsider styles mainly in the East Village. Men who wore their hair too long and women who wore their hair too short were considered outsiders until the 1970s or 1980s, when all the styles changed. Now many men (and a few women) shave their heads, which completely eliminates the problem of what our hair might be saying about us.

Students, tourists, and commuters are part of New York City’s large population of transients, and transients are always outsiders. Retired and elderly people and anyone who does not go to school or work during the day might begin to feel like an outsider, from isolation. Another kind of outsider is the late bloomer—someone who “finds himself” late in life, after the age of 40.

Two generations ago, an unmarried woman was considered to be an outsider unless she became a teacher, nurse, or nun. According to the 2005 census, however, 60 to 65% of the women living in Manhattan never got married. What an amazing statistic. Women living in Manhattan are different. Are they outsiders? They would be outsiders if they lived someplace else, but they are not outsiders here.

Immigrants are not considered outsiders here, either, since half the population of the city is foreign born, and almost half of these can barely speak English. Ability to speak English and ability to earn money are not related, as some of the best educated people earn very little money, while some of the least educated people are productive high earners. Also, multi-millionaire wheeler-dealer businessmen, believe it or not, are often outsiders, because they can become socially isolated in their climb to financial success.

So-called “crazy” people are outsiders. They used to be easily identified because they talked to themselves in public. Nowadays, however, because of cell phones, everybody talks to himself in public.

People who live in Brooklyn feel like outsiders when they travel into Manhattan. People from Manhattan feel like outsiders when they visit other sections of the city. This is due to differences in how people dress and how they talk. If you are dressed like an outsider and you talk like an outsider, then you are an outsider.

My friends who work in food shops and restaurants are never outsiders, in my opinion. You don’t call someone an outsider if he or she is bringing you your food.

Your friend is never an outsider. And when you have a friend, you are never an outsider, either.

Questions for Discussion:

1. Do you feel like an outsider where you live? Is this because you are young and have not found your place in life?

2. If you feel like an outsider where you live, do you think if you move to another place you might find more friends? Where are you thinking of moving?

3. Do you live in a small town where everybody knows you? Do you live in a big city? Do you live in a rural area? Do you have many friends? Are you an insider where you live, or is that a silly question?

Photograph and Text Copyright © 2008 Barbara A. English. All rights reserved.