Why are teenagers so judgmental?

Insecurity. Putting someone else down makes them feel better about themseves. Like they are more cool than the next guy.

Conforming is the easiest way to avoid receving negative attention.

Teenagers are in the business of sorting out who they are relative to their peers. It’ll clear up in a few years, don’t worry.

Some people are just mean. I’m sorry.

They act mean, but years later they’ll tell you they admired your courage to be an individual… that’s what happened to me.

Inexperience/immaturity & skewed logic…some “grown ups” have no such excuse :-)

If the teenagers you speak of, had thought of it and done it, they would probably would think it was wonderful. You never know what they are going to criticize next. Don’t let it bother you. Some of them may be super critical all their lives.
But when you do something that is bound to attract attention, expect comments both kind, and unkind. Be happy they noticed.

At that age, most young girls seem to be afraid of standing out, and of course putting others down or making fun often makes insecure people feel better (at any age.) If you like it and feel comfortable with it, go for it.

I have the white streaks in my hair now but we did a little toner at the salon so it’s not pure white, but a nice new platinum. I don’t give a rip though..lol

Inexperience. Time will fix this, one hopes.

I do have to say that if you do something that makes you stand out, you shouldn’t be surprised if you stand out. And not everybody is cool with that because it can be seen as a threat: you’re rejecting what they have chosen. If you can get along without being like them, maybe being like them isn’t secure after all.

I expected that some people wouldn’t like it.

It just bothered me mostly that that one girl, who actually has a favorite movie in which one of the main characters changes her hair color frequently and claims to be a hippie (which I always associated with loving every form of life and being in a state of emotional nirvana, because I’m sort of a hippie myself and judging someone by their hair doesn’t really fit the hippie bill), was the main one staring and whispering about me.

I just don’t understand why. It’s like even if the kid claims to not be superficial, they still have a duty as a teenager to judge others on their looks.

I went out today and a few older guys ( like college age) actually smiled at me. Before they never even looked my way.

I mean, individualism seems to get positive attention from people outside of high school.

Unfortunately such behaviour is also learn from observing the behaviour of “adults” around them. I am not discounting the answers above which in many cases are correct as well.

First, let me say that I grew up in LA and girls were just as nasty there as they are anywhere else.

My theory is that there are people in this world who feel like they have to blow out the candles of others in order to make their own candle burn brighter. In other words, if they are snarky and obnoxious about you, it somehow makes them feel better about themselves. Odds are good that some (all) of these girls would never have the nerve to color their hair brightly or do anything that would make them stand out – they just don’t have the courage. I for one think it is awesome that you have the courage to do something that you like and not care what others might say. Hold your head high and feel good about your choice not to keep from doing something because of what others might say. Be true to yourself.

You could always make a custom t shirt with a quote that will get others thinking. It is what I would do :) and as far as I can remember I have always been different. I tried the conformity thing once and its just not me.

It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.  ~e.e. cummings

If God had wanted me otherwise, He would have created me otherwise.  ~Johann von Goethe

Like the sky opens after a rainy day we must open to ourselves…. Learn to love yourself for who you are and open so the world can see you shine.  ~James Poland

Is life not a hundred times too short for us to stifle ourselves.  ~Friedrich Nietzsche

You were born an original.  Don’t die a copy.  ~John Mason

Be she’s they’re stupid, naive, and don’t know shit about real life.

@livelaughlove21, does “Be she’s” mean “because”?

I was thinking “Be shes” was a new term for “biatches” or something :/ lol since it was a girl that was all judgmental.

@Jeruba Damn auto-correct. Yep, that should say “because.”

@livelaughlove21 I usually type from my phone I almost totally understand the auto-correct “language”, that is why I thought “Be she” was a new word for “Biache” or maybe a new spelling…hahaha auto-correct, you kill me, I don’t want you, yet I can’t live without you. :/

Check out “crabs in a bucket” and you’ll understand better. I didn’t want to post any specific link. There are so many relevant images and stories that you’ll figure it out quickly enough when you make the search.

High school is when humans learn to be cruel to each other in ways that are socially acceptable in the adult world, but they haven’t learned to hide it yet under layers of etiquette, political correctness, false deference, etc.

Hippiedom has nothing to do with being accepting of everyone or being in “emotional nirvana,” by the way. In the 60s, it was an attitude of dropping out from mainstream consumer society and American Cold War politics. Lots of those people were not in emotional nirvana, believe me. Now, it is just another lifestyle that you can purchase, complete with tie-die shirts and accessories made for you in sweatshops in Pakistan. The kids at my college who claimed to be ‘hippies’ were getting a free ride from their parents, so they could buy all of the necessary accoutrements—guitars, Birkenstocks, sweet stereo systems, lots of drugs, etc.

@hearkat is right. Eventually you won’t be bound to your social status in highschool. What counts when you’re older is if you’re working or not/doing what you love or not