Conformity?

[Aviator]

I think it's important for everyone to conform to some degree. Face it, if we had radicallists around every corner, society would not function. We all need to be the same, on one level or another, so that we can relate to one another and fit in. Back when we lived in tribes, or small towns, it was important to fit in, or otherwise be outcast. Nobody wanted someone so completely different from themself living next door and would push for the wierdo to be outcast. And to be outcast at that time was to almost certainly die, unless you found another tribe to live with.

So, in our past, it was important.

I think it was proved by some psychologist that people don't WANT to stand out... very much. Nobody wants to be singled out, called out, whatever-ed out of the group. Think about it - when the teacher poses a question to the entire class, and nobody says anything in the first few miliseconds, chances are, nobody will say anything for quite a while, because they don't want to stand out. In a few cases, someone will look to rise above and beyond, or stand out way to the side just to prove a point or change something, but, notice how it doesn't happen very often.

However, now that we live in a society where you won't necessarily die if you don't fit in, people are now, more than ever, sharing their ideas, and trying to break away from the group. By dressing differently, having different ideas and finding reward in actually being different, because god knows that you'll blend in and be forgotten if your not, you may find that you actually get farther in todays world. Not to say that anyone should be a wierdo, but, the world is looking for people who make a difference.

Standing out in a good way is the way to go to get ahead and be remembered.

However, I have to agree, people who call themselves non-conformists are just people pretending to stand out. To really stand out, other people have to call YOU a non-conformist, and they'll hardly really ever use that word. They'll use, wierdo. Or, over-achiever, or something percieved as negative. Which isn't very cool. But, hey, it's the wierdo who will change the world.

Or try, anyway.