Sunday, December 24, 2006

Non-conformism


"You can't be a non-conformist if you don't drink coffee."
- Goth boy on South Park

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm an out-of-the-norm non-conformist : I don't drink coffe!
I don't drink these "rebel" fizzy drinks either (you know, those reddish sodas you see advertised everywhere...).

It does raise one question, though : once non-conformism spreads and lots of people adopt it, what do you call it???
Maybe then it's called "Dude, that's SO five minutes ago!"

These days, NOT following every new non-conformism might just make you the most non-conformist ever!

Eolake Stobblehouse said...

Yes, the ne-plus-ultra non-conformist does nothing at all which is not also done by everybody else.

Anonymous said...

This is a topic I can certainly relate to. As an obsessive music fan, I have experience with people who think they're non-conformists. Punk rock fans are probably the most obvious example. I love punk, but some of the people who listen to it can be pretty annoying. They claim it's the ultimate form of free expression, but it's got as many restrictions as anything else. "Thou shall not have long hair, thou shall not sign to a major label, etc." I'm sure there was time when having a mohawk and wearing an anarchy sign was actually original.

There's other examples of course, but that's one of the more obvious ones.

Eolake Stobblehouse said...

Yeah, Green Day (which I only discovered recently) is apparently criticized by old punkers for signing with a big label.
Those grapes are sour.

Anonymous said...

Oh yeah, there's dozens of bands that could apply to, and most of them actually play pretty good music. I don't know what it is about major labels that makes people freak out so much. It doesn't even have anything to do with the actual music.

Anonymous said...

"I'm sure there was time when having a mohawk and wearing an anarchy sign was actually original."
-Mom? What's "obridjinal"?
-That's when Mommy was young and looked cool, sweetheart.

I remember the time when "old punker" could only be an oxymoron. :-)
This says something about my age...

There's definitely things to criticize about big labels. And they also have some definite qualities. Just like pharmaceutical companies, fossil fuel engines and the internet. (Oh, and blogs of course!!!)

Anonymous said...

There's definitely things to criticize about big labels.

Yes I agree. After signing my multi billion dollar deal I discovered I was underpaid because the Rolling stones made like ten more dollars then me!
Terrible deal I got! How dare they!
But what can I do now? Sue them? Maybe I should ;)

Anonymous said...

Headbanger's leader,
If they won't listen to reason, try the Zidane approach. ;-)

Now, THAT's non-conformist! Far more than a lawsuit. Have a decaf?

Eolake Stobblehouse said...

I find it worse when people don't pronounce the H in "human".

There is a Swedish recruitment company called U-Man. It is supposed to be a clever form of writing "human". Jeez.

Anonymous said...

Eolake,
U da Man!

(I think I just broke the world record for worst pun EVER.)
EEEK!!! It's raining rotten tomatoes!

Ha! They'll never ketchup with me.

Anonymous said...

Eolake,
You may know this already, but the creators of South Park are favorites of my favorites, the staff of Reason magazine. (Reason.com)
Reasonoids (as we're known) had a special get-together recently in Amsterdam with these creators as special guests, among others.
I'm sorry I was unable to attend.

Anonymous said...

David Gallaher said...
"I was unable to attend."


So this makes you a non-conformist Reasonoid, doesn't it?

This discussion is starting to feel like a carrollian caucus race : running in circles! :oP

Anonymous said...

Eolake said: "There is a Swedish recruitment company called U-Man. It is supposed to be a clever form of writing "human". Jeez."

Ah, that's where it comes from.

There is something rather disgusting in the whole idea (and business) of recruiting nowadays. I think we are witnessing the final stages in the 200 year long experiment called "employment".

Anonymous said...

TTL, I pray that you are right with that hunch.