Local man rejects social conventions
Steven Horn was arrested on April 2 for crimes he didn’t realize he committed. He claims that because he never signed a contract he doesn’t need to follow laws. When I met him he seemed like a normal guy. Someone with morals, someone with class, a real straight arrow. But when I dug a little deeper his deviant nature was revealed to me.
Clam Suckle
So, why are you in prison?
Steven Horn
I’m not quite sure. Ever since I took my first sociology class, things stopped making sense to me, you know? Like nothing is real; we made it up. So, if laws are made up and I never agreed to anything why am I in prison for not following them?
Suckle
Well, hasn’t the sovereign benefitted you? Is that not reason enough to follow it’s rules?
Horn
No, I don’t think that’s reason enough. Laws are made up and I shouldn’t be in prison for disobeying made up stuff.
Suckle
Okay well I’m sure our readers are wondering what you did to end up here. Care to share?
Horn
Well, a few weeks ago I started testing some stuff out. I started jaywalking regularly. I mean obviously in dark alleys at first to get comfortable with it, but then I started jaywalking in large intersections. People honked. They were annoyed, but I didn’t get in any trouble. Then I started to steal things. Again, that was fine. It was just gum and stuff so it was harmless. Yeah, so I just kept stepping it up — started to rip up parking tickets. Then eventually I stopped driving on the right side of the road when it was safe. Next thing I know, I’m buying a gun in the back of a bowling alley. You know, just to buy it. Just to prove to myself that laws didn’t matter and I could do whatever I wanted. It was all just little stuff. I really felt free. It felt like I was waking up. Not that there is a law against it, but I grew out my hair. I figure social constructs other than laws might feel good to leave behind.
Suckle
Oh, wow. You didn’t feel bad for store owners that you stole things from?
Horn
No, because guess what?
Suckle
What?
Horn
Money is also a social construct. It’s not real.
Suckle
That all sounds liberating. But still, just because you have become socially aware doesn’t make you free from social constructs of the society you’re in.
Horn
It’s not real. Money isn’t what’s giving people their livelihood. It’s the stuff they buy with their money. They can just take it, they should just take it. Nothing real is keeping them from their livelihood.
Suckle
And now you’re in prison. Is there anything you haven’t explained that you want the public to understand?
Horn
Well, you say “crimes,” but I didn’t commit any crimes because crimes aren’t real. I never agreed not to do the things I did, so why am I being punished? I know what you want to know and I’ll tell you, but I just gotta explain this again because I don’t think you get it. Laws are a social construct, meaning people just made it up. They’re made up. They’re not real. They’re just ideas. Alright?
Suckle
Alright.
Horn
Okay, I took my car and I thought, “Hey, I should drive really fast because that would feel good.” It did. It felt really good and I saw the speed limit signs and I thought about all the sheep who just follow those signs without realizing how meaningless they are. And then I decided that those sheep are just reinforcing the lies so I decided to murder some of them. You know kill them, put them out of their misery.
Suckle
Don’t you see killing as immoral though? Even without laws we still have morals.
Horn
No, why would I? Just because someone told me it was wrong? Just because someone had an idea about it being wrong isn’t a reason for me to feel bad. Morals are also a social construct, so if I desire to hurt someone, it’s in my nature and therefore I see no reason not to.
Suckle
Hmm, I’m not sure I agree with that, but I’m digging your philosophy.
And I really did dig his philosophy. I’ve actually become highly involved with it. Since this initial meeting I have visited Horn time and time again. We have become quite close friends. I don’t think we should kill people, but there is definitely something we can all learn from Horn’s ideas. We don’t have to do things just because we’ve been told it’s true. Think for yourself. Maybe Horn had fascinating ideas and beliefs, but were his conclusions and actions reasonable and acceptable? I think not, but again, it’s up to you. Or is it? These are just words someone made up.
Claire McClusky is a sophomore film, photography and visual art major who has a twelve inch vertical — or so she says. You can email her at [email protected].