"The reasonable man adapts himself to the world: the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man."
George Bernard Shaw

I don't try at all. I am who I am. Love me or not. It's not my business what you think of me.

I've given up almost entirely.

Knowingly or unknowingly?

As a woman, I think our gender was raised that way back in the 50's, then add in the effect of Christianity. UGH! It took me a lot of years to accept who I am and be comfortable in my own skin. I don't try anymore because I'm fine with who and what I am

While I love Leunig's work. I think that being acceptable is such a relative term. I'm minded of the old saying 'one person's trash is another person's treasure'.

I think it's about whether you define yourself through external sources or not. IMHO, if you do, there is something missing inside you. Once you become whole inside yourself, all of that concern over others disappears.

Now, about the cartoon, some of the things people do to be acceptable or attractive are good things. For instance, I walk my dogs and sometimes jog, not because I'm looking to be attractive to someone, but because it benefits me. It makes my organs healthier, and mentally it's a calming experience for me. It helps with my PTSD.

But I couldn't care less (yes, that's how you say that) about the perception of others. It's my time on this earth, so if you don't like it, get out of my way and don't waste my precious time.

On the flip side, I don't actively try to offend people. At work, I watch my language, etc. But when they ask me what I'm doing for Easter, I don't hesitate to tell them that I don't celebrate that holiday. If they're offended, that's their problem.

I try to be kind, but discovered as a child that no matter how hard you try, someone is going to be pissy about it. So now, I still try to be kind, but the only approval I seek is from myself.

I generally stick to the laws of the land: can't play fairer than that.

I don't waste any time with it. There will always be nay sayers who will talk behind your back which is where they belong. Be yourself because everyone else is taken and remind them to take a long deep look into the mirror before they want to make any remarks.

Not something I'm too concerned with.

All bullshit.

I will only be acceptable to those that accept me for who I am. I have always been my own person and am not afraid to be shunned by others-in fact I almost wear it as a badge at this date

I truly do not care whether I'm "accepted" or not. I made my peace with being completely unacceptable a long time ago.
Besides, most of the people who have found me unacceptable were/are, in fact, utter assholes.
Who wants acceptance from them?

I am who I am . Like me or not, I'm at an age I don't give a sht.

I searched my backpack thoroughly and found zero fucks with which to give.

Never fitted in and never will stopped caring what others thought years ago , I don't try to be offensive so meh

To be acceptable to me? As hard as I need to. I live with me. I can't get away from me. If I'm not pleased with me I need to try harder to fix why. Everyone else can take a flying leap. I don't want to rock the boat. I don't care for confrontation but don't go out of my way to avoid it either. If I manage to screw something up, and I've had my fair share of doing just that, I do what I can to fix it. That's all any reasonable person can ask of me. I'm not looking for specific approval or disapproval from anyone else. But I cannot escape me.

I don't try to be acceptable, but I do try to blend in while I do my own thing, so I won't be bothered.
This works well in Thailand, where people mind their own business and if I act weird, they chalk it up to my being a foreigner..

Not at all really. I'm a human being. That's enough for any practicing human being

Not in the slightest.

I don't try. I am already acceptable to the people who matter to me!

Sadly not hard enough. I tend to polarise opinion.

I love Leunig's work. I think it's supposed to be a joke about society, rather than a personal instruction. He's countering the pressure to conform. I don't try very hard.