Think back to the last time you were at a red light on Highway 12.
You pull alongside a Ford F-250 in the lane next to you with lifts and the windows tinted out. You can hear it idle from a half mile away because of the sweet Flowmasters he has on the back. There might even be a sticker of that cartoon guy, Calvin, peeing on his rear windshield. You think to yourself, “What a tool.”
He then revs up his engine as the lights at the cross street turn yellow and guns it when the light turns green.
The exhaust lets out a puff of toxic fumes, and the engine roars so loud it could set off car alarms in the surrounding area.
You mumble under your breath, “I hope he gets pulled over.”
He’s not cool or smooth. No, what you have just witnessed was “that guy.”
“That guy” is socially obnoxious and oblivious to the fact he is making a fool out of himself. He just knows everyone he meets thinks he’s cool, and he tries way too hard to get noticed.
You do not want to be “that guy.”
I know many of you reading this know who “that guy” is, and try very hard not to be him. Some of you have been “that guy” only a couple of times and were called out on it by people around you and have since ceased such idiotic behavior.
Then, there are some of you who have no idea what I am talking about. You’ve never seen anyone being obnoxious or acting a fool in public, and you certainly don’t know why the actions in the first paragraph would cause someone to be “that guy.” The reason you don’t understand what I am talking about is because, sadly, you are “that guy.” You will want to pay close attention to the following, and learn from it, so you will never be “that guy” again.
If you have ever been to a public place where guests frequently take pictures, such as a sporting event or the beach, and you make an obscene gesture or ridiculous face in the background of another person’s picture, you are “that guy.”
It’s not funny to inject yourself into a family’s memories, and those around you who have even a sense of social class will not think it is funny or “cool,” but rather very childish and sophomoric. Your friends looking out for you will tell you, “Dude, don’t be ‘that guy.'”
“That guy” can also be defined as a one-upper: Someone who constantly tries to be the center of attention and be better than other guys, especially around girls.
“That guy” can also be found at a bar or party where there is music, dancing all over girls and pissing off the wrong guys.
He’s trying to impress everyone around him and thinks this can be achieved by being the loudest presence in the room. He almost forces you to pay attention, but really, you’re just wishing he would leave.
Do I have your attention now, “that guy”? Do you want to change? Then pay attention. Chill out! The best advice I can give you on how not to be “that guy” is just to relax.
I guarantee you in the same situation where you would scream, “That’s what she said!” some other guy wanting attention will step up and take the mic. So dude, just relax, don’t be “that guy.”
Ben Leiker is a sophomore majoring in biological engineering. He can be contacted at [email protected].