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Those around shoegazer George Howard ’14 recently reached a collective consensus that the self-affirmed recluse is not worth getting to know. The shy, quiet student offers no unique perspectives, refuses to maintain eye contact and adds little in the way of critical or incisive thought. Despite his peers’ repeated attempts to bring Howard out of his shell, he remains resolutely tight-lipped, egotistically denying his classmates any opportunity to better know or understand him. His characteristic arms-folded, gaze-averted posture and the anxiety he feels in most every social situation are in fact, sources say, predicated on a great deal of self-absorption, narcissism and navel-fixated solipsism:
“I reached out to George,” said classmate Kim Johnson ’14. “He made me regret that decision. His self-consciousness, his insecurities — like, as if anybody actually paid that much attention to you.”
Howard’s repeated rejection of any and all interpersonal connection or meaningful interaction with anyone other than himself is felt in all aspects of the sophomore’s life. Howard can be found alone at mealtime, class time and bedtime, occasionally going through entire days without speaking to another human being. His oppressively silent presence is known to sink the spirits of whole classrooms, though Howard seemingly does not care.
“I had section once with George,” confessed Roland Hedges ’13. “I wish that I hadn’t. Sometimes just looking at him would ruin an otherwise good day. I mean, that face. So sad. So silent. And if you ask him what’s the matter or how he’s doing he would just sort of stare at you. I mean really stare.”
That same stare can often be found fixed on the floor, Howard’s own hands or the middle distance. Unable to keep his uncomfortable misery to himself, Howard has chosen to flagrantly broadcast it. Weddings, bar mitzvahs and parties are all consistently ruined by the brooding student, and most hosts now know not to invite him, which creates a positive feedback loop of self-reflexive negativity that only makes matters worse.
Howard declined to comment when reached earlier this week.
