Conformity within our society

[Mitch]

[color=red] Ok, first, before I get rolling on this topic, I'd like to give a definition of what conformity [i]is[/i]. Conformity is correspondence in form, manner, or character. This basically means going along with something.

Now, a while back in school, as we were reading [i]Fahrenheit 451[/i], we discussed this in English class. I thought it would be a good topic here so I brought it here. My basic question is do you believe Conformity is within our society even today? But you can expand upon it if you want.

Of course I think so. It can be seen in small instances: wearing blue jeans, wearing a certain brand of clothing and so forth. It can also be seen in bigger instances, such as making a decision based on someone else's input, acting in a certain way because of the way your friends are acting. This one I see much in particular. People act like something that they are not in an attempt to get attention and be noticed by others. So what are your thoughts?[/color]

[Justin]

I think it's a waste of time to worry about either side of this issue too much. Whether you're totally against conformity, or totally worried about 'fitting in' I think you're wasting your time; but of course it's still here.

But I personally have a problem with the way the world is, anyway. Things that people are focused on and stuff, that is. I don't expect the world will ever change, though.

-Justin

[wrist cutter]

Yeah, conformity is everywhere... no one will ever be a complete 'non-conformist'.

I have more of a problem with people who consciously go against conformity than those who consciously go along with it.

[PiroMunkie]

[color=indigo]No one can ever be a complete "non-conformist" because by being that way, they conform themselves to be like that... It's the irony in it all.[/color]

[Lady Macaiodh]

[COLOR=darkblue]this is one of those touchy subjects for me, one which i won't discuss b/c you will not be able to shut me up.

i did, however, write an essay about this a few years ago for english class. it's pretty in depth, though, so i will only post it if there are requests. people probably don't want to know that much about me, anyway... (even though the reading of it did make people cry, lol).[/COLOR]

[Mitch]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Lady Macaiodh [/i]
[B][COLOR=darkblue]this is one of those touchy subjects for me, one which i won't discuss b/c you will not be able to shut me up.

i did, however, write an essay about this a few years ago for english class. it's pretty in depth, though, so i will only post it if there are requests. people probably don't want to know that much about me, anyway... (even though the reading of it did make people cry, lol).[/COLOR] [/B][/QUOTE]

[color=red] Sure, I'd like to see it. If it made someone cry, it must state your opinion on this subject powerfully.[/color]

[Pastbyer]

[color=indigo]Conformity huh? I'd say that it's definitely alive and well today.

I'm one of those people who don't really mind about 'fitting-in' or 'standing out'. I just be myself. And if there happens to be someone like me (which I really doubt) or me being like someone then so be it. I don't care.

To Lady Macaiodh, show us the essay, please? It must be good if it made people cry (which I can't do).[/color]:whoops:

[James]

[color=royalblue]PiroMunkie's comment was exactly right. People who are "non-conformist" are usually only fitting into the non-conformist mould. lol

At the end of the day, people just have to be what they feel comfortable with.

Some people feel comfortable wearing certain clothes, or having a certain hairstyle...or speaking a certain way. And really, it's their choice. The only time I dislike conformity is when people get involved against their will (or they are pressured into it by friends).

But if people want to choose to conform or non-conform...who cares? It's not going to affect me personally in any way.[/color]

[PiroMunkie]

[color=indigo]Also well-spoken there, James. :whoops:

And LM, I am also interested in that essay of yours. :)[/color]

[Lady Macaiodh]

[COLOR=darkblue]okay, here it is...

this is in text form, so there are some grammatical errors, like the thoughts i italicized. you should be able to read it, though.

plus:
1) it's pretty long.
2) i was rather melodramatic at this time.
3) i was listening to nothing but the misfits & metallica at this time (4 years ago), so it's also morbid.

thanks to noryko for linking it. ;)[/COLOR] [URL]http://www.geocities.com/wackyman_81/DeborahsEssay2[/URL]

[Pastbyer]

[color=indigo]Round of applause for Lady M!

That was one of the most inspirational things I've read since... I can't remember. It must be all the books you read. That and on hand experience.

I could discuss the essay but I'll just write another one discussing it if I start. (?!) So, yeah. Someday you'll be a rich writer - if you work at it enough.

P.S. I'm an outcast too (like that's a surprise). :cross: And I happen to be proud of it.[/color] :excited:

[Mitch]

[color=red] Woh, LM, that completly [i]blew[/i] me away. It's one of the best things I've read ever. You should really write more...that was so powerful, so emotionally powered. That was really, really good. Man, I can't explain to you how much I emphasize with you...I also read Carrie to....[/color]

[Charles]

Nonconformity is so passe, lol.

Most people who try to stand out, end up being swallowed into another group who dress or act similarly.

In society, we are all manufactured, programmed, and packaged to act a certain way and fit in with society. In the end, it all comes down to your society's ideology.

For instance, if I asked how many of you have had sex with a goat, you would probably cringe at the question and feverishly deny it.

[I]But[/I] if I asked an ancient civilization, such as the Hittites, if they ever had sex with a goat, they would proudly proclaim that they had. In such a society, there was a list explaining which animals were sexy enough to have sex with.

So, we are basically all conformists. We do what we're told and we're happy with that. If people stand out in a big way, they're usually made fun of or put down.

After all, how would everyone here react to someone who has sex with goats?

My point exactly, lol. :toothy:

[PiroMunkie]

[color=indigo]:jaw drops: Lady M. ... I must say I thoroughly enjoyed that essay. In fact, I'm going to save that. The last time I read something so moving, so relative, so in-depth was when I read [i]The Perks of Being a Wallflower[/i] by Stephen Chbosky.

I feel really good after reading that. Very fresh. Like one might be after an unveiling of something beautiful. The fact that I'm listening to Beethoven's Fifth amplified the drama.

Thank you ever so much for posting that. :)[/color]

[Mnemolth]

The world today is dominated by Western culture, and the leader of the Western world is America. But it was not always so, and need not always be so.

Having arrived at this place, we have a tendency to think it was inevitable. There is a strong notion of cultural, political and religious determinism. A society that respects individuals is more 'civilised', one that separates the functions of the state and church is more 'mature' and so on.

Although these values have spread across the globe, they are essentially Western concepts and ideas. Thomas Jefferson put it best in the Declaration of Independence when he wrote that every person had a right to 'life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness'. But this is not how societies in the past have seen things, nor is this the view of ALL societies today.

In some societies, there is a stronger focus on the importance of community and on the idea of the extended family. Individuality is acknowledged but it is not pampered like some favored child.

I think sometimes we forget this in our unstoppable worship of individualism. It is all too easy to sacrifice what is good and right on the altar of what is easier and simpler. The notion of freedom is drilled into us from the day we are born, and we are reminded of it at every turn.

However, freedom brings with it responsibilities. And yet these responsibilities are not so well recognised or accepted, and certainly they are not the objects of worship.

Having been brought up in a Western society, I agree that freedom is paramount. But I also think that freedom exists within a context, outside of context it is meaningless. One has to remember that it is often the case that one person's freedom is another's prison. If you are free to do what you like, and hit me, then I'm not free from physical harm.

And it is not enough to simply say that you are allowed to do anything you want as long as you don't cause harm to anyone. Because then, the inevitable question is, how do we define 'harm'?. If you believe in the right to own and watch pornography, and if I'm offended by it, do you 'harm' me by having the right to see it? Of course I don't have to watch it but the fact is its out there, and the mere knowledge of this offends me. Am I too sensitive? Or are you too aggressive with your liberties.

And then of course, we also have to consider 'harm' to the society. Who is to decide this and why?

What has any of this got to do with conformity?? Well, conformity or lack thereof are concepts that flow from the spring of individualism. It is only when you emphasize individual rights that you speak of conformity or otherwise.

Conformity is a pejorative word. That is to say, the word itself carries with it a negative connotation. It is not neutral.

When you bring individualism within the context of civic duties and family responsibilities, then you may think differently about individual rights.

In schools everywhere, and in colleges and universities, teachers often encourage students to 'think for themsleves', they encourage the expression of opinions without equally encouraging 'learning'. Expressing your views is all well and good, but if those views are ill-informed, utterly ignorant or lack any real critical analysis, then what really is the point? Not only are you wasting your breath or other people's time, but even worse you are likely to continue the spread of misinformation, and along with it prejudices and bigotry.

It seems to me there are far more people out there with opinions than there are those with ideas, there are more people out there who have a position on a subject than those who have any idea about the subject matter. It seems to me teachers and lecturers should stop encouraging students to speak their mind and concentrate more on feeding that mind. I don't see any pressing need for people to be encouraged to express themselves. Most people seem hell bent on venting their opinions regardless. What I see a need for is informed opinion, and to get that you must first actually be informed! Listen before you speak. Understand before you preach.

Conformity is often misunderstood. There is nothing wrong with trying to be accepted. I've said as much in the Internet popularity thread. Human beings are social animals, we have a need for social interactions.

If you look at a business man in his three-piece suit and you cast him as a conformist, then what are you with your gothic black hair and those body and facial piercings? You say you don't care how you look, then why do you bother? You are trying to project an image as much as the business man is. You condemn him for looking down on you, but are you not doing the same in judging him in return?

I do not believe that life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are the keys to living. I believe that life is too precious to be wasted. I believe that freedom is meaningless without achievement. And I believe that you do not find happiness by looking for it.

PS: Or if you want to skip all of the above just read my sig! :D

[Jesus Chicken]

Conformity. The way we live is conformist. To truly be a non-conformist you have to break away from they way the majority lives. You have to leave a town, wear your own clothes, stop working for a piece of plastic, so after a few numbers appear on a screen you can go and waste the digits you earned on some other peice of plastic. Society is conformity.

[Sui Generis]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by AnimeLover [/i]
[B][color=red] Ok, first, before I get rolling on this topic, I'd like to give a definition of what conformity [i]is[/i]. Conformity is correspondence in form, manner, or character. This basically means going along with something.

Now, a while back in school, as we were reading [i]Fahrenheit 451[/i], we discussed this in English class. I thought it would be a good topic here so I brought it here. My basic question is do you believe Conformity is within our society even today? But you can expand upon it if you want.

Of course I think so. It can be seen in small instances: wearing blue jeans, wearing a certain brand of clothing and so forth. It can also be seen in bigger instances, such as making a decision based on someone else's input, acting in a certain way because of the way your friends are acting. This one I see much in particular. People act like something that they are not in an attempt to get attention and be noticed by others. So what are your thoughts?[/color] [/B][/QUOTE]

Of course there is. Watch the TV for 5 minutes and you'll recognize it. You have music, move, TV, and sports stars who wear a certain thing or act a certain way, and you'll have thousands of people who try to be the same.

Comformatiy gives people a sense of safety, it makes us think we arn't alone. We know that someone else is like us, and that people like that person. So obviously, they'll like you! Its an easy concept really.

And yes what Wrist Cutter said is true, there is no such thing as a complete non-comformist.

[Sara]

The thing is, "conform" has a negative connotation to begin with. The idea of changing yourself to fit in--consciously or unconsciously--is something people shrink back from.

If you like a pair of jeans that are popular, that's different than liking them because they are popular....

Eh.

Be yourself. Like what you like. Do what you do.

Would you act the same way if you knew no one cared?

Would you act the same way if you didn't care that they cared?

And wouldn't your real friends like you, anyway?

[Pastbyer]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by DuoGod of Death [/i]
[B]And yes what Wrist Cutter said is true, there is no such thing as a complete non-comformist. [/B][/QUOTE]

[color=indigo]After calming down a bit...

Yes, that's [i]very[/i] true. It's impossible to be non-comformist cause you'll just fit into another group. (Why can't whoever invented the English language just leave me alone?)

And I agree with Mnemolth that teachers should stop encouraging opinions that are so ignorant they're probably made by someone in a padded room all their life (in a bad way).

And um.. I know I'm probably just babbling on here...

Also, it's impossible to be completely the same as everyone else because everyone is so different. That's why instead of people all fitting in to a group, each person can fit into several groups at once. That's what makes us unique. Humans are the same (as in species and conformity) and very different (races, personality etc) at the same time...:therock:

So I guess when you like something you really have to ask yourself: Do I really like this or am I just trying to be like everyone else? Sometimes it's not that easy to find friends that like you no matter what. So people shouldn't be blamed to try and fit in. Like someone said earlier, conformity helps us to feel secure...

Um... Ok I'll shut up now.[/color]

[vegeta rocker]

its darn near impossible to be a true noncomformist, like was said earlier you would conform to being a noncomformist. You could be rebellious in your state of mind i guess.

[amibasuki]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by wrist cutter [/i]
[B]Yeah, conformity is everywhere... no one will ever be a complete 'non-conformist'.

I have more of a problem with people who consciously go against conformity than those who consciously go along with it. [/B][/QUOTE]
[FONT=arial]I know what you mean. there's conformity even in groups that are so against it. like, if somebody was a part of a group that liked nothing but punk or rock music, and the person liked a celebrity like Christina Aguilera cuz he/she thought she sang well, he/she would be completely disowned. or the person wouldn't dare say it out loud, for fear of just that, and just because he/she liked something that didn't fit in with the group's image/taste. I'm not saying it's like that all the time, but it's like that for a good portion of it nowadays. a lot of the non-conformists are just as bad as the actual conformists themselves.
[/FONT]

[Imp]

Conformity is very important to me, especially in school. A lot of people tease me and nobody else. Maybe it's because I look weird. I must admit I do like to wear bright colors, which explains why some people think I'm a gangster. I don't even want to be a gangster!!! And they may think my voice sounds weird, my nose is too big (which I think it is), I act like a bunny, etc. :rolleyes: Sheesh, I see stupid people in school everywhere.