Fashion Statements

I hate the idea of non-conformists. Sure, I don't believe in conformity, but anyone who actually tells you they are a non-conformist is either an idiot or a liar. (Note that this is the boolean or, as any use of or should be. We should totally incorporate xor into the English language.)

They're an idiot if they are a "non-conformist" because it's trendy to not conform and they don't understand the stupidity of that reason. They are a liar for the same scenario except they do understand the stupidity of it all.

Me? I'm a non-conformist. So, now, according to what I just said, I'm an idiot or a liar. I won't tell you which, but to make it easier for those who know me, I'm also black.

But seriously folks, I've got to stop using such an old cliche to change the tone of my writing, especially when the tone doesn't need much changing. Anyway, the reason I hate people labeling themselves as non-conformists is because a true non-conformist wouldn't feel the need to label themselves as anything. The whole idea behind non-conformity is not letting others think and decide things for you. The logical follow-through is then to think and decide for yourself. If you do that, then there's no need for labels, since labels are basically to affect others' opinions of you, and there's no need for that if you are your own person.

(Of course, you probably will want at least your loved ones to have a good opinion of you, but if you have to change your natural behaviour for that to happen, you || your loved ones are screwed up in one way or another.)

So, if you followed that hastily thought out argument, most true non-conformists will be fairly invisible to the naked eye, since a true non-conformist will do what they want without seeking approval from others and most of the time that will align with everybody else. For example, most non-conformists will still wear clothes, not because it is the norm, but simply because there are good, logical reasons for wearing clothes. With that in mind, it should be fairly obvious that the "non-conformists" who consciously do everything in their power to be the opposite of the norm are just as much slaves to tradition as the conformist, and probably quite a bit less intelligent.

However, true non-conformists can still stick out. Since everybody is different (no two people are not making love), any one person following their own desires and priorities will inevitably stick out from the crowd at some point. As an insignificant example from my own excuse for a life, I have a few pairs of jeans. As far as I can recall, every one of these is very frayed at the hems. In a couple pairs they are actually ripped up the leg a little. Yet I still wear them, in public. Why? Many people (mainly my much too caring family) ask me about them whenever I wear them. Why don't I get new ones, or at least get the old ones fixed? I can see the reasoning behind this, but for me personally the decision to leave the status quo be is easy. I'm somewhat lazy, and buying or repairing pants would take more effort and money than I believe it's worth. They still work perfectly well as pants, and they are no less comfortable, and I don't really care how they look. Since the opinions of people who see me wearing said pants aren't a factor, the other side of the equation doesn't balance out. Therefore, no new pants.

[edit]Ooh, ooh, I remember what I wanted to finish off with, I do I really do! If you actually bothered to read this and understood and agreed with it, you are a) probably in the (at least) top 50th percentile of intelligence, and b) possibly wondering why I would bother writing about this, as if you already know this, I'm telling you what you already know, and if you don't know this, either you're to stupid to understand anyway, or you just don't care enough to have ever pondered the subject, in which case you probably know this in your bones natural-non-conformist. Any one of those possible readers won't really change their opinions after reading this, so why bother writing it? Because I don't really expect anyone to actually read this and I felt like writing it down anyway. I dislike psykoanalyzing myself, as I realize what a futile effort it is (objectivity and all that). So screw you, you commie fascist bastard![/edit]

So anyway, I'm not sure what brought this about, but I think the message of this post is: wear ripped pants fuck the what!

(If this rant happens to get you fired from your job, I will not be held responsible, and will probably laugh my ass off if I hear about it.)

-Anarchronism