Public Space; Public Opinion

After reading the essay, I immediately thought of all the times I have been judged in public. Not, of course, to the extent to which a black man may have suffered more racial profiling, but profiling of characteristics excluding skin. I believe that public opinion, including things like public folklore, are really what directly correlate with how a person determines feelings about a new individual. Public folklore being stories about how people with long hair are hippies etc,... Now, in a contemporary world, it is really sad how often and easily such judgement is placed upon others. I say it, because I am guilty as well. And yeah, sometimes I guessed correctly, but I would say that most of the time it really ruins any opportunity I had to become close with what was probably a great person.
The streets of big cities, are no so much where I have had problems with other people. I think college is actually, the best example in my life, of people whom relay such negative sentiments about those unlike them. Now, albeit, Miami isn't as bad as its stereotypes make it out to be, there are some rather stereotypical individuals whom fit right in. With the hundreds of other versions of that person. It doesn't make them bad, just homogenous. And mostly this, because of the trait they share. That they do not like or enjoy the presence of those different to them. So, when a kid with long hair, scraggly facial hair, and his hood up walks by, it isn't hard to get some dirty looks. Of course, THOSE individuals are few and far between. The kind who actually look directly at you, and wait for eye contact, so as to make sure they hold a disdain for your existence. Your clothes, your hair, of course these are all relevant to how people feel about you. At first.
I'm only speaking on the pre-introduction standpoint. But, having lived in big cities, and small towns, it is very easy to figure out what bothers people. In high school, my work schedule and showering schedule often conflicted with public schooling schedule. So if I missed a shower before school, I could look pretty rough. Some good greasy and stringy hair. Yet, when you work until 2 a.m. and school starts at 7:30 a.m. I was looking for another half hour of sleep over a shower. But public opinion wasn't concerned with facts, moreso that you looked dirty and must be poor. One of the things I noticed with rando people, was how my presence was taken with just different hair. Until I grew my hair out, I was easily referred to as "white boy" by any person willing to use the term in a demeaning sense. Then, when my hair was long, and I could manage some facial scruff, it really stopped. I looked different, so I was treated differently as well.
Now, in another environment the pattern held true. I get my hair cut and shaved up, so that when I worked in an office, I looked presentable. Well, if I needed to run an errand to a rather questionable part of town, the scorn of someone who showed up in a suit, was very visible. Through eyes you could just feel the burning 'rich white boy' burning into your back. Towards the end of the summer, I hadn't kept up with shaving and hair cuts. So looking more like the area, got those same people to hold doors open for me as I passed through. Just loosen the tie, and lose the razor, and I made friends.