There is a certain evolution we all go through. Now, although there are those that don't fit into this, they are the exception, not the rule. Also, I’d like to say that every stage on this list is created equal. From stage one, all the way to stage five, each step represents a true to the bone JUGGALO! PERIOD! No one is better because they’re in stage 5, and no one is less of a ninja for being in stage 3. We’re all part of the same insane, creative, intelligent, psycho, serial killing, murderous, forward thinking family. I love each and every Juggalo regardless of stage, age or era. That being said, on with the list.
Stage One- Pre Birth: This is before you even know who I.C.P is. You know you're different, that you don't belong in "normal" society. You see the world differently than most and don't really know where your view fits in.
Stage Two- The Awakening: You get introduced to I.C.P. Maybe a friend introduces you, or you hear one of their songs, or see someone sporting a shirt and think "I wonder what that's all about." No matter how it happens, nothing is ever the same. You start to delve into the magic that is the Dark Carnival and start to find that place where your view belongs.
Stage Three- Clown Boy: This is the stage that I get the most resistance to. Nobody likes to think of themselves as a clown boy (or fanboy, or hound dog...take your pick), but we've ALL been there. This is where I.C.P. and Psychopathic are the WORLD to you. You want all the merch, memorize all the songs, and follow blindly the lead of Joe, Joey and the Psychopathic machine. The most common symptoms of being in this stage are: calling ANYONE a Juggahoe, starting "FUCK EMINEM" chants before shows, dissing anyone for not having as much merch as you or not knowing every lyric to every song on every album, participating in Ray Day, believing everything that J says, wearing a Zug Izland shirt before the band even records a song, and generally defending everything they do, even when they are obviously wrong. Some are more obvious in this stage than others, but believe me, you too (will be/are/have once been) at this stage. Sorry. That's just the way it is.
Stage Four- Disillusionment: This is where you start seeing cracks in the perfect structure that is the Juggalo World. It happens different for all of us, but something plants a seed of doubt in the world you've emersed yourself in. Maybe you meet J and he's a dick, or you run into a ninja that treats you like shit, or you think track "17" on Shangri-La is crap, or you start to see that Psychopathic Records is no different then other record companies, in that their main goal is to make money. You start doubting the "Family" and all the bullshit that comes with it. This is the hardest stage to get through. All the faith you put into this thing starts to crumble, and you begin to feel lost once again.
Stage Five- Realization: The last stage. This is where you finally figure it out. That being a Juggalo isn't about the merch or knowing what kind of pudding Shaggy likes or hating/liking things just cause I.C.P. says so. It's about being YOU. About seeing the world differently from "normal" society and not giving a fuck where your view fits in. It's about being your own person and not letting anyone tell you how you should be or act or dress. It's about a community of ninjas that have had similar experiences and feelings as you and having a connection w/ them....even if we don't always get along or agree.
