Essay: Understanding the Stick Figure

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i wrote this at the age of 17, nothing has been changed so don't judge my writing skills....

Sometimes, the simple things in life are overlooked. But these things deserve credit despite their lack of glamour or excitement. So let us begin by looking into the life of one underrated simplicity: the stick figure. Everyone has drawn these little people at one point or another. So why do we choose to deny how essential the stick figure really is? It is finally time to explain the importance of stick figures and slowly erase the stereotypes that developed over the years.

Many people think of the stick figure as boring, or unappealing. People who do not consider themselves artistic draw stick figures, thus allowing other individuals to label the sticklike as too common and all together silly. Why must stick figures continue to be unappreciated by the public? What's more is they face humiliation every time their simple angled body shapes are laughed at. Can they help it that they were made perpendicular? Did they choose to like...well...sticks?

If the stick figure is so terribly unsatisfying, then how can we justify letting them help us so much? While the rest of us are in our nice warm beds, the stick figure is working. Who shows us which bathrooms are for men, and which are for women? Who is plastered on road signs reminding us to 'watch for pedestrians'? These are just two examples of the sacrifices that stick figures make all year long.

Since the beginning of time, humans have found a way to persecute those who are different. Stick people have now become the new and easy target. Really, the stick culture as a whole is very misunderstood. Fortunately, one needs only to be taught to understand. For the most part, stick figures have been used as a quick from of art. Sadly to say, all too often they are interpreted wrongly. One common misconception is that stick figures have hair. Unfortunately, somewhere down the line an artist decided to add this feature by drawing cults, pigtails or light brown hair parted to the side with gel. The public just needs to accept that stick figures are bald and proud of it.

Another little known truth is that stick figures don't wear hats, shoes, mittens or anything else. In fact, the female stick person wears a simple triangle as a dress. This style is smart and classy, as well as elegant. Why must our nation continue to draw these people with funny looking ties and bows? It is simply insulting.

Although the sticklike have endured many misgivings for quite some time, one feature has always been right: the face*. Their perfect circular heads have been beautifully enhanced by emotion. Smiley, angry, scared, embarrassed and surprised faces have graced the faces of stick figures for decades. For this reason it's impossible to support the idea that stick figures are over done or too simple. How could something with endless emotional possibility be boring? And why must we continue to sneer at their simple form? If one is bored with the appearance of the stick figure, adding an expression can easily solve the problem. As mentioned before, there are many to choose from.

Many who were ignorant in the way of the sticklike finally understand. It is becoming more and more clear that without these wonderful, flat little people...our world would be entirely too 3 dimensional. So the next time you are playing a game of hang man, remember to do the stick figure some justice and thank he or she for all the time they put into your everyday life (and for goodness sake kill them quickly).

*you may notice that stick figures do not sport a face when on road signs and bathroom doors. This is simply because they are working and do not want to appear unprofessional*