Trailer Parks - Real and Virtual
Literally, a Trailer Park is a residential area where individuals can lease space, and can then have a large manufactured home delivered to the lot. Unlike a caravan / camper - which is designed to be towed by a private vehicle for use on holiday / vacation - these mobile homes are really meant to be transported only once, sometimes more often, and are used as permanent dwellings. They can be an economical option for home ownership.
Many residents of trailer parks are hardworking people who take pride in their homes. In some cases, people who own acres of land in the wilderness can affordably place a manufactured home on the site. In these cases, it’s a badge of freedom from the financial and social constraints of living in the mainstream….
Amongst owners of manufactured homes, however, there are some who don’t seem to care much about hygeine, social aesthetics, or basic human dignity. These situations are often ridiculed, from websites to musical theater. Terms such as “trailer trash”, or my personal favorite “Spam-sucking trailer trash” are used in a derogatory manner.
Figuratively? A ‘trailer park’ is more of an approach to life… A close friend who shares my refugee status put it this way: “it’s not an economic status or living locale, but a state of social and emotional sickness”.
In my case, i didn’t grow up in a literal trailer park. It was a nice, working-class suburb in the midwestern United States. But amongst most members of my family, there is a tendency toward a trailer park attitude… and that is why i’m out here…sorting out ‘nurture vs nature’ and all that good stuff.
Some themes common to the Trailer Park mentality? A sense of entitlement. A parasitic addiction to drama. The ability to take any situation and make it worse. Short-sightedness. The abject failure to learn from a mistake. Sociopathic behavior - ‘it’s all about ME!’. Barfights. Bragging about barfights. Shopping (beyond your economic means) as recreation. Reptiles as pets. Lack of independent, critical thinking skills. Something for nothing - ‘it’s not a gift, they OWE me that!’ Pyromania. NASCAR.
And, in my opinion, the pervasive and over-riding ability to make one bad damn decision after another - then expect someone else to deal with the consequences.
January 14, 2008 at 9:56 am
I grew up in the Midwest, in Columbus, Ohio to be exact, during the ’50s & 60s. I was adopted by a couple whose primary concern in life, other than each other, was the accumulation of “window dressing”. Unfortunately for them, I could not be force-fitted into their mold of the perfect child, which as
window dressing I was expected to be. My sister, also adopted, was another story. What kept me from becoming another teenage suicide statistic was my
mother’s parents, Grandma & Grandpa Tobin; two wonderful people of working
class Irish stock that gave me their unconditional love. Columbus, Ohio
was an incredibly depressing place in which to grow up. I left there for
San Francisco when I turned 18.
Your tales of life in the Midwest captivate me. Your observations are
penetrating, unflinching and, best of all, funny as hell. Thanks for sharing
yourself and your personal experience of Life in the Midwest.
Your new fan,
Mark Ellinger
January 14, 2008 at 5:47 pm
Mark - Thank you for sharing your story… here i am electronically self-medicating in the blogosphere, only to find myself humbled and honored by this remarkable community of people who understand and appreciate my words. i will do my best to keep you laughing… God knows, residents of The Park keep throwing materials at me on an hourly basis! i look forward to your comments along the way. Thank you again… your response is almost overwhelming…