“Most people are other people. Their thoughts are someone else's
opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation” - Oscar Wilde
“Whoso would be a man, must be a nonconformist.
He who would gather immortal palms must not be hindered by the name of
goodness, but must explore it if it be goodness. Nothing is at last sacred but
the integrity of your own mind. Absolve you to yourself, and you shall have the
suffrage of the world.” Ralph Waldo Emerson on Self Reliance
Recently a friend of mine offered a
survey to over 100 individuals asking them “what do you identify as?”, offering
a list of options including a fill in response if they identified as anything
else. Responses included those from religious affiliation, to gender
affiliation, to cultural affiliation. Surprisingly enough, most individuals
responded identifying simply as a human. No special characteristics to identify
this group, no equal and opposite force of attraction, just simply defined by
their existence as a human beings. While this was only reflected by
approximately 30% of those surveyed, it
did conclude two things. One, that the definition of the identity has begun to
change in society and that in the opposite way many people still identify
themselves as part of a select group. You may be wondering why being a human
was the most popular selection, as being human has no specific moral code, no
select group of people, no qualifying characteristic, except that it unites
every person to everyone else in the world. The ability to see oneself as
something larger than a qualified group of people gives identity to an
individual themselves. This does not mean that I don't also acknowledge that I
am in fact a Catholic, male who enjoys my German heritage, but that I can hold
my own opinions while being equally acceptive of those of opposite opinions
that are also fellow human beings. In saying this I reference Emerson's self
reliance in which he declares that being able to see yourself above the
adjectives that describe you is a true identity. As such to have an identity is
to hold an opinion in your mind that no one else has placed there. Part of the
reason that this definition is so difficult to achieve in the 21st century is
linked to globalization and as Wilde says “People being other people”. The
effect of an increasingly connected society, is increased conformity.How many
thousands of likes did that post get? How many reshares? Although our ability
to create originality has been greatly enhanced by the spread of globalization
the growing herd of those attracted to the originality of others has also
increased. On the global scale millions of people everyday define themselves by
the music they listen to, the things they watch online, and the ideas they read
about from media outlets, yet although most people develop an opinion about
these opinions they consume they are not their own. The opinions mostly formed
in this way are regurgitated yet again and more and more people become other
people rather than themselves. However, the fear of being a nonconformist
continues to outway the joy in holding your own opinions. The human mind holds
the greatest capacity to formulate opinions and yet is stuck believing those of
others. In relation to the aforementioned survey this shows that globally to
have an identity independent of the adjectives we have come to know is a
scarcity. In this way, the objection to conformity, being a nonconformist, is
the greatest passion that can be experienced by a human being and the most
fluent way to surpass societal barriers in order to embrace an identity with
all other individuals.
Haven't read a conformity vs. individuality post in some time. Citing Wilde, Emerson, and the survey are very convincing, especially because Wilde was notorious for his eccentricity, while the transcendentalists believed in the purity of the individual in the face of organized institutions. Very nice.
ReplyDeleteMy only issue is that I feel as though the transition between the 30% of those surveyed identifying as human to your thoughts on individuality was a bit abrupt, which makes the connection between the two a little vague.
I too took the survey that you are talking about. Although my initial reaction was to put down that I identify as a human, I decided instead to put down that I identify as an american citizen. I decided that my only rationale for picking human was to make myself look better. It may be because I'm a bit of a pessimist, but I also felt I was skewing the data. When people ask you "what are you" you don't ever hear them say "Oh yea I'm a human." That's simply not the case They would respond with "Oh I'm (insert race here)" In my opinion when those people chose to put down that they are humans it is because they saw human as an option, and thought "I wouldn't be a good person if I didn't select human."... Other than my ranting on the issue, I have to commend you on your response. I like that you started off with quotes Oscar Wilde and Ralph Waldo Emerson because it summarizes my thoughts exactly. Also the way you ended this knit everything together quite nicely,and also served to inspire me. - Ben McCasland
ReplyDeleteAs someone who also answered the survey as well, I would like to respectfully disagree. I answered human, not out of a sense of self-righteousness, but because I do not strongly identify with any of the options given. Granted, if someone asks "What are you?" I would reply that I am Chinese, because that is usually the context in which the question is asked, at least in my experience. However, in this case, I feel like the question is not one of "what" but "who"
Delete"Who are you?" is a much more nuanced question and generally cannot be limited to just one trait. I am Chinese, yes, and an American citizen, but there is more to my identity than just labels on my race, gender, sexuality, etc.
The best way to encompass this then, is to go back to the most basic, universal aspect of us all: human, which encompasses our shared humanity and evolutionary history. Not because of any desire to appear "good", but because it was the one label I could wholeheartedly agree with did I select "human" as my response.
Hopefully, this contributed to the discussion in the way Ms. Cogswell meant for us to, because I have no idea if we're even supposed to reply to each other on these. If I sounded really offended in my response, please know that I was not at all, and if I was offensive in my response, please know that that was not my intention at all. Lastly, I would like to apologize for any formatting errors, as I am doing this all on mobile and it is a pain.
I agree 100% with what you said about everyone today tries to fit in and be your average sheep. I think that being a "nonconformist" or a rebel is necessary to progress society. I mean, if there were only conformists, this great country would've never even been founded. So based on that, I like what you said about creating your own identity and I agree with it.
ReplyDeleteI think that your explanation of conformity to a society was well stated. Humans after all are naturally drawn to conformity to do primal instincts. When we were a developing species we either confirmed or died. So, we natural tend to, but because we have free will like you said we crave originality. With globalization this has the desire to be original is even more prevalent due to the fact we aren't just competing with people for job in our neighborhood. We compete with people all around the world. Which you explained fluently.
ReplyDeleteYou hit the bullseye. I have come to understand the damaging effects of conformity in groups and the sheep mentality that arises from it thereof. I was pleased to hear your Catholic so am I, and being that I know in today's world that in and of itself can be a struggle because it's different. Being yourself is truly a key factor to hapiness and im glad you touched base with this topic
ReplyDeleteThis is a beautiful view on being a nonconformist. It was wonderfully written and has tone of acceptance, that I can appreciate. Usually, in the past, when I've read a novel, poem, article, etc. on conformity, it had a tone of shame. As if the writer who composed it shunned people who identify as a certain group, or who conform to other opinions or identities. But most times, when someone agrees with an idea so much that people become other people, it's subconscious. They don't realize the conformity happening. So props to you for stepping outside of the box and developing your own beautifully written opinion on conformity.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate the message that you convey in this post, since in this day and age, no one knows how to be themselves and it takes years- even decades- to find who you truly are. The piece is full of intellect and originality. You did a fantastic job on giving the piece a positive and commending nonconformists for taking the road less travelled. I completely agree with you that objecting conformity will help to "surpass societal barriers." Thank you for writing an eye-opening piece.
ReplyDeleteI loved that you made your piece personal by discussing results from a survey someone close to you conducted because it brings a level of credibility to the piece. As teenagers, the path of self discovery can be long and difficult and your point of view really highlights the desire people have to fit in. I also loved your use of the Oscar Wilde quote in the beginning, it was a powerful way to open up a great piece of work.
ReplyDeleteGavin. I think you did an excellent job at describing the importance of nonconformity. Too many people nowadays go with the societal norms and there aren't enough people willing to branch out. I think you did a great job at connecting your story with the provided quotes as well as the results from the survey. All in all, this was a great piece and I can't wait to see you write more similar to this.
ReplyDeleteThis was a wonderfully thought-provoking piece, Gavin. I very much appreciated your use of quotes by Oscar Wilde and Ralph Waldo Emerson. I think that you developed your message very well by starting with the survey, stating your own opinion, and supporting your idea. The topic of self-identity is very controversial, but I feel that you explained it well. Everyone is too eager to place a label on themselves based on race, religion, etc. that they forget that (in my opinion) its their actions that define them. It honestly doesn't matter what you look like or what you think that you believe in, if you're a morally right person, that's who you are.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you followed up on the poll with this post! As someone who also answered it, I found the responses very interesting. I believe most of the statistics came from students who were in Honors/AP classes, so there could be other hidden variables in play. In fact, spending a fair share of time in both prep and honors, I found that most "smart people" dislike being proven wrong, which adds on to the conformity and unlikeliness in speaking up. The atmosphere in prep is completely different and many people are more outspoken (good and bad) as well as accepting of their faults. I identified as human because for me, it was the most stable and unchanging while most other categories weren't. Even still, the responses show how society is always shifting and enjoyed the insightful analysis of the poll, as well as your own ideas and opinions.
ReplyDeleteGreat job Gavin! This piece was extremely engaging and I believe opening up this post with quotes from Emerson and Wilde was the right move. Nonconformity vs Conformity is a highly debated topic but you explained the differences perfectly. I agree with the fact that people try to fit in too much nowadays. In my opinion, nonconformists play a vital role in the progression of any type of civilization. However, I also believe that finding who you truly are and how you are different compared to everyone else is the greatest challenge to mankind which can take a long time to achieve. This post has started to make me wonder about conformity vs nonconformity. Once again great work!
ReplyDelete"The ability to see oneself as something larger than a qualified group of people gives identity to an individual themselves." I almost want to frame this quote on my wall. The way this piece is written fuses an analytical view of identity with that of a personal voice, which I find refreshing. The personal way in which it was written helps the audience, such as myself, to more easily connect with and assume your point of view. I found myself reading this wholeheartedly interested. Although, I can't agree with all of your points, I can concede that you have an exquisite and engaging writing style.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting perspective on the conformist vs. nonconformist. In a way I can agree with most of your points but not all of it. However, I can see where you are coming from with this piece. One of the things that I liked in your writing is that you included your own experiences within the piece. Overall, very well done!
ReplyDeleteJeremiah Credo
Period 1
The introduction of your piece with a quote was a great idea. I was instantly hooked, I wanted to see how they would tie in with your piece. I like to believe that I am a nonconformist, moving above all stereotypes and letting only my thoughts affect my opinions, but I know deep down that I am guilty of being a sheep among the herd, following the more popular thoughts in my community. Your work reminded me of how necessary individuality is, especially in this day and age. Without individuality, there is no debating of ideas, no innovation, no want to advance. Your piece ultimately highlights the necessity for humans to remain unique, remain individual, and to accept others' individualities while expanding our own. Great work, Gavin. Thanks for making me think.
ReplyDelete- Ty Koslowski, Period 1
I very much enjoyed this post. It's such an interesting and pertinent topic to read about and I'm glad you articulated your opinion on the matter. Also, this is kind of unrelated, I really admired your use of outside sources like your survey and the quotes.
ReplyDeleteThis piece was wonderfully written and I completely agree with your statement of nonconformity being a great passion experienced by humans. Society is constantly evolving with standards, trends, and mentalities. Being identified as a "human" may be a common answer to a survey now, but every person has an underlining identity worth expressing. The ability to be original has always been influenced by ones surroundings and atmosphere. I think that you explained being a nonconformist as a fascinating experience to escape the expectations was very truthful to your thoughts and was original.
ReplyDeleteI'm in love with your opinion and analysis. It really opened my eyes, because I never thought about the way I would describe myself as conformity. I personally don't think that stating my interests is conformity because what I like and what I do is what makes me, me. I can totally see what you are trying to say and it makes a lot of sense. More and more people are trying to be the new normal and I like how you tied it together with your opinion and observations together.
ReplyDeleteI'm in love with your opinion and analysis. It really opened my eyes, because I never thought about the way I would describe myself as conformity. I personally don't think that stating my interests is conformity because what I like and what I do is what makes me, me. I can totally see what you are trying to say and it makes a lot of sense. More and more people are trying to be the new normal and I like how you tied it together with your opinion and observations together.
ReplyDeleteGood job using fact and data in your story. It gives attention to detail on how people see themselves. But the fact that most individuals can identify with just simply being human can come across as a message as something more.
ReplyDelete-Sara Hernandez per.6
Good job using fact and data in your story. It gives attention to detail on how people see themselves. But the fact that most individuals can identify with just simply being human can come across as a message as something more.
ReplyDelete-Sara Hernandez per.6