Misunderstood Alternative Lifestyles
As part of a course I'm doing at college we were asked to do an essay on alternative lifestyles. Most people chose the gothic lifestyle, I didn't. I chose the lifestyle of heroin addicts.
I stayed with two heroin addicts at their home for a week. I was expecting it to be scummy, riddled with needles etc. How wrong I was. The children were well fed and clothed, the house was tidy and needle free.
This, however, was one side of the coin.
I spent a week living a homeless lifestyle with another heroin addict. He went out stealing to pay for his habit, injected into his groin and all the other nasty stuff associated with heroin addiction.
I was able to draw similarities from each case:
1) came up with a "sob" story to explain how they became addicted
2) never offered me any drugs
3) would not wish their addiction on their worst enemy
4) earned money illegally

There are more but the list goes on and on. I did meet some other friends of the three people I met and they were all really genuine and nice people. My point is I was wrong about heroin addicts being "junkies who would sell their nan to get a fix" - I was being stereotypical.
What alternative lifestyles have you misunderstood/misinterpreted?
(sickprophet Injuring Disabled Animals, Wed 7 Jun 2006, 11:38, Reply)