Poll: CONFORMISTS!!!!

[Biosophilogical]

when something works really well and is adopted by the majority of the population...
an artist calls it cliche
and a biologist calls it evolution

I call it unimportant.

What is adopted by the majority of population is meaningless to the individual.

But what is adopted by the majority is not meaningles to the individual as a result. True non-conformity is not being everything but the majority (because even then, you are just conforming to the non-conformists), rather, true non-conformity is being yourself, irrespective (for better or worse) of culturual trends. So someone who is a metro because that is who they are is more of a non-conformist than a goth, because they are not conforming to any group, their genuine interests just happen to coincide. I'm sorry if that's the wrong definition of conformity, but that's how I see it, and how I use it. To me conformity is the active (whether conscious or not) association with a particular group.

 

[zehydra]

I'm anti-fashion so I don't care about what I wear, which ultimately results in myself "conforming". I don't conform out of a desire to conform, I just happen to wear what conformists happen to wear.

Now when it comes to the way a person lives their life (where non-conformism REALLY matters), I can say confidently say that I'm a non-conformist

 

[Deef]

I used to try to follow a big of the stereotype of my group, with the metal shirts, and the belts and all that. Now I just wear whatever makes me go "Ooh! I want that!".

Proud owner of a mass effect hoodie, marvel zombies shirt, and lots of clothes made of merino wool so I can wear them for longer without washing them.

 

[ApeShapeDeity]

What's this about conformity? Where do I sign up?

Seriously though, we all conform to a degree. It's a normal (and often helpful) social interaction technique. It makes people get along more smoothly. I bet you can think of several times you agreed to something because you wanted someone to like you. If you're male you'll do it pretty much constantly to get laid. ;D

Oh yeah and...

'I'm NOT a conformist! Unless you want me to be...'

 

[SkyeNeko]

if someone wants to be totally 'nonconformist' and go out wearing their underpants on their head, rope tied around their body and fish glued to their feet, why not, but a tshirt and jeans look nice, are easy to throw on in the morning, and dont take much thought. it wont get me thrown off the bus, denied entry into a restaurant, or slapped (if i were a guy...). some things we just dont care about so we go with what the mass has proved to work.

EDIT: I am the proud owner of a cat ear hat that i wear quite often (whenever i feel like wearing a hat) and i often wear gothic lolita type getup. to church.

 

[Wintermoot]

no I,m a nerd and there is nothing wrong with conformity, it gives people a feeling of a group

 

[Mittens The Kitten]

when something works really well and is adopted by the majority of the population...
an artist calls it cliche
and a biologist calls it evolution

It takes millions of years for creatures to evolve.
There is a difference between a change in society and evolution in human beigns ( which you were suggesting ).

that's not really what i was suggesting, darwinian evolution and fashion trends really arent the exact same phenomonon and i apologize if i gave you the impression that i thought they were. What i was trying to point out is that practicality and aesthetics often find themselves on opposite sides of this discussion.

 

[flim.geek.chic]

I try not to think of it as Conforming or Rebeling..I Just stay true to who I am. The End.

 

[Soxafloppin]

Why don't you just like what you like, regardless if other people like it or not. Trying not to like something because its popular is just sad as the opposite in my opinion.

 

[Guitarmasterx7]

As far as style? Usually I wear jeans and a T shirt and a hoodie/ jacket if it's cold outside because it's most convenient. I wouldn't wear a tophat or a monocle just because those are two more accessories I'd have to worry about. I'm not going to go out of my way to be conformist or nonconformist because I don't give a fuck either way. As far as attitude, behavior, and outlook? I would say I'm quite nonconformist, just because I'm an eccentric douche who hates pretty much everybody and strives to avoid the boring "American dream" style rut of an existence that everyone else seems to aspire to.

 

[scyrin]

i wear clothes that comfortable and practical, which is why i end up wearing a lot of grey and brown clothing >.<

 

[irani_che]

if you change your appearance in order to not conform as much as possible, are you not just as much a slave to the status quo as the sheeple you mock?

 

[Reaper195]

the metal-head look which is usually a band T-shirt, jeans, usually something with leather and odd accessories like studded belts and wrist bands.

I was a sixteen year old metal head (Hell, still am) and never did any of those. In fact, I usually wore what ever the hell I could find in my draws, which consist of random pants and shirts with no real style sense...

I think that people who need to look like something else to 'not' look like a conformist need to shut the fuck up. Everyone else needs to simply understand the concept of personal oppinion, and also shut the fuck up. UGGH! I hate this discussion, and got sick of the whole 'conformist' bullshit back when I was at bloody school. Can't people simply be who the hell they want to be without being labelled, while others stop being sheep and just do what they want, not what they think others want?

 

[PurplePlatypus]

Conformist, of course but only because I?m human the people around me are human and the people around me are also growing up in a fairly similar environment to me. I also get the things I own from shops so millions of other people probably have that stuff to. Not to say there aren?t some things about me that isn?t too typical. In the end though I don?t give much of a crap, it?s not like I did this deliberately it?s just how things kind of turned out. I ended up enjoying certain things and disliking others and I tend to keep to the things I enjoy.

 

[Jezzascmezza]

I like some stuff that other people like, and I like some stuff that's bizarre.
I just enjoy what I enjoy, and try not to let other people's opinions ruin that.

 

[ldbmikey86]

This video pretty much sums it up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGRIamCE5JU&playnext=1&list=PL1118D2A72CACF063&index=2

Thanks Eugene Mirman, you crazy bastid.

 

[ldbmikey86]

bleh. double post.

 

[VelvetHorror]

The following explains why conformity isn't a bad thing, and it also goes into how our ancestors have GREATLY influenced who we are and how predictable we can be.

Spoiler: Explanation

Caveman A learns how to cut hair.

Tribe then cuts hair short.

Caveman B doesn't want his hair cut, so he keeps his long hair. He becomes noticeably different and alien compared to other members of the tribe. He becomes alienated from the tribe and women of the tribe ignore him because he's viewed as inferior to everyone else. Caveman B dies without producing offspring.

So in short, people want to fit in to the crowd. Wear the same clothes, partake in the same pasttimes, root for the same team, etc. We want to be accepted by our peers because in the past, not being accepted by your peers resulted in you not making babies. Think about it. There was a time when brightly colored short shorts and rollerblading were popular. If you are a girl and see a guy with short shorts and rollerblades nowadays, I doubt you're going to think "Hey, that guy's hip and cool."

But at the same time, there's also a reason why not everyone is the same religion, have the same customs, wear the same clothes, or are organized under one government. While we want to fit in, we also want to be able to stand out a bit. If you and 50 other guys are going after the same girl and all wear the same clothes, root for the same team, drink the same kind of soda, and share a lot of other traits, you are going to have about the same chance of mating with the girl as the 50 other guys. You want to stand out just a bit to make yourself a little more interesting and favorable without sticking out too much to the point that you are fundamentally different from everyone else.

For example, if 65% of a community likes rock music, 30% likes country, and 5% like Polka music; the people who like country will be slightly more unique than than a bulk of the community if all other variables are the same. They won't be too unique since there is still a decent percentage of people who share that interest. However the people who like Polka music are in such minority that if all other variables are the same, they will be viewed as weird and not part of the community.

 

[AVATAR_RAGE]

Yes I am everyone is a conformist. Infect people who do not conform are in fact conforming to not conform. (yeah take that brain)

Basicly I conform to what I want to conform to.

 

[phoenix352]

umm i dress and act how i always have .. the way i wanted and sometimes because my mom made my =/ but all in all i see stuff i like in a store and ill wear it .. i dont need to copy other people to dress ...

i dont dress to be popular so i dont care what people think of how i dress.
this fact was discovered by my friends in high school as i never wore whats popular at the time .