My Take on the 10%-ers

I've decided to revisit an old rant of mine. Friends and family have heard it many, many, many times. However, it was resurrected this morning with some coworkers.

Here's my take...

10% of the population screw it up for the other 90%.

I think it'd be a LOT easier if we realize that simple fact. It's the ol' "squeaky wheel gets the grease" proverb. The problem is, we spend so much time and energy trying to overcompensate for the 10% of dumbasses out there. You can parlay this into a ton of situations (more on that later).

"Glen, what the hell are you talking about?"

Here's my example. I live in West Virginia. I'm located in the eastern panhandle, about 70 miles west of DC. But don't get me wrong, IT IS West Virginia.

When you think of West-by-God-Virginia, you should think of West Virginia as majestic mountains, the beloved Gold-and-Blue Mountaineers, and the Saudi Arabia of Coal.

But let's face it, you don't.

You think of West Virginia as Dueling Banjos (ala 1972's Deliverance), cars on concrete blocks, missing teeth, confederate flags, and the mecca of single-wide trailers.

And, here lies the problem.

There might be 10% of the WV population that actually lives that way. Oh, they're out there, that's for damn sure. The fact is that there are trailer-park-boys in every state out there (don't act like you don't know what I'm talking about either... because you do). There is another 90% of the population out there that is not EVEN CLOSE to that stereotype.

West Virginians tend to be rugged, salt-of-the earth folks who just basically want to be ignored by the 'city-folk'. We drive pickup trucks, have small farms, surf the web, watch football on the weekends, and have a beer when it's hot outside. Now that is a crazy, redneck lifestyle, isn't it?

But, the whole WV culture thing I can handle. It comes with the territory and has been around for generations. Here's a few other examples:

• 90% of black folks get up, work an exhausting 9-5 job, go home to dinner with family, go to bed early just to get the energy to do it all over again. The 10% on COPS is an almost comedic stereotype.


• 90% of religious folks aren't actual "bible beaters". They believe that God has a lifelong plan for everyone, they say grace before meals, and thank God to live another day. It's the 10% that knock on your door, lecture, and bully their beliefs into everyday politics.


• 90% of gay folks don't wear leather ass-less chaps down mainstreet yelling "We're here, We're queer!" Those "flamers" in San Fran really irk the shit out of me, because they really do ruin it for other 90% who just want to be left the hell alone. Imagine having to hide a major part of your lifestyle because some idiot 3,000 miles away gets a 45 second clip on national TV news.


• 90% of Harley riders don't ride with straight pipes, smoke cigars while riding, and give old ladies the finger. Most of the people I meet at rallies are yuppies who understand why a dog hangs his head out a car window.

So, here's my point. At the end of the day, it's the idea that we actually LET the 10% become the spokesperson for the other 90%.

Here's ideally, what I'd love to see... a news clip on the west-coast gay pride parade, then cut to the east-coast version with a banker-type guy saying "That dude is a friggin idiot!"

Why? Because the 10% truly are.