Do you follow trends?

[Sakurazaki1023]

I rarely follow any trends and when I do, it's usually coincidence.

Examples
-Symphonic and Power Metal have never been mainstream in the US
-I don't use Facebook or Myspace
-I'm a non-obsessive Anime Fan
-I've been eating Pocky well before becoming an Anime fan
-I rarely use my Youtube account (and never for posting personal stuff)
-I have a very twisted sense of humor (in a good way)
-I don't play online multiplayer on my 360
-I don't follow any organized religion
-I don't consider myself Aethist
-I don't associate with any political party or group
-I'm a male college student to can cook well and enjoys it
etc...

Besides, trends are boring. Being an individual is far more exciting and makes life just that extra bit more interesting.

 

[.Warheart]

If the trends aren't ridiculous or way too expensive, and if I like them, I follow, yes.

 

[Kasawd]

I find absolutely nothing wrong with trends. The attempt to belong to an identifiable group to allow yourself a feeling of worth, illusory or otherwise, is something that I think we all, as humans, share. I don't actively follow trends but I know I could easily be lumped in with some, which is cool.

Live how you want, whether it's trendy or not.

 

[Treefingers]

Well... i like stuff that i uhhh... like. Whether it's deemed 'trendy' or not by others makes no difference.

 

[Julianking93]

No. I make it a point to not follow trends.

 

[Nomanslander]

Only if I like it, a trend is like any interest except popular.

And there's nothing more annoying than someone that goes against popularity for the sake of doing so, it's even more annoying than those people that live by it....-_-

 

[Enigmers]

I like to think that I don't. In terms of gaming, for instance, I play what I think is fun, and this tends to be stuff most people haven't heard of (like Torchlight, for instance.)

For clothing, well, I don't try to look like everyone else, I wear what's comfortable and readily available.

 

[Monocle Man]

Final thought: being a "hipster" is one of the ultimate trends, and look at this definition (via Urban Dictionary- don't refute this because it's not a scholarly source; it's true): Hipsters are a subculture of men and women typically in their 20's and 30's that value independent thinking, counter-culture, progressive politics, an appreciation of art and indie-rock, creativity, intelligence, and witty banter.

By God, that fits the persona that many responses to this thread have tried to portray! Such as:

Have you seen the music I listen to?.. I'm definitely not a trend follower

I'm myself and I like it that way

Bah of course not. I set trends.

Seems a bit trendy, no? As though perhaps not being trendy is almost a way to be trendy...

Apologies if any of this seems incomplete or out of order. I jumped around a bit in my argument whenever thoughts cropped up in my head and I may have missed finishing something. And none of it was in any way a shot at anybody who's posted.

Just because there are certain parts similar does not mean it is completely the same.
You are accusing us of being nazis because we, just like nazis, must breathe to stay alive.

Someone who follows a trend is someone who changes his ways to fit in with that trend. If, by chance, your ideals you've been having for years have been shaped into a new trend and you're not doing anything about it, then you're not following it, you just stay the same.

 

[Nigh Invulnerable]

I rarely follow any trends and when I do, it's usually coincidence.

Examples
-Symphonic and Power Metal have never been mainstream in the US
-I don't use Facebook or Myspace
-I'm a non-obsessive Anime Fan
-I've been eating Pocky well before becoming an Anime fan
-I rarely use my Youtube account (and never for posting personal stuff)
-I have a very twisted sense of humor (in a good way)
-I don't play online multiplayer on my 360
-I don't follow any organized religion
-I don't consider myself Aethist
-I don't associate with any political party or group
-I'm a male college student to can cook well and enjoys it
etc...

Besides, trends are boring. Being an individual is far more exciting and makes life just that extra bit more interesting.

Wow, there's a lot of me in your post.

I'd posit that everyone is following some sort of trend at the moment, whether they'll admit it or even realize it or not. For example: Who on here has a current generation system? The latest CoD or Battlefield? Owns an ipod or other MP3 player?

 

[Megacherv]

Everybody follows trends whether they're willing to admit it or not. Do you ever wear blue jeans? Trend. Do you ever wear hooded sweatshirts? Trend. Ever wear a baseball cap? Trend. How do you wear your hair? Bet it follows some trend. Nearly everything is a trend of some kind, even if it's not "trendy" like Hollister clothes or Ray-Bans or something.

Take "goth" for instance. You aren't being unique, different, or unusual. You're following a group trend. Same with the hippy "thing," dressing "hick," "cool," or "geeky." Or any other style.

I think the idea of following a trend is consciously following what's 'hip' at the immediate moment. A trend is essentially 'flavor of the week'. Jeans aren't a trend, because people have been wearing jeans for how many years now?

That's not the definition of a trend though. That's cognitively giving in to peer pressure in terms of clothing, music, etc. A trend is simply a tendency; following a general pattern.

OK, let's stick with the jeans example. I assume you wear jeans when it's too cold to wear shorts, yes?

No, you're right. Technically I was using the term trend as the current style or vogue, which is a legitimate definition of trend, but there are other uses.

But yes, I'll bite. I do wear jeans when it's too cold for shorts, or some sort of pants. May not be jeans.

Thank you. I spent 15 minutes typing this and didn't want to have to lead in with "OK for the sake of arguing with myself." So thank you for humoring me.

Now the question is: why? Comfort? Why not wear a pair of sweats or pajama pants, then? Durability? Coveralls or even heavier pants would probably be a better solution. And if it's really a durability issue, why are there jeans available for purchase that have been purposely weakened (i.e. "distressed")? Some other reason? I'm sure it would be equally as refutable as those others unless that other reason is just that they're popular.

Jeans were popularized by kids in the 50's as just another trend. They were solely work pants before that, specifically used by the US Navy as work pants, factory workers, and coal miners. Much in the way that a "grunge" look would be popular in the 90's, it was popular to dress in the 50's, for lack of a better term, like a coal miner (though it probably helped that in the pre-Vietnam-era the military was much more respected and probably influence the trend as well).

Flash forward to today. Nearly everybody wears jeans at some point. If you work at a blue collar job, they're basically your work uniform. If you work at a white collar job, they're a reward in the form of casual day. If you're super-white collar (think suit and tie every day) then they're weekend wear or something to put on when you get home. But, again, sweats would be just as warm and more comfortable, pajama pants would be more comfortable, coveralls would be more protective, and shorts would allow more room for movement and would be cooler if it was warm.

No, we wear jeans because it's just the thing to do. It's what's expected. It is, for all intents and purposes, a norm of our society. Trends have a tendency to become so over time. Jeans, having been popularized for non-work-wear for around 60 years now have pretty much reached norm status. That does not, however, preclude it from still being a trend. The OP and some others are correct in asserting that if you follow a trend, it's often not conscious. The most important thing to remember is that "trend" is not synonymous with "trying to be cool" or "peer pressure." If that's the argument then the initial argument needs to be restated and it's not as simple a question as it's made to be.

To further feed the argument is branding. This is less avoidable unless you make your own clothing, a largely outdated practice, but by wearing a brand you also give way to a trend. I'm not ashamed to admit I'm practically a poster boy for brands most days. If I'm at work I'm wearing branded dress pants, shirts, socks, and shoes. If I'm off work, it's a pair of Levi's, a Blackhawks hoodie, an Ohio State hat, a pair of Adidas socks, and a pair of Pumas on my feet. It's just the way it goes. All brands, all something of a trend.

So everybody follows trends. It's more a matter of to what degree and for what reasons. Following trends carries a negative connotation of being bad, but it really shouldn't.

Final thought: being a "hipster" is one of the ultimate trends, and look at this definition (via Urban Dictionary- don't refute this because it's not a scholarly source; it's true): Hipsters are a subculture of men and women typically in their 20's and 30's that value independent thinking, counter-culture, progressive politics, an appreciation of art and indie-rock, creativity, intelligence, and witty banter.

By God, that fits the persona that many responses to this thread have tried to portray! Such as:

Have you seen the music I listen to?.. I'm definitely not a trend follower

I'm myself and I like it that way

Bah of course not. I set trends.

Seems a bit trendy, no? As though perhaps not being trendy is almost a way to be trendy...

Apologies if any of this seems incomplete or out of order. I jumped around a bit in my argument whenever thoughts cropped up in my head and I may have missed finishing something. And none of it was in any way a shot at anybody who's posted.

I only wear jeans...is that a trend?

EDIT: Seriously, I could be standing on the surface of the sun, and I'd still wear jeans

 

[Caligulove]

Everyone follows trends in some way.

those most adament about not following are just the ones who will never admit it
Or going through a quasi-revolutionary phase.

 

[ellimist337]

I only wear jeans...is that a trend?

EDIT: Seriously, I could be standing on the surface of the sun, and I'd still wear jeans

I would only comment to say that you're more likely to receive service at a gas station, restaurant, or similar establishment if you wore shoes and a shirt with those jeans and didn't only wear jeans.

Just because there are certain parts similar does not mean it is completely the same.
You are accusing us of being nazis because we, just like nazis, must breathe to stay alive.

Someone who follows a trend is someone who changes his ways to fit in with that trend. If, by chance, your ideals you've been having for years have been shaped into a new trend and you're not doing anything about it, then you're not following it, you just stay the same.

OK, for clarity, I'm calling nobody here a hipster, merely pointing out that in proclaiming your wont and propensity to oppose trends, you conform to another trend. It was for the purposes of making a point about it being impossible not to follow trends because in trying not to follow trends, you follow different trends. For another reference to this, reread my initial post in which I pointed this characteristic out in counter-establishment groups like "goths." I never said you were a goth, yet you share characteristics with them.

Also, breathing is a bad example. It's a necessity, not a trend. If you started goose-stepping, wearing anarchic symbols, or spewing anti-Semitic rhetoric, then you'd be following Nazi trends.

As for your second statement, let's stick with the jeans analogy. By wearing jeans, you're fitting in with a trend (which existed pre-you, unless of course you were growing up before the 1950's, in which case I applaud you for making an effort to keep up with technology and adapt as many your age have not). You don't have to change anything you're doing to be following a trend. Just because you did it before you knew what the word "trend" meant doesn't make it not a trend. It just means your parents bought you jeans when you were little (because, again, it's the norm and you've continued to wear them as you've gotten older.

Imagine for a moment that you appear, suddenly, for the first time in your life at age 20. You're fully grown and can care for yourself, but you know nothing beyond basic survival. You are alone in your "world" and there are no outside parties to influence your decision-making. You have a shack that provides modest shelter, and you need to start surviving and making life better for yourself. You have at your disposal a pair of shorts, a pair of sweats, a pair of coveralls, a pair of tights, and a pair of jeans. Which would you wear? Never the tights; they aren't practical. Shorts sometimes but only when it's hot. When it's cold out or when you sleep? Probably the sweats. Probably the jeans when you needed to work, right? Improving your shelter, farming, building things; what have you. If you needed better protection, you'd wear the coveralls. But for pure comfort and convenience of use, the sweats or the shorts most of the time.

Now let's look at the real you. How often are you farming? Building houses? Other manual labor? Not often, I'd wager, at least for the vast majority of people. But how often do you choose jeans over shorts/sweats/pajama pants? Fairly often. So why? Because it's accepted. It's a norm. It's a trend. That's all I'm saying.

 

[Latinidiot]

I have to. They only sell 'trendy clothes in stores, and I'm not going to go out of my way to not stay up to the trend, that's as stupid as going out of your way to stay up to th trend.

 

[Audioave10]

A trend is OK if its useful. A fad might be another thing entirely. I don't care much for fads.

 

[revolverwolf]

Hilariously, yes. I fit the trend of 'People who don't like trends and hate things that are considered popular, though not solely because of their popularity.'

 

[JokerCrowe]

Well, if I do follow any trend, I guarentee it isn't intentional. I just don't care about any trend in existence, but I also don't care if I follow a trend unintentionally. It's like: My Friends - Wow, cool shirt! When did you get a sense of fashion?
Me: - This shirt is cool?
It's the same thing with music...
so I guess what I'm saying is: I don't follow trends, at least not knowingly, and I probably never will. (follow trends that is)

 

[Kelbear]

We take endless delight in mocking my friend for not following trends.

It's ridiculous to actively follow a trend of not following trends. He likes indie music groups, but if they become successful and show up on MTV or something, he stops liking them. That's the behavior of a tool. Not quite as obnoxious as a guy who likes things because other people like them, but pretty close.

Just don't care what anybody else thinks of what you think. This thread itself is inviting the same mockery.

 

[Deef]

Everything I do is usually based off of getting bored of what I did before. I don't think that counts as following a trend.

 

[Monocle Man]

I only wear jeans...is that a trend?

EDIT: Seriously, I could be standing on the surface of the sun, and I'd still wear jeans

I would only comment to say that you're more likely to receive service at a gas station, restaurant, or similar establishment if you wore shoes and a shirt with those jeans and didn't only wear jeans.

Just because there are certain parts similar does not mean it is completely the same.
You are accusing us of being nazis because we, just like nazis, must breathe to stay alive.

Someone who follows a trend is someone who changes his ways to fit in with that trend. If, by chance, your ideals you've been having for years have been shaped into a new trend and you're not doing anything about it, then you're not following it, you just stay the same.

OK, for clarity, I'm calling nobody here a hipster, merely pointing out that in proclaiming your wont and propensity to oppose trends, you conform to another trend. It was for the purposes of making a point about it being impossible not to follow trends because in trying not to follow trends, you follow different trends. For another reference to this, reread my initial post in which I pointed this characteristic out in counter-establishment groups like "goths." I never said you were a goth, yet you share characteristics with them.

Also, breathing is a bad example. It's a necessity, not a trend. If you started goose-stepping, wearing anarchic symbols, or spewing anti-Semitic rhetoric, then you'd be following Nazi trends.

As for your second statement, let's stick with the jeans analogy. By wearing jeans, you're fitting in with a trend (which existed pre-you, unless of course you were growing up before the 1950's, in which case I applaud you for making an effort to keep up with technology and adapt as many your age have not). You don't have to change anything you're doing to be following a trend. Just because you did it before you knew what the word "trend" meant doesn't make it not a trend. It just means your parents bought you jeans when you were little (because, again, it's the norm and you've continued to wear them as you've gotten older.

Imagine for a moment that you appear, suddenly, for the first time in your life at age 20. You're fully grown and can care for yourself, but you know nothing beyond basic survival. You are alone in your "world" and there are no outside parties to influence your decision-making. You have a shack that provides modest shelter, and you need to start surviving and making life better for yourself. You have at your disposal a pair of shorts, a pair of sweats, a pair of coveralls, a pair of tights, and a pair of jeans. Which would you wear? Never the tights; they aren't practical. Shorts sometimes but only when it's hot. When it's cold out or when you sleep? Probably the sweats. Probably the jeans when you needed to work, right? Improving your shelter, farming, building things; what have you. If you needed better protection, you'd wear the coveralls. But for pure comfort and convenience of use, the sweats or the shorts most of the time.

Now let's look at the real you. How often are you farming? Building houses? Other manual labor? Not often, I'd wager, at least for the vast majority of people. But how often do you choose jeans over shorts/sweats/pajama pants? Fairly often. So why? Because it's accepted. It's a norm. It's a trend. That's all I'm saying.

Amusingly, I live on a farm so I do work there quite often and because of that I don't wear jeans all the time.

Extra question, if you only wear jeans half of the time, are you still following the jeans-trend?

Also, I used breathing as likeness to nazis because it's not something you can choose not to do. You made trends seem as if you cannot choose to not follow them.
You are following the jeans trend the second you wear jeans. You are following the trilby trend the second there's a trilby hat on your head. You are following a trend of not following a trend when you're not following a trend.

There's a difference between "trend" and "following a trend". Just like there's a difference between someone who just owns a car and someone who has car pictures littered throughout his house and drives a polished vintage car.
Just owning a car doesn't make you a car fanatic.

If I own a car just to drive myself to work and to a store I just use it because it is an efficient way of travelling. Whether it's a shiny BMW, roomy Volkswagen or a tiny Smart I don't care as long as it can fulfil its task to transport me to various non-car-related locations.
I would then not be following the "car trend", I just bought a car because I needed that car to function properly in society.

Now if I would have an especially shiny BMW (with the letters "BMW" as noticeable as possible), pricey Mercedes, fortune-costing Rolls-Royce or some wreck I made look pretty through long hours in my garage and I would be going to all sorts of car events while looking forward to new releases of cars I am intentionally being part of some "car trend" because I'm using it for more than just my duties.
As hobby to brag or whatever.

People either buy regular (non-worn) jeans because they have a long lifespan, are relatively sturdy and cheap or they buy those expensive jeans littered with advertisement for their creator because those are the awesome-trousers that everyone says you've got to have.
That's the difference between someone who doesn't follow that trend and one who does.

One side uses it for lack of a better alternative, the other because it has a certain meaning to them they share with others.

Now, to make everything I said above a useless waste of bytes:
The best way to know whether you're following a trend or not is to ask why:
- Is it out of response to someone who did the same: most likely following a trend
- Is it out of own reasoning: most likely not a trend.

 

[ellimist337]

Amusingly, I live on a farm so I do work there quite often and because of that I don't wear jeans all the time.

Extra question, if you only wear jeans half of the time, are you still following the jeans-trend?

Also, I used breathing as likeness to nazis because it's not something you can choose not to do. You made trends seem as if you cannot choose to not follow them.
You are following the jeans trend the second you wear jeans. You are following the trilby trend the second there's a trilby hat on your head. You are following a trend of not following a trend when you're not following a trend.

There's a difference between "trend" and "following a trend". Just like there's a difference between someone who just owns a car and someone who has car pictures littered throughout his house and drives a polished vintage car.
Just owning a car doesn't make you a car fanatic.

If I own a car just to drive myself to work and to a store I just use it because it is an efficient way of travelling. Whether it's a shiny BMW, roomy Volkswagen or a tiny Smart I don't care as long as it can fulfil its task to transport me to various non-car-related locations.
I would then not be following the "car trend", I just bought a car because I needed that car to function properly in society.

Now if I would have an especially shiny BMW (with the letters "BMW" as noticeable as possible), pricey Mercedes, fortune-costing Rolls-Royce or some wreck I made look pretty through long hours in my garage and I would be going to all sorts of car events while looking forward to new releases of cars I am intentionally being part of some "car trend" because I'm using it for more than just my duties.
As hobby to brag or whatever.

People either buy regular (non-worn) jeans because they have a long lifespan, are relatively sturdy and cheap or they buy those expensive jeans littered with advertisement for their creator because those are the awesome-trousers that everyone says you've got to have.
That's the difference between someone who doesn't follow that trend and one who does.

One side uses it for lack of a better alternative, the other because it has a certain meaning to them they share with others.

Now, to make everything I said above a useless waste of bytes:
The best way to know whether you're following a trend or not is to ask why:
- Is it out of response to someone who did the same: most likely following a trend
- Is it out of own reasoning: most likely not a trend.

Here's where we agree. Like my made-up-just-you-all-alone-world, you're wearing the jeans out of necessity and practical use when you wear them on your farm. I suppose we really would have to break the act down more specifically. Wearing jeans because they make sense to work would be a pattern (technically meaning that it's inherently a trend in itself, but that means nearly everything in the world is a trend and that's taking it a bit far), but it's a pattern predicated on practicality. It's the wearing of jeans for non-working purposes that's become a norm as an extension of a trend.

I think your car analogy illustrates this magnificently. I just think in general it's silly to make a statement like "I never conform to trends" because it really is unavoidable to conform to some. You may not be trying to be "trendy," however. Just as you draw a line between trends and following a trend, I'd definitely draw a line between following trends and "being trendy." If you refuse to shop at Aeropostale because you only wear jeans from Express and shirts from Hollister, you've crossed the line into trendy (you get to "hipster" the same way, but with counterculture. Goes back to what I said about the real question being the reasons and extent to which you follow a trend.

On the whole, though, I'd say we've reached a point of understanding and compromise. Well done, sir.