why do most people conform and not be themselves?

Question

i cant say everyone but almost everyone conforms too much to society which is usually not good in the first place. its just that no one these days is an individual they just try to copy everyone else who probably copied off something else. even goths who say they are nonconformasts are conforming to not conformings so they are conforming to something. i myself am an individual and conform to what i like and think is good and right. so what if i listen to classical music and i hate rap (i listen to every type of music but rap), ill wear a shirt with a "wierd" design from 1990, why should people care. now this is my philosophy and tell me if this statement makes sense: people can do what ever they want to do to the point of not hurting or annoying someone else to the point where they cannot do anything about it, in some situations though, people will have to compromise.

Answer 1

there are two simple answers to this question; people are lazy, and there is strength in numbers. Insofar as my argument that people are lazy, the viewpoint of most teenagers, and young adults, whether they like it or not, is that there is no point in taking the effort and risk that is involved in being an individual when existing styles and stereotypes are readily available and emulate-able, i.e. "Jim wore his hat backwards, and Jim sleeps with a hot girl, therefore, if I wear my hat backwards, then I can sleep with a hot girl as well", and so the subject reverses their hat, and whether or not they do in fact achieve desirable intercourse society views the subject as similar to Jim in that the two both wear their hats backwards, and thus other similarities are inferred based on the grounds of the laziness discussed earlier. The second point that set out to make is that conformity is the result of many millions of successful generations that used conformity to its benefit in relation to the expression of such a characteristic in the gene pool, and long enough ago that it is expressed in almost every member of the human race. Following the example earlier, lets assume that females find backwards hats sexually appealing, and use this trait as grounds to selecting a mate, therefore not only does Jim pass on his genes, but our subject also passes on his, and any other subject who happens to be hardwired to emulate the behavior of sexually superior peers. My logic is a bit fuzzy as I haven't slept in a few days, but if you are really seeking the answer to your problem, some reflection on what I have said will lead to a profound understanding of may aspects of sociology.

Answer 2

Maybe most people are being themselves by conforming? Pack acceptance, and then position in the pack's hierarchy, are 2 of the most powerful social forces.

On the other hand, no matter what you do, you are conforming to something, even if the nature of the conforming is that you don't conform with the majority.

Answer 3

Well I have to say I agree with you wholeheartedly. But I think it takes maturity and life experience before a person gets to this way of thinking. Young people just want to be accepted which is understandable. When you get older you really don;t give 2 sh... pennys to what other people think, you are happy with yourself and I definately go along with the statement you make about doing whatever you like as long as you dont hurt anyone else.

Answer 4

Brainwashed from cradle to grave.I've been an independent non-conformist since childhood.So,I'm not sure why so many people are mindless.I do know that if a child isn't taught to question teachers and preachers and general things in life,it takes a trigger-event later to awaken them.Some never have that take place.

Answer 5

how is this not beleiving Kim ILJONG is DiCTator . silly perhaps but i don't. perhaps it is conformist ti say i want south americans to vote in north american elections and same world no citizenship loss when done. agree with you. maybe fresh idea for a while.

Answer 6

the inherent nature of people is conformed from the start; we are all human. lets allow reason to guide us and not the fear of peer pressure .
peace

Answer 7

Short answer:

Because many people have no morals, character, personality or talent and they know it.

Answer 8

it is easier to sacrifice ourselves than to be ouselves