The Social Network

First off, this is not a review or even remotely related to the movie 'The Social Network', although it might seem otherwise, considering the title. This piece of writing is based on the social network of school which we have thrived and lived in.
For a person with a mathematically inclined and scientific mind, society has never failed to amaze me. My misanthropic tendencies also sometimes cloud my ability to judge society which is populated with these slow and lesser people who always seem to drive me crazy.
Society entertains some really stupid and irrational notions which I have come to detest. One of these is the idea of popularity. Everyone who has been to school must have dealt with this idea of popularity. There are the popular guys and girls, and then there are those unpopular people. Now before I go down with the criteria society entertains for popularity, I just wonder, is there a unit for popularity by which we can measure and compare this abstract concept? Not currently there isn't, but what if we tried to have one? But the problem which arises now is that popularity is an abstract concept which differs for different people, which sucks, really. The unpredictability society offers is invigorating and infuriating, too. Even though minds of the people in society are lesser than mine, I can't really predict what goes on in there. It's foolishness and craving to please people varies from person to person. Someone might give a particular opinion or view just to impress his or her peers while some other guy might give an answer just to avoid unwanted attention. Someone else might give a completely radical point of view which is not acceptable or ridiculed by others, yet he/she does it out of pure defiance or indifference. One can completely disregard such research, considering the fact that there is utter, utter randomness and inconsistence, but... isn't that what science is all about, deciphering order from chaos?
Now onto school's idea of popularity. After consulting with one who is considered popular, yet shares common views, I have realized that a person is considered popular if he/she manages to grab people's attention. Now the media used to grab attention are the points of differentiation between people who are actually popular and those who just WANT to be popular - the attention seekers is the terminology.
Being popular generally requires you to be bold, and you should be able to voice your thoughts and views ably in class as well as in your social circle. At times, people resort to being excessively rude at the expense of being funny to their fellow peers. Making fun and completely ridiculing one person just for the sake of scoring brownie points in society is something people do to get popular. Those people who actually earn their popularity by making their presence felt are those who really are popular. They become popular on their own merit and mind.
Another thing which is omnipresent in society is GOSSIP. People, in general, love to gossip. I never really understood why people gossip. You pick a person and bitch about him. That is the definition of gossip. That is all. You waste your precious time talking about and obsessing over a particular person, getting nowhere. Yet, some people love to gossip. Especially those who are popular. They must know every piece of dirt on some person and every single thing happening in and around them. No particular reason for it, just ENTERTAINMENT, they say. Gossiping is the most unproductive activity, according to me, but people are also considered popular BECAUSE they know stuff. Well, I respect knowledge, but not such bullshit knowledge.
Another shitty notion society of all kinds entertains is of discrimination. In school, there will always be discrimination between the cool and the nerdy and the unpopular. School practices this at a lesser level than actual society, but it is always there. Some guys are literally treated as untouchables. I know this guy who is cool to hang out with, but is unclean, at times, is shunned by almost everyone in our school. People don't even give him a chance. Roughest kind of treatment, he receives. I mean, people talk about eliminating inequality in society but school itself, the foundation of one's thoughts, is the breeding ground of discrimination. A recluse in school is considered to be an idiot and a person with no life. Why is that? You don't even know what goes on in his/her head, yet people jump to conclusions. This can ruin the person's mind. Yet people continue. And let me tell you, these are not sadists or mischief makers at play here. They are smarter people. These are insecure wannabes. You just have to ignore these retards and march on your own drummer.
'The Social Network' of schools, however undesirable at times, is always there. It will NEVER cease to be. You just have to fight it on your OWN. Complaining to teachers and parents will make you weak. Always remember, you are not alone, there are others like you. If there are popular guys, there will be unpopular guys. Make your own friends and don't give a fuck about what those other guys think of you. It is all on your ability to not give a fuck, and let me tell you, it works, and these 'unpopular' guys are the least prejudiced people. The vibe with them is of least tension and of pure fun. Do that, and you will be able to say a nice long 'fuck you' to the Network.