Whenever I pass Bebek, wether on foot or on bus, I have the same kind of thoughts: How ugly are these people? How did they ruin this actually beautiful neighbourhood to this accumulation of giant cars, tiny dogs and smooth plastic faces. For about 200 meters, the street here is nothing but one ugly Instagram filter. Of course, you need your SUV to drive from your underground car park to your 9 to 5 office job and most importantly, to block the whole street in front of your favourite overpriced café. Of course you have to take selfies while buying the best cereal for your purebred teeny tiny doglike thingy, you’re dragging behind you. But don’t smile too long, otherwise your new face will get wrinkles. To see and to be seen. Nothing else is this circus about. Does this really make you happy? To get approval for your new watch, for your your new salary, for your new hair?
Wait, approval, there was something about that. Right, my life is about nothing else but searching for approval as well. The only difference is, I’m searching for approval for other things and from other people. I live in another approval-bubble. I’m searching for approval for my oh-so-clever thoughts, my oh-so-liberal political attitude. For my oh-so-understatement fashion. For not having a car. For not caring about watches, cars and noses. Approval for this blog article here. So, who am I, that I’m judging these people? How does having a natural nose instead of a nose-job make me a better person? How is not owning a car better than owning a huge car? Why do I judge other people for approval-seeking? Because it’s easier to point my finger at other people than to face my own graving for approval. Distraction, nothing else it is. In the end we all are lonely creatures, desperate to be seen. We all are living in our own Bebek.
Next week coming: Thoughts while passing Arnavutköy :D