Is it OK to be different...?

Question

Hello,

People I believe very strongly in not,

Conforming to what the powers that be want...

Can you tell me what you think on the subject?

Do you think is is good to be different or is it bad?

Cheers!!

I set my own standards for who I am, don't understand the people follow like sheeps and "CONFORM" to what is expected that is just SO WRONG!!

Answer 1

This is a question that occupies many young people. It did when I was a kid. To me the answer is it's OK to be who are, so long as you are happy with being that way, and the way you are is something that doesn't hurt others.

Of course you have to be ready for problems if you are really different than the norm. An example, and probably not the one you would think of, is someone who is really really (how do you say) square. They like everything kind of watered down, they don't like popular music, they are uncomfortable around people who are acting out or rebelling. You know, if you think its OK to be different, then you have to believe it's OK for them to be the way they are... it really does cut both ways.

No matter what style a young person chooses, the truth is it will evolve if they remain involved and growing people; if they never change, there's something wrong with the picture. Everyone should evolve; if they don't there's some kind of fear or repression in the picture.

If you feel you are different, and like being that way --that's OK. Be kind enough to accept others' differences, and always stay open to the idea that you can grow and change.

Good question...

Answer 2

There is nothing wrong with marching to the tune of a different drummer as long as one keeps with the beat. In other words, it is never wrong to want to be different or unique but if one veers to far from the norm there may be unanticipated consequences. For instance, in my day (years ago) every guy wanted to have long hair. Believe me, at that time it was the basic equivalent to today's body piercings, tattoos, etc. Problem was that many of these young men then wanted to walk in to professional careers and couldn't understand why no one would even look at their resumes. Reason: they simply didn't conform to the image the company wanted to make. That sounds very simplistic but I think you get my point. Of course you could say that what you do on your personal time is your own business. Not always so, my friends. Do you realize that many employers have moral clauses that if not met can result in automatic dismissal. So I guess my response would be that its up to the individual and what is important to them as to just how far they want to go and what possible negative consequences they are willing to accept to satisfy their desire to be different.

Answer 3

All human progress, if we can call it that, depends on at least some people being different, stepping out of the rut of conformity, and saying why not.

Obviously, if you have a hold on power (or wealth or knowledge), you want to keep it, and the best way to keep it is to make sure everything stays the same (or that your power increases), and people continue the "same" old behavior. For if anyone tries to be different, the whole thing might unravel. This is one reason rich people are conservatives--they want to conserve their wealth, and the way to do that is to conserve the current situation, the status quo, if you can't improve it.

The wealth of America was built not only by stealing resources from others, but by being innovative, creating new products that didn't exist before you came along and getting others to want to buy and use those products. The entire technical cicilization we now have is built on innovation. Innovation means creatng new products different from those that exist. You don't innovate if you think and behave the same way as everyone else. You innovate only if you are different.

That said, do I think being different is good or bad? Well, from the point of view of those in power, difference is not good as it may lead to disorder. If you are different, you may be ridiculed (this is one way that people try to keep other people "in line") and criticized for being different. But if you think about it, nothing in life is the same, everything is unique, different. If you try to be the same as everyone else, you are trying to do what is unnatural. If you live your difference, you are being natural. Is natural good or bad? Is being unnatural good or bad? It all depends on your point of view.

I think difference is good, but as I said, other people may think it is bad. You have to make your own decision about this.

Answer 4

life is pointless if ur just doing as they tell u. u can't just follow the rules & the foot steps and never make a mark on the world. u ever notice that the well-behaved never make history. without rebellion, nothing ever changes. stuck in an everlasting redundancy. be a minority. down with conforming ur life to match a trend. never try to be someone ur not. its a load of pointless stress. ever notice how fu*ked up the trendy people are.
shamefully, looking back, i see i was one of these people a long time ago. i had a (now X)-best friend going the preppy way & i tried to follow her. it fu*ked me up pretty bad for a while. I realised that i couldn't keep conforming to fit her liking. i basically wound up on the complete opposite end of the spectrom as her when i started to be myself. i am so d@mn glad i didn't turn out like that b!tch

Answer 5

Everyone is different. You dont need pink hair and chaps to be different.

No one completely conforms to "what the power wants". When you speak about a "power" whether you mean government or whatever other large all-seeing power (God, etc.), everyone resists in their own way. It doesnt have to be by throwing a huge protest, it can be just not filling out a blank in a form because they do not want to disclose whatever information. It can be jaywalking.

Different is great because everyone is that way, in that sense then essentially, we are all alike as a result of our differences.

Answer 6

I think it's good to question authority and things that you do not agree with. Not necessarily being different just to be different, but to have a logical reason for it. Conforming to what others believe or just doing what your parents did or friends do is not thinking for yourself.

Answer 7

List of "Non-Conformists" or People Who Were "Different".

Charles Manson was different---that's bad
Jeffrey Dalmer was different --- that's bad
Jesus Christ was different---that's good
Martin Luther King was different---that's good
Abbey Hoffman was different----That was Good and Bad

So, to answer your question as accurately as possible with what little information I have available, being different can be good and it can be bad. As in life, our decisions to make our differences benefit others is good. Our decisions to make our differences cause pain or injustice to others is bad.

I'm different than most other women I know, but I'm not unique. As long as you stay true to God, to the guidelines of the Bible, and listen to your "conscience," which is actually the Holy Spirit, then I believe you will have the desire to make your differences work toward good ends.

Answer 8

If different is other than the norm,as in if normal is the average and you look at how f--ked up the average person is, yes being different is good. You also get the bone us of being punished for not conforming. Makes you proud. Remember you could be one of "them".

Answer 9

yeah its good to be different, everyone goes against the grain in their own way. You should go against the powers that be, it will make the world a better place...no1 wants to be associated with the powers that be anymore so in a roundabout way conforming to the powers that be want is being different so my advice is this...do what You want, do whats in YOUR nature, do what YOU think is right and do what makes YOU happy...then you will be truely different.

Answer 10

As long as you don't talk about how special and great you are because you re sooo different, when you are actually a freak complaining about how closed intolerant and mean society is.. then its OK..
but everyone is different no matter what you want (and not just biologically )

I've just had it with the "I'm different" depressed freaks... sorry, I had one over for the weekend, but this one was a "super wonder freak" because she can " cope with our mean society even if she's away from her family" please!!! she was the one who decided to leave them. And what about your effect on my peace of mind??? silly girl..