3 ms·

The importance of non-conformity is basically zero. If you enjoy something, does it matter how many or how few feel the same? Sure, it's nice when you have sh

The importance of non-conformity is basically zero. If you enjoy something, does it matter how many or how few feel the same? Sure, it's nice when you have shared interests with others, but it's doesn't matter if they're not. Your interests do not have to define who you are, do not have to define how you interact with others. Preconceived notions of worth based on popularity will only cloud your view of what's enjoyable to you.

snitko 11y ago
Non conformity is not something you choose as a tool (if you're a thinking adult of course). It's a consequence of your beliefs and reasoning, which you will not give up no matter the benefits.
- ZenoArrow 11y ago
  No, it's a label, and a useless one at that. Everyone is likely to have a mix of niche and mainstream interests, when they stop concerning themselves with fitting into a narrow vision of who they are. Can you still be a non-conformist if you have similar interests to the mainstream?
  - dragonwriter 11y ago
    A person who isn't concerned with confirming isn't s noon-conformist, someone who is actively concerned with not conforming is. You can be a non-conformist and have mainstream interests, but just as a conformist will neglect non-mainstream interests for the sake of conformity, a non-conformist will do the reverse. Now people will get labeled by others as conformist or non-conformist based on outward signs, and this will often be overly inclusive since someone who is neutral to conformity cannot, in some cases, easily be distinguished outwardly from a conformist, if their interests are mainstream, or a non-conformist, if they are not.
    - ZenoArrow 11y ago
      When people attach the label of non-conformist to themselves, what must they do to maintain that label? To me, most labels we attach to ourselves requires a certain level of maintenance. If I call myself a geek I have attached that label to certain interests I have, if those interests change does the label lose its meaning? What I'm really saying is that a self-identified non-conformist has influenced their tastes in the future, whether they admit it or not. If that label is applied by others then it need not have the same effect.
coldtea 11y ago
>If you enjoy something, does it matter how many or how few feel the same? It can be a sign of how original your thoughts are and whether you were just conditioned to enjoy that something, plus whether there's a huge universe of other things there (even more enjoyful and/or benefitional) that you were not told about as you just go with the flow of other people/fashion/etc.
- ZenoArrow 11y ago
  "It can be a sign of how original your thoughts are" I'm not trying to be intentionally difficult, but what does it matter how original an idea is, why measure it in that way? Is the idea satisfying, that's more interesting.
  - coldtea 11y ago
    Original as in "yours", not as in "unique". And it's important if you believe that living your life as a non-questioning-anything person that automatically follows what everybody else does and doesn't explore other avenues is not the optimal way to live it. If you don't believe that, then it doesn't matter how original an idea is. Heck, in that case, as long as you're OK with it, then doesn't even matter if you're living in some religious sect, conditioned by some BS-artist leader to do whatever he wants. Originallity is something for us people who believe that finding the "real you" etc is worth it to worry about. If this sounds circular it's because it is. Ultimately lifestyle choices come to a value judgement not dependent upon other things.
    - ZenoArrow 11y ago
      "Originallity is something for us people who believe that finding the "real you" etc is worth it to worry about." Worth worrying about? Nothing is worth worrying about. I think we both agree that it's good to have an open mind, but we disagree on the importance of originality. I don't care if an idea is mine or yours or anyone else's, I don't care if it's the first time anyone has thought about it or whether it has been thought of a million times before, the only question for me is is the idea satisfying, is it an idea I enjoy. There's a difference between a compelling idea and the source of that idea. If I've come up with compelling ideas before I don't see that as 'me' or part of me. Genius can come from anywhere and from anyone, it's not a measure of your worth as a human being. The best you can do to encourage it is to be open to it, to prepare yourself for ideas that are new to you.

snitko 11y ago

Non conformity is not something you choose as a tool (if you're a thinking adult of course). It's a consequence of your beliefs and reasoning, which you will not give up no matter the benefits.

ZenoArrow 11y ago
No, it's a label, and a useless one at that. Everyone is likely to have a mix of niche and mainstream interests, when they stop concerning themselves with fitting into a narrow vision of who they are. Can you still be a non-conformist if you have similar interests to the mainstream?
- dragonwriter 11y ago
  A person who isn't concerned with confirming isn't s noon-conformist, someone who is actively concerned with not conforming is. You can be a non-conformist and have mainstream interests, but just as a conformist will neglect non-mainstream interests for the sake of conformity, a non-conformist will do the reverse. Now people will get labeled by others as conformist or non-conformist based on outward signs, and this will often be overly inclusive since someone who is neutral to conformity cannot, in some cases, easily be distinguished outwardly from a conformist, if their interests are mainstream, or a non-conformist, if they are not.
  - ZenoArrow 11y ago
    When people attach the label of non-conformist to themselves, what must they do to maintain that label? To me, most labels we attach to ourselves requires a certain level of maintenance. If I call myself a geek I have attached that label to certain interests I have, if those interests change does the label lose its meaning? What I'm really saying is that a self-identified non-conformist has influenced their tastes in the future, whether they admit it or not. If that label is applied by others then it need not have the same effect.

coldtea 11y ago

>If you enjoy something, does it matter how many or how few feel the same? It can be a sign of how original your thoughts are and whether you were just conditioned to enjoy that something, plus whether there's a huge universe of other things there (even more enjoyful and/or benefitional) that you were not told about as you just go with the flow of other people/fashion/etc.

ZenoArrow 11y ago
"It can be a sign of how original your thoughts are" I'm not trying to be intentionally difficult, but what does it matter how original an idea is, why measure it in that way? Is the idea satisfying, that's more interesting.
- coldtea 11y ago
  Original as in "yours", not as in "unique". And it's important if you believe that living your life as a non-questioning-anything person that automatically follows what everybody else does and doesn't explore other avenues is not the optimal way to live it. If you don't believe that, then it doesn't matter how original an idea is. Heck, in that case, as long as you're OK with it, then doesn't even matter if you're living in some religious sect, conditioned by some BS-artist leader to do whatever he wants. Originallity is something for us people who believe that finding the "real you" etc is worth it to worry about. If this sounds circular it's because it is. Ultimately lifestyle choices come to a value judgement not dependent upon other things.
  - ZenoArrow 11y ago
    "Originallity is something for us people who believe that finding the "real you" etc is worth it to worry about." Worth worrying about? Nothing is worth worrying about. I think we both agree that it's good to have an open mind, but we disagree on the importance of originality. I don't care if an idea is mine or yours or anyone else's, I don't care if it's the first time anyone has thought about it or whether it has been thought of a million times before, the only question for me is is the idea satisfying, is it an idea I enjoy. There's a difference between a compelling idea and the source of that idea. If I've come up with compelling ideas before I don't see that as 'me' or part of me. Genius can come from anywhere and from anyone, it's not a measure of your worth as a human being. The best you can do to encourage it is to be open to it, to prepare yourself for ideas that are new to you.