Were you a "Soc" or a "Greaser"??

[JetMaxx]

I enjoyed the 1983 movie "The Outsiders"...but absolutely loved the novel by the same name, written by S.E. Hinton; ever since I wrote a book report on it in the 9th grade (the book was much better IMO than the movie).

I was captivated by the story of a greaser (kid from the wrong side of the tracks) named Ponyboy Curtis growing up in Tulsa, Oklahoma in the 1960's...

My question...were you a Soc (rich kid) or a Greaser in high school?

I guess that I was a Greaser that wanted to be a Soc. Thankfully, there weren't any youth gangs in Douglasville, Georgia during my school days, but there were cliques...and being the son of a security officer/ paint store asst. manager, and not living in a wealthy neighborhood, I always considered myself a greaser....one of the "have nots".

While we never were dirt poor, I certainly never ate at the country club or fancy restaurants...or wore expensive clothes/ tennis shoes. I wasn't "white trash"...but I identified much more closely with Ponyboy, Sodapop, and Darry than I did the Soc's.

What about you?

[azskyman]

What's the middle of the road...a Seasor or a Groc? That was me. Straight and narrow, crew cut kid in the band who was always home by midnight with mom and dad's car. My girlfriends were neither cheerleaders nor homebodies...but instead tended to be Seasors or Grocs, too. We lived a comfortable lifestyle just a shade above the average....but always had nice vacations, newer cars, and color TV.

[Stephanie]

I think I was more middle of the road too. We weren't poor, but I think I identified with the "Greasers" more than the "Soc". To me, the "Socs" thought that they were it, the only ones that counted and to be quite frank, stuck up. I had and still have no time for that.

[wx247]

Interesting question... I think I considered myself in the middle as well. I did have good friends in both catagories. Two of my three girlfriends in high school were cheerleaders, except for Darla who ended up being a 3 year long relationship.

[bfez1]

I was neither, is there a middle? That's me.

[Guest]

I'm in the middle - could probably relate more to the greaser's then SOC's.

[Lindaloo]

I love that movie Perry!!

I used to be a soc during high school. Always though I was it and tuned to a certain clique!! But not anymore. After suffering tragedy, I do not take things for granted nor do I take people for granted. I am more humble and have a variety of friends. Would I trade it? NEVER!!

[JetMaxx]

It's really interesting to think about....I guess we were also in the middle....while I wasn't a rich kid, I saw plenty of classmates in far worse shape economically that me. I was a good kid that made good grades, and was certainly never a "hood" like "Dallas Winston" or "Two-Bit" (I gave those type a wide berth).

I posted last night that when reading the novel and watching the movie I identified more closely with the greasers than the soc's. Becky just sent me an email and said she was the total opposite -- she always identified herself more with the soc's than the greasers...she drove a new camaro at age 17, played tennis, competed in beauty pageants; and wore nice designer label clothing from area malls...and always had to have the expensive sneakers (why she went to work p/t at age 15 - so she could afford the things she desired).

So there were vast differences even in my own family: I was the "Darry" or "Sodapop" type, while little sis was definitely more like "Cherry Valance".

[streetsoldier]

I was unique...I didn't fit within any "clique", walked alone, and liked it that way.

I knew that, sooner or later, I would find "my own", or they'd find ME; which didn't happen until college, when I held court with an interesting combination of artists, architectual aspirants, professors, nursing students, scholars (Phi Theta Kappa), business students (Phi Beta Lambda), and the college President and Deans...all dining together at the same three tables, and assembling after-hours at the same "watering holes".

I miss those days...and nights.

[hurricanedude]

GREASER HERE MY BOY!!

[PerficktGurl]

I'm another "in between", but closer to soc than greaser.

[David]

Hmm, i'm not even in high school, but in middle school I wasn't in any group. I'm actually amazed I haven't been injured by a gang. High school will probably change that.

[Rainband]

I was in the middle..I be-friended... my friends..there was no approval ratings or classification..that I used to determine who they were..I just knew!!! I was friends with all types of people.. We had three classes..JOCKS..loddies..PREPS Jocks..self explanatory..loddies the ones who smoked and were the "greasers" I suppose and the preps..The rich well dressed..semi stuck up ones. I had friends from all three groups and I learned that although they seemed what they were classified as..on the outside.. "dressing the part" so to speak.... the cool thing was.. they all had a bit of each other in each of them!

[JetMaxx]

Johnathan...you make very good common sense..

No matter whether it was a jock, preppy, or greaser...away from the "cliques" they were all just guys (and girls).

Guys that would thumb their nose at me in front of their friends...would come by my home or call and ask for help with homework, or ask me to pray for them...or a friend in trouble. It was the same way with most cheerleaders. They'd die before complimenting me at school in front of their snobby friends...but when they came to visit Becky or I'd see them at church, they were totally different (personality-wise...and were friendly).

[streetsoldier]

Here's for all the "greasers" out there...

"Oh, I wish we'd go back
To the good old days
When tomatoes were cheaper...
And we never heard the words
To our favorite songs
Through a three-inch speaker...
And we never messed around
With dangerous drugs
We were all getting sick on beer...
And you didn't get any
Unless you went steady
And made out for a year..."

[Stephanie]

Here's for all the "greasers" out there...

"Oh, I wish we'd go back
To the good old days
When tomatoes were cheaper...
And we never heard the words
To our favorite songs
Through a three-inch speaker...
And we never messed around
With dangerous drugs
We were all getting sick on beer...
And you didn't get any
Unless you went steady
And made out for a year..."

COOL BILL!

[JQ Public]

I feel young now but i've never heard of a soc or greaser til today But i guess i woulda been a socreaser a little in the middle if i do say so myself..

[streetsoldier]

Ah, the Muse of greasers has been touching me again...to the tumne of "If I Only Had A Brain", folks...

"In the hottest summer weather
I'm dressed in boots and leather
With Levi's, tightly shrunk...
And, I feel brave and reckless
When I wear my Nazi necklace
'Cause I'm nothing but a punk!

"On my motorcycle racing
You''ll find me otten chasing
A poor and helpless drunk...
While his head I am breaking
There is surely no mistaking
That I'm nothing but a punk!" [/i]

[azsnowman]

Hmmm....tough question. Growing up on the White Mountain Apache Rez was unlike anything on the outside world (the white mans world) so I really can't say.......we were by no means *rich* nor were we poor but compared to my other Native American classmates, I was *rich* by their standards, I actually lived in a house while they were still living in wooden stick (literally) homes.....they were built out of small gamble oak trees, covered with straw. *REAL* houses were not built until 1970-71...talk about culture shock......the Apaches had never lived in a house with running water, four walls and windows until then.

Now compared to the white mans world, I would have been a *grease pit* but ya know what.......I probably had one of the most fun filled childhoods that anyone could every ask for. Hiking the mountains on the rez, riding horses bareback while chasing wild burros (no....not taco bell burros either LOL!) learning Native American traditions and superstitions, getting to play REAL cowboy, I would spend my summers working cattle with my brother in law, roping, branding, cutting (no, not literally cutting cattle) cattle, riding fence......ah the memories, "THANKS!"

Dennis

[Stephanie]

Hmmm....tough question. Growing up on the White Mountain Apache Rez was unlike anything on the outside world (the white mans world) so I really can't say.......we were by no means *rich* nor were we poor but compared to my other Native American classmates, I was *rich* by their standards, I actually lived in a house while they were still living in wooden stick (literally) homes.....they were built out of small gamble oak trees, covered with straw. *REAL* houses were not built until 1970-71...talk about culture shock......the Apaches had never lived in a house with running water, four walls and windows until then.

Now compared to the white mans world, I would have been a *grease pit* but ya know what.......I probably had one of the most fun filled childhoods that anyone could every ask for. Hiking the mountains on the rez, riding horses bareback while chasing wild burros (no....not taco bell burros either LOL!) learning Native American traditions and superstitions, getting to play REAL cowboy, I would spend my summers working cattle with my brother in law, roping, branding, cutting (no, not literally cutting cattle) cattle, riding fence......ah the memories, "THANKS!"

Dennis

Your childhood does sound quite grand indeed!

Bill - That little diddy was good too - but breaking the head of a drunk!? :o Those greasers/punks were definately in the extreme, and were probably high on something! It reminded me of "Clockward Orange"!