During the cultural revolution of the 1960s, young people were encouraged to “let it all hang out,” and they did as they were told.
For 60 years, they've let it all hang out. They're old now, but they're still doing it, and their children and grandchildren are letting it all hang out, too.
So many people have been letting it all hang out for so long that it's becoming obvious that letting it all hang out may not be a good idea.
There's something to be said for not letting it all hang out. Maybe people shouldn't dress certain ways, act certain ways, or do certain things.
Discretion might not be such a bad thing. Making “value judgments” might be advisable. Maybe keeping your mouth shut and trying not to be noticed is in your best interest, not to mention everyone else's.
Take one small example: falling down.
Falling down used to be something that embarrassed people. The first thing a person would do after falling down, even before getting up, would be to look around – hopefully, anxiously – to try to make sure that no one saw the fall.
Even if the fall occurred due to circumstances beyond one’s control, the person who'd fallen was usually more concerned about looking foolish than being injured.
Not anymore. Now the faller wants everyone to see. He draws attention to himself, even if the fall was his own fault. He's determined to let it all hang out, even to profit from the fall.
Thomas Detienne is suing the owners of the 54th Street Bar & Grill in Edwardsville for injuries he allegedly sustained there more than a year ago when he slipped and fell.
The owners say he fell because he had too much to drink, but Detienne has decided to let it all hang out.