So, on one end of the spectrum, there's people who conform to what the media wants society to be. They dress in what's trendy, listen to what's trendy, etc.
On the other end, there are those who are like, "I HATE conformist. I HATE MTV and VH1! I hate Abercrombie (sp?!)!" Some of these are people who are so against it that they call others posers, teenyboppers, etc. They get mad when people listen to mainstream stuff, but if more people start listening to the lesser known stuff they listen to, they get angry too.
Aren't they basically the same? The only difference to me is that one conforms to pop culture and the other conforms to the group that's anti-pop culture. But either way, they're conforming to something.
What do you think?
2007-11-10 20:27:57 · 5 answers · asked by Genna 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Other - Society & Culture
Everyone has some group or situation in which they conform to expectations. What the elements of the conformity are vary from group to group - whether it's pop or anti-pop, or goth, or Christian, or even just doing things the way your family does instead of the way the neighbors do. It's how we form relationships. The problem arises when conformity is mandatory to the point that people are ostracized or harmed for varying from the common elements of their group.
Perfect example from the news - a lady with cancer lost all of her hair and was attacked in the street because someone assumed she was a skinhead. Assumptions are stupid but they happen, however, you don't have the right to inflict your opinion of what you've assumed on other people. You may not like the way a person dresses or behaves, but you don't have the right to censure their behavior. Then it stops being an opinion and becomes a hate crime.
It would be nice if everyone could just do their own thing and get along, but that takes actual thought. Conformity is a short cut to thinking.
2007-11-10 21:14:29 · answer #1 · answered by Morgaine 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There probably isn't much of a difference between those who conform and those who conform while claiming not to conform.
Eventually they'll grow up and realise that the true non-conformist doesn't care if they are conforming or not but just believes and does what they think is right regardless of how others will think.
2007-11-10 20:56:57 · answer #2 · answered by bestonnet_00 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree. My daughter is a Goth and I tell her that she is conforming to nonconformity.
Everyone wants to be unique and special that's why when someone points out that there are 30 million people just like them they tend to get miffed....it ruins the illusion of individuality.
2007-11-10 20:34:25 · answer #3 · answered by blueink 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I agree.. they're doing the same exact thing, just for different reasons - one group is trying to fit in, and the other one is trying to be "unique". It's madness! I don't understand why people just can't be honest with themselves.. they'd be much happier.
2007-11-10 20:32:21 · answer #4 · answered by Tuesday Smith 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
What if I just told you to shut up? Is that conformity?
2007-11-10 20:32:41 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋