Ponyboy had always believed that the Socs were spoiled and cruel, but meeting Cherry Valance at the drive-in makes him start to question his beliefs. They form a fast friendship that night, and are both able to open up and share their thoughts on the two gangs and the conflicts between them. When Ponyboy tells Cherry about the night that the Socs attacked Johnny, she wants to make him understand that not all Socs act that way. She knows that he thinks that all of the Socs have perfect lives, but urges, "We have troubles you've never even heard of. You want to know something?" She looked me straight in the eye. "Things are rough all over." She hopes that he will begin to see that The Socs are people too.
As they are walking home from the movie, they continue their conversation, this time focusing on what makes the Socs and the Greasers so different. Ponyboy offers his thought that maybe it was just money, but Cherry disagrees, saying, "It's not just money. Part of it is, but not all. You greasers have a different set of values. You're more emotional. We're sophisticated--- cool to the point of not feeling anything. Nothing is real with us." What Cherry says is the main difference between the Socs and Greasers is their emotions. The Socs have to bottle up all of their thoughts and emotions in order to fit in and live up to their society's standards. The Greasers, alternatively, throw caution to the wind and let their emotions get them into trouble. Finally, Ponyboy understands, saying, ""That's why we're separated...It's not money, it's feeling--- you don't feel anything and we feel too violently."
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