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Conformity vs Individuality


Βyakuya

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So since I was studying on psychology, had to take note of thoughts on this topic. Spirit Week is coming to a close, and many are hyped for events like the big football game, homecoming dance, and other school activities. But I'm surprised at the amount of people who participate; whether a majority doesn't, or does, at dressing for Spirit Week (Wacky tacky, Twin, PJs, etc). And I was thinking, can you still have school spirit if you don't participate? Do you just tend to believe in it only because other are doing it? Would you conform to the social norms of your friends, family, or environment, or maintain individuality?

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[quote name='Light Υagami' timestamp='1348707881' post='6032970']
Would you conform to the social norms of your friends, family, or environment, or maintain individuality?
[/quote]

You need a good blend of both. I believe it's best to express your individuality without passing that border of social conformity.
Basically, make friends by acting how everyone else does while showing your personality, sense of humor, and other characteristics that most people would consider socially acceptable. Once you're friends with someone, be as weird/you as you want and they'll be fine with it as opposed to seeing that when they first meet you.
Anime/manga for example, can be considered a nerdy hobby. If you bring up your interest right when you meet someone, unless they're into it too, you're most likely putting them off. That [i]shouldn't[/i] put people off and society would be a lot better if people [i]didn't[/i] care about that stuff, but people will always make a subconscious note of something nerdy like that. But if you reveal your interest in that after the fact, then they're like eh whatever and it doesn't matter.

In the case of Spirit Week, depends on the theme. I'll totally dress up on Superhero Day, but I'll probably pass on Pajama Day.

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[quote name='Comrade TentaSparkle' timestamp='1348849112' post='6033863']
I just do what I do, but I don't go out of my way to be different.
[/quote]

Same as this really.

When I was younger starting secondary school I tried fitting in with what others found popular, but was still largely unliked/unpopular, so sod doing stuff I don't want to for the sake of that, I'll do what I want to do.

And I became even more unpopular.

Being in Britain I have no real idea what you mean by Spirit Week, but dressing up as Superhero's or Pyjamas for school, no thank you.

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[quote name='Majestic Star Bahamut' timestamp='1348850525' post='6033870']
Same as this really.

When I was younger starting secondary school I tried fitting in with what others found popular, but was still largely unliked/unpopular, so sod doing stuff I don't want to for the sake of that, I'll do what I want to do.

And I became even more unpopular.

Being in Britain I have no real idea what you mean by Spirit Week, but dressing up as Superhero's or Pyjamas for school, no thank you.
[/quote]

Spirit Week is the week where you get hyped for school spirit. If you do show school spirit, you do so by wearing a style on a certain day. For example, everyone can wear PJs on Monday, wear a Disney outfit, dress internationally, or whatever on the next day.

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[quote name='Light Υagami' timestamp='1348850918' post='6033874']
Spirit Week is the week where you get hyped for school spirit. If you do show school spirit, you do so by wearing a style on a certain day. For example, everyone can wear PJs on Monday, wear a Disney outfit, dress internationally, or whatever on the next day.
[/quote]

As a concept that completely baffles me. Why on earth would I want to do that? To show that I like school? I don't like school. And I certainly wouldn't dress so ridiculously because everyone else was for it.

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[quote name='Majestic Star Bahamut' timestamp='1348851179' post='6033877']
As a concept that completely baffles me. Why on earth would I want to do that? To show that I like school? I don't like school. And I certainly wouldn't dress so ridiculously because everyone else was for it.
[/quote]It's more about YOUR school vs others that you're showing you like.

Mainly, this has to do with sports, since at the end of the week, there'll probably be a big game taking place. So essentially, you're being a fan of your school's sports. Not school itself.

[hr]
Anyway, Light, I would suggest you take part. At least for the events that don't seem to be ridiculous. I would suggest doing pajama day. I mean, that's always fun. Plus you feel awkward, which is an experience. Frankly, that's the whole idea: If you're not doing it because you want to be "an individual", all you're really doing is passing up an opportunity to do something you wouldn't normally be able to do.

I'm sure there are lots of people that won't participate, so in either case, you're still conforming to a degree. Why not conform to the one that allows you to experience something you probably won't do often, if at all later?

My old high school did this same thing for homecoming week, I hardly ever participated if it wasn't easy to accomplish. Though I DO recall we had a super hero day and I decided to dress up as the most overused character in comics: THE RANDOM PEDESTRIAN. Worked like a charm. Got extra credit for it too.

Also, this topic's title is absolute bullsh*t.

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[quote name='Agro' timestamp='1348852370' post='6033887']
It's more about YOUR school vs others that you're showing you like.

Mainly, this has to do with sports, since at the end of the week, there'll probably be a big game taking place. So essentially, you're being a fan of your school's sports. Not school itself.

[hr]
Anyway, Light, I would suggest you take part. At least for the events that don't seem to be ridiculous. I would suggest doing pajama day. I mean, that's always fun. Plus you feel awkward, which is an experience. Frankly, that's the whole idea: If you're not doing it because you want to be "an individual", all you're really doing is passing up an opportunity to do something you wouldn't normally be able to do.

I'm sure there are lots of people that won't participate, so in either case, you're still conforming to a degree. Why not conform to the one that allows you to experience something you probably won't do often, if at all later?

My old high school did this same thing for homecoming week, I hardly ever participated if it wasn't easy to accomplish. Though I DO recall we had a super hero day and I decided to dress up as the most overused character in comics: THE RANDOM PEDESTRIAN. Worked like a charm. Got extra credit for it too.

Also, this topic's title is absolute bullsh*t.
[/quote]

Spirit Week is over, and I already have. I'm just opening up the topic in general.

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[quote name='Agro' timestamp='1348854438' post='6033903']
There's no such thing as non-conformity. You're ALWAYS conforming to SOMETHING.

In the same regard, you don't have a choice but to have individuality. We're not robots coming off a factory line.
[/quote]

I was referring to social norms, but it depends. So it's pretty much an equal balance?

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Are we not all individuals by definition anyway? Conformity vs Individuality is not even a thing. I'd personally boil it down to self-confidence issues, or thereabouts.

Spirit Week sounds strange, by the way. My British nature wondered what it was. Can you still have school spirit if you don't do it? Depends if you even care what the hell 'school spirit' is.

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[quote name='.Rai' timestamp='1348854846' post='6033907']
Are we not all individuals by definition anyway? Conformity vs Individuality is not even a thing. I'd personally boil it down to self-confidence issues, or thereabouts.

Spirit Week sounds strange, by the way. My British nature wondered what it was. Can you still have school spirit if you don't do it? Depends if you even care what the hell 'school spirit' is.
[/quote]

We are individuals. However, it's either that we naturally or voluntarily abide by social norms, or we rather stay as individuals and appreciate our own values, such as not giving a f**k about wearing something for Spirit Week.

Also, you can, but there can be discrimination sometimes if they for example, not choose to wear the school colors. The main purpose I believe is just to get psyched.

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[quote name='.Rai' timestamp='1348854846' post='6033907']
Are we not all individuals by definition anyway? Conformity vs Individuality is not even a thing. I'd personally boil it down to self-confidence issues, or thereabouts.

Spirit Week sounds strange, by the way. My British nature wondered what it was. Can you still have school spirit if you don't do it? Depends if you even care what the hell 'school spirit' is.
[/quote]It's mainly about getting pumped for a big football (american football) game. Oh, and depending on the theme, girls dressing like sluts. Lots of people don't care. I didn't really. It was really just a way for school to seem semi-interesting.

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[quote name='Agro' timestamp='1348856400' post='6033920']
It's mainly about getting pumped for a big football (american football) game. Oh, and depending on the theme, girls dressing like sluts. Lots of people don't care. I didn't really. It was really just a way for school to seem semi-interesting.
[/quote]

But over here, girls dress like sluts all the time. And that's another thing.

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[quote name='Light Υagami' timestamp='1348857805' post='6033936']
But over here, girls dress like sluts all the time. And that's another thing.
[/quote]Girls dress like sluts everywhere.

It's just that under these circumstances, they get even worse.

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In our current society, individuality is the new conformity. Media pre-60s promoted a message of conformity, now we have lots of messages from rich and beautiful pop stars about "being yourself." Well, being yourself is great if you are rich, talented and beautiful, but for those who are flawed and damaged, individuality is not the best path to take. It's all well and good talking up how great it is to be you when "you" are incredibly successful, but otherwise it just irritates me. I don't like it when I'm told to "be myself" because "myself" isn't exactly the life and soul of the party.

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[b]Hawkeye[/b]: What's normal, Frank?

[b]Frank[/b]: Normal is everybody doing the same thing.

[b]Trapper[/b]: What about individuality?

[b]Frank[/b]: Well, individuality is fine--as long as we all do it together.



I was reminded of this by this topic. Anyway, if you conform too much, you become a drone, a slave to the system. If you go full rebel and try not to conform at all, you are an outcast. So, too much of either ends up bad. I never bothered much with doing dress-ups for Spirit Weeks, because I was often called upon to do other Spirit Events throughout the year.

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My spirit week starts on the 15th and I'm pumped because I'm in my grade's Steering Committee (the main club that fundraises for our class, creates all our class events, and has to raise the most school pride in representation of our class) and we go all out. I love school spirit because it makes people happy, from my experiences. A lot of my main group of friends lack school spirit, but it's great to represent something, so I don't stand down because of them.

I don't conform to social norms unless it's a norm that I particularly enjoy and like. It's like when someone bashes mainstream music just because it's mainstream. I think those labels shouldn't effect one's decision for liking something or going for something.

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[quote name='Mr. A.' timestamp='1349382576' post='6037808']
NON-CONFORMITY IS CONTRADICTORY OF ITS OWN PREMISE. SUCH ACTIONS AS NON-CONFORMIST ARE CONFORMIST IN THE SENSE OF BEING NON-CONFORMIST, WHICH IS A FORM OF CONFORMITY.
[/quote]

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circular_reasoning

You and Aggro need to stop believing creating these show any prowess in the idea at all.

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[quote name='Hinagiku Katsura' timestamp='1349420429' post='6038246']
You and Aggro need to stop believing creating these show any prowess in the idea at all.
[/quote]Note: You should NEVER put me in the same category as him.

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