Features

Brandon · #1

With the advent of weblogs and my repeated exposure to poorly written poetry, I’ve become increasingly aware of a new type of high school elitism. It’s hard to spot, but it’s there…a new form of snobbery that disguises itself as anything but.

Poseurs and phonies abound on all points of the popularity spectrum, exercising a lock-step conformity to whatever stereotype they’ve chosen as their “personality.” While the more traditional poseurs attempt to mold themselves into the squeaky-clean image of teenage “prep,” the “non-conformists” do something very similar in principle, but different in the details. In the drive to become non-conformist, these young people have actually conformed!

For example, an unpopular boy decides to make himself as different as possible from those who rejected him. He heads out to Hot Topic one fine day and purchases a spiffy new “punk” wardrobe, complete with camouflage pants, studded leather, and combat boots. He begins listening exclusively to “punk” bands, eschewing any type of opposing music (i.e. rap), not even taking into consideration whether or not he truly hates it. Now take a step back, examine the evidence, and tell me this new persona is a true reflection of non-conformist individuality.

These “non-conforming conformists” are a diverse bunch including “Goths,” “tortured artists,” and “straight-edgers.” They consider themselves brooding, mysterious, intelligent, and deep. In reality, their personas are actually based on a superficial mirroring of other “non-conformists.” It’s no different than what occurs with the shallow twits in the prep/mainstream crowd.

So, with all due respect, my lovely young non-conformists, spare me any more of your condescending rhetoric about how everyone but you is “shallow” and how “no one understands you.” Believe me, I have you completely figured out.

wreckreation · #2

Do you think you are original?
LOL i bet you like the matrix.
Seriously, how do you think hot topic stays in business?
The VAST VAST majority of high schoolers are so insecure they can't help but conform.
Then they grow up and give up on life and quit caring what people think about them.

Brandon · #3

I by no means consider myself completely original because there's always some conformity regardless of how odd you may be.

What I loathe, however, is when these people pass judgment on others, claiming that they are completely original individuals. If you want to go goth, that's fine, just don't call me a shallow twit if I choose not to join you. Fair enough?

FS · #4

Oh, I think there's plenty people who strive to look different from everyone else, either in an attempt to become a "leader" among their peers instead of a "follower", or just out of irrational pubescent rebellion against everything.

Usually you can pick them out because they just don't go far in enough in their different look, probably because they're scared or don't have an original bone in their body. Prime examples from here would be waterwitch and GothNAPrepsbody.

Skulhedface · #5

If you're talking about conformity and using Goth and Waterwitch as examples, I'd assume the group you're referring to, the group they're conforming to, would be the Complete Fucking Idiot crowd.

wreckreation · #6

Quote:

I by no means consider myself completely original

try not original at all. what you are saying is full of shit anyways, you're attempting to appeal to someone just in the fact that you posted this stupid topic on these boards. You're just wanting to "conform" to a different group of pseudo-intellectuals.
PS don't even try to say i am conforming by replying because i only reply when an idiot posts and i do it because i like taking shots when people say stupid shit thinking they are smart. It's not even a matter of conforming versus non-conforming. Thats the hot topic mentality alltogether. It's just a different box you are inside. I am sure you buy into something just as much as they do. The real issue is coming of age and being comfortable with yourself. Style is a reflection of how you want to be seen so when you are comfortable with who you are it just comes together, any plug-in style is either trying to associatewith something you admire because you have yet to find yourself, or (as i sometimes do) dressing to make ideology easy for others to understand. I dress indie rock and girls like it. They would like me anyways, but it cuts through the BS when they can look at me and see that i play the game.

Brandon · #7

In your mad dash to shout me down, I think you missed the point of my rant, Sparky.

I never claimed to be original, a "true" non-conformist, or anything of the sort. I aimed to show that those who label themselves as non-conformist are themselves practicing conformity like the rest of us, and if they tell you differently, they're completely full of shit.

kellychaos · #8

It's called irony, Brandon. No matter how "out of the box" people think that they are, they're bound to jump into yet another differet, albeit smaller, box. Even with all the different cultures, religions, ect people simply will continue to have more in common than not and there's simply "nothing new under the sun". That's why the music, literature, beliefs, ect still have appeal today. I simply resign myself to the fact that although I may have some tastes that are "off the beaten path" in some regards there are some things for which I'll share a common interest with other people and not worry about which is which. The sooner the elitists that you mention realize this and get over themselves, the less stress they'll have in their lives.

Zhukov · #9

Ah, but it is the stress that defines their "box". They are the stress, and wihtout it they are nothing. Their niche is made up of pure angst, and without them the world would lose one more (albeit crappy) culture, and having the option of such a culture, goes a long way to defining who the rest of us are. They stress, therefore they am.

:/

kellychaos · #10

Good point. It seems to be a "box" that's marked in the sand at low tide. Whatever a given society considers as it culture, moral, ect. it is THAT which these people are against. It's like it's a function of time more than anything. The things that these people ARE for are probably things that have been part of pop culture in history. Paraphrase: People who don't know history are doomed to repeat it.

wreckreation · #11

This is the worst fucking thread ever. I don't fucking care what it is about. We should be so lucky to live in a country where we even have computers let alone social cliques to bitch about. I didn't miss the point of any rant, it's just so SOOOOOO fucking common sense that i can't help but disregard it. It's obvious. Yet you still keep on yapping like you are the first person to say it.

kellychaos · #12

I think Brandon's main point is about the condescention more than the fat of the clique division you're discussing. It's fine to maintain your own beliefs (or whatever) but he (I) can do without the "holier than thou" attitude.

wreckreation · #13

Anyone who responds with "good point" to such a BS topic to begin with shouldn't be posting at all. Call it "holier than thou", but the only reason i haven't critiqued your self appealing statements is because i am studying for a test.

kellychaos · #14

Ayone who views anti-socialism as a social clique is pretty pathetic. It's a hateful, spiteful way to view life and is roughly akin to sitting around at the food court making fun of all the "nerds" at the mall. Yeah, that's constructive.

It seems to me that THOSE people are the least appreciative of the advantages and freedoms that our country has to offer and I really don't see how that relates to the conversation anyway.

AChimp · #15

Wreak is just being a non-conforming conformist by attacking the new guy.

kellychaos · #16

Yeah, but the new guy is teflon-coated. He can take it.

Jeanette X · #17

Thats what high schoolers are always like. Hopefully they grow out of it.
I realized all this in high school. Whenever some adult said "Cheer up kid! These are the best years of your life!" I wanted to scream.

wreckreation · #18

I'm not anti-social. I am just negatively social in this case. It's hardly a matter of pick on the new guy, it's me picking on idiots, and there are plenty. In real life i'd do the same fucking thing, so it's not an internet or i-mockery thing either. If you actually see i-mockery as a place to socialize and make friends you are a fucking moron.

Jeanette X · #19

I don't consider being stupid a crime in and of itself. Its when people do not admit that they were being stupid and refuse to correct it that pisses me off.

Grazzt · #20

I have absolutely nothing to say except that I have absoluetly nothing to say.

Brandon · #21

Quote:

I'm not anti-social. I am just negatively social in this case.

Quote:

It's hardly a matter of pick on the new guy, it's me picking on idiots, and there are plenty.

anti-social
adj.

1. Shunning the society of others; not sociable.
2. Hostile to or disruptive of the established social order; marked by or engaging in behavior that violates accepted mores: gangs engaging in vandalism and other antisocial behavior.
3. Antagonistic toward or disrespectful of others; rude.

Gee Wreck, I find it hard to believe that someone soooo much smarter than the rest of us wouldn't know that "anti-social" and "negatively social" are pretty much the exact same fucking thing.

JonSwift · #22

wreckreation · #23

so·cial ( P )
adj.

Living together in communities.
Of or relating to communal living.
Of or relating to human society and its modes of organization: social classes; social problems; a social issue.
Living together in organized groups or similar close aggregates: Ants are social insects.
Involving allies or members of a confederacy.
Of or relating to the upper classes.

Inclined to seek out or enjoy the company of others; sociable.
Spent in or marked by friendly relations or companionship.
Intended for convivial activities.
Of, relating to, or occupied with matters affecting human welfare: social programs.

now you tell me how i am the opposite of any of those. That 3rd definition for anti-social is inferred from the idea that people like people who are nice. Even then your whole post is just bullshit semantics. What's the 2nd quote for also?
You're just a prissy little baby who grins at seeing his own words on THE INTERNET!!!