NationStates Jolt Archive

So recently at school (fine, a few months ago), I was talking to my one friend who we'll call Hami. Hami has gottan into the whole shaggy hair, dark clothing, skater shoes, etc. Yes, some of you would call this "emo", but I am not looking for an "emo" bashing thread. Anyway, we were sitting down at lunch, and I see a guy walk by wearing jeans for girls. Of course, I've seen this before; guys wearing girl jeans, girls wearing really wierd clothing (I saw this one wearing angel wings and other times wearing multiple ties). Personally, I see nothing wrong with this, or rather, I didn't at first. So I ask Hami, "Now why the hell would a guy wear girl jeans?" He responds, "He just wants to be different."

In fact, these people have wanted to be SO different from everyone else, that they have conformed to a group that "wants to be different." So in a sense, the very thing they have been "fighting for" has resulted in something they don't want, which is to conform.

It bugs me when these kids want to be "different" with absolutly no objective except for being different, and by doing this, have formed their own group that in the end, only contradicts what they were originally doing: being different.

I have always been of the opinion that it is okay to be different, so long as it is who you actually are.

Therefore, acting "different" simply for the sake of acting "different" makes no sense to me.

If running around with cat-ears or a cape is actually part of your personality (I know this one guy who dresses up as Winny the Poo on Halloween), then all the power to you. But don't do it just so you can be different. Instead, be different in your OWN way, one that reflects who you are.

And most certainly DO NOT act a certain way just because everyone else is.

So recently at school (fine, a few months ago), I was talking to my one friend who we'll call Hami. Hami has gottan into the whole shaggy hair, dark clothing, skater shoes, etc. Yes, some of you would call this "emo", but I am not looking for an "emo" bashing thread. Anyway, we were sitting down at lunch, and I see a guy walk by wearing jeans for girls. Of course, I've seen this before; guys wearing girl jeans, girls wearing really wierd clothing (I saw this one wearing angel wings and other times wearing multiple ties). Personally, I see nothing wrong with this, or rather, I didn't at first. So I ask Hami, "Now why the hell would a guy wear girl jeans?" He responds, "He just wants to be different."
In defense of the bolded items:
Shaggy hair is not emo. I have shaggy hair, and I am definitely not emo. Hippies, heads, and retroes (like me) wear their hair in a shaggy formation.

Dark clothing- Black looks good. It is the best color available (I know, I know, it's not a color) in clothing, and all kinds of people wear black.

Skate shoes - Well, if you're not a skater, you shouldn't be wearing them, but the ARE fucking comfortable.

I have nothing to say about the actual topic, just giving my .02c

Everybody says they want to be different. It makes us all the same. Truth is nobody wants to be different, we all just want to belong, or at least the sense of belonging... or at least the discount coupons.

By dressing and acting in a certain way, people hope that other people will accept them into their group. To answer your question of why would a guy wear girls jeans, that's because he wants to be accepted by other guys wearing girls jeans.

In defense of the bolded items:
Shaggy hair is not emo. I have shaggy hair, and I am definitely not emo. Hippies, heads, and retroes (like me) wear their hair in a shaggy formation.

Dark clothing- Black looks good. It is the best color available (I know, I know, it's not a color) in clothing, and all kinds of people wear black.

Skate shoes - Well, if you're not a skater, you shouldn't be wearing them, but the ARE fucking comfortable.

I have nothing to say about the actual topic, just giving my .02c


*Gives High Five*

Good job LNI.


I wear black all the time. Not because I'm emo (If anyone called me that, I'd kick their ass) but because I like it. Black is just a cool color for clothing. When I'm not wearing black, I wear green fatigues and a Marine Corps. T-shirt. I still say the military has the best damn clothing....

*Gives High Five*

Good job LNI.


I wear black all the time. Not because I'm emo (If anyone called me that, I'd kick their ass) but because I like it. Black is just a cool color for clothing. When I'm not wearing black, I wear green fatigues and a Marine Corps. T-shirt. I still say the military has the best damn clothing....
*receives high five, does the robot*

It bugs me when these kids want to be "different" with absolutly no objective except for being different, and by doing this, have formed their own group that in the end, only contradicts what they were originally doing: being different.

it's not a contradiction. they didn't set out to be completely different from everyone, just to be different from some version of 'normal'. there's nothing contradictory to that in creating a different tribal identity to mark yourself as.

Whats wrong with the color black? i wear black all the time, black jeans that is(scientifically proven to have twice the awesomeness of blue jeans) and yes, occasionally during winter I wear huge cylindrical russian-style hat with ear flaps not because I like being different but because:
1 Russian hats are awesome
2 They confuse people
3 they are the warmest garment ever created PERIOD if everyone was forced to wear a Russian hat no one would freeze to death ever again,
trapped in the Coldness of space? no problem WEAR YOUR HAT

3 they are the warmest garment ever created PERIOD if everyone was forced to wear a Russian hat no one would freeze to death ever again,
trapped in the Coldness of space? no problem WEAR YOUR HAT
This is true. That's why in the forgettable Day after Tomorrow movie, when temperatures fell to -60, the Russians just rolled up their car windows. At -80 they turn off the a/c.

Being diffrent is overrated.

In defense of the bolded items:
Shaggy hair is not emo. I have shaggy hair, and I am definitely not emo. Hippies, heads, and retroes (like me) wear their hair in a shaggy formation.

Dark clothing- Black looks good. It is the best color available (I know, I know, it's not a color) in clothing, and all kinds of people wear black.

Skate shoes - Well, if you're not a skater, you shouldn't be wearing them, but the ARE fucking comfortable.

I have nothing to say about the actual topic, just giving my .02c
I'm not a skater but I used to curse out cops when I was teenager to let my friends skate since the town refused (multiple times) to follow through on building a skate park - so, I get to wear skate shoes.

In my experience, different= fail.

It's funny when noncomformists have a uniform.

In fact, these people have wanted to be SO different from everyone else, that they have conformed to a group that "wants to be different." So in a sense, the very thing they have been "fighting for" has resulted in something they don't want, which is to conform.

It bugs me when these kids want to be "different" with absolutly no objective except for being different, and by doing this, have formed their own group that in the end, only contradicts what they were originally doing: being different.

Absolutely. Emo kids are the product of a reaction between preps and goths. Goths actually say 'fuck the mainstream's opinion' and wear or do what they feel like, regardless of its difference. This results in clothing, activities, and behavior significantly different from the popular mode.

Most preps react with a look of shallow disgust and walk away, but a certain segment (usually the stupider ones) find this fascinating, and decide that "bucking the trend" and "bringing down the system" is the "new cool thing", and emulate the goths.

Being preps, and thus to the very core slaved to the shallow, hierarchial, follow-the-leader mainstream adolescent culture, they fail to understand that the very act of emulation rejects what they're emulating, and take it to the max, trying to be as "different" as possible, because "different" is their psychological surrogate for "popular" or "cool".

And they end up just looking stupid, and all the same. Thus were the emos born.

:headbang: Wearing clothes to be different is dumb.

I think clothing should be worn because it feels good. That is, it is either comfortable, makes you feel good about yourself, or in the perfect situation, both.

If he wants to be different, he should wear brightly colored pajama bottoms to school (for warmth) underneath a Copen blue jumper (because thats the uniform), with a bright red Columbia brand 3-in-1 coat (again, for warmth), a pink winter hat with a brim (again, warmth), a zebra striped umbrella, and a bright blue bookbag. I did. But not to be different, to be warm on my walk between home and school. Different was just a plus. I decided I should start caring more about how I dressed when a nun who, as a dear friend put it, dresses like a homeless person, asked me if I was trying to make a fashion statement. I then tried to switch from bright PJ pants to blue jeans or sweats.

Anyway, why do people need to be different? Why don't they just be themselves?!

it's not a contradiction. they didn't set out to be completely different from everyone, just to be different from some version of 'normal'. there's nothing contradictory to that in creating a different tribal identity to mark yourself as.
That, what he said.

These rants that pop up now and then "They're same in their difference" is horribly ill-conceived. They want to be different from you, partially because you're such a fucking square that you can't deal with groups being different from you without disparaging them. Apart from wearing pants on your head and sandals for gloves, there are only so many options people have. Even dressing as a swan or Donald Duck has been done by Bjork and Elton John, respectively.

But it didn't take that much to freak out the norms as they rush home to their computers to make their ill-conceived observation. Oh no! He wore girl pants! He must be trying to fit in while simultaneously not fitting in! No, he just didn't like the pervasive norm. It's not hypocritical that he found a much smaller norm, the problem doesn't lie with his perception but your uptight one that can't handle people being in different groups and has to create paper thin ill-conceived judgements on it.

Which is why people decide that they don't want to be associated with the 'norm'. The norm has a stick up its ass.

sandals for gloves

it works best if you cut a thumb notch into the sole

So recently at school (fine, a few months ago), I was talking to my one friend who we'll call Hami. Hami has gottan into the whole shaggy hair, dark clothing, skater shoes, etc. Yes, some of you would call this "emo", but I am not looking for an "emo" bashing thread. Anyway, we were sitting down at lunch, and I see a guy walk by wearing jeans for girls. Of course, I've seen this before; guys wearing girl jeans, girls wearing really wierd clothing (I saw this one wearing angel wings and other times wearing multiple ties). Personally, I see nothing wrong with this, or rather, I didn't at first. So I ask Hami, "Now why the hell would a guy wear girl jeans?" He responds, "He just wants to be different."

In fact, these people have wanted to be SO different from everyone else, that they have conformed to a group that "wants to be different." So in a sense, the very thing they have been "fighting for" has resulted in something they don't want, which is to conform.

It bugs me when these kids want to be "different" with absolutly no objective except for being different, and by doing this, have formed their own group that in the end, only contradicts what they were originally doing: being different.
The simple answer is to not care!
That way your difference is indifferent!

Do what ya goota do, know what i mean?

it works best if you cut a thumb notch into the sole
Don't try to make me like you, clone! ;)

It bugs me when these kids want to be "different" with absolutly no objective except for being different, and by doing this, have formed their own group that in the end, only contradicts what they were originally doing: being different.

And I'll bet that it doesn't bug them in the slightest that they bug people like you.

In fact, that's probably the intention.

Apart from wearing pants on your head and sandals for gloves, there are only so many options people have. Even dressing as a swan or Donald Duck has been done by Bjork and Elton John, respectively.

Since when is non-conformity confined to non-conformity of dress?

Since when is non-conformity confined to non-conformity of dress?

yeah! its always been about not being part of the CofE. the silly outfits come after.

Since when is non-conformity confined to non-conformity of dress?
I didn't select the aspect.

It's all they bitch about, if you're shallow enough to throw a tizzy because some people dress different than you but kinda like some other guys you don't have the depth to understand other forms of non-conformity.

I didn't select the aspect.

True. It was the "there are only so many options people have" part that I objected to.

It's all they bitch about, if you're shallow enough to throw a tizzy because some people dress different than you but kinda like some other guys you don't have the depth to understand other forms of non-conformity.

Most of them don't have the depth to understand any kind of conformity, that's why they "throw a tizzy" about it.

Dress does seem to strike a nerve with those people, though; more than the other varieties.

True. It was the "there are only so many options people have" part that I objected to. <snipped rest because I have nothing to add>
I was confining myself to the subject as presented, being dress.

It's funny when noncomformists have a uniform.


Ive said this before.

Theres a t-shirt I often see "emos" wear.

it says "You laugh at me becuase Im different, I laugh at you because your all the same"

The shirts are sold in stacks...in several sizes, on a shelf, at the local mall....

Very unique.

In fact, these people have wanted to be SO different from everyone else, that they have conformed to a group that "wants to be different." So in a sense, the very thing they have been "fighting for" has resulted in something they don't want, which is to conform.


But you can't be a non-conformist if you don't drink coffee (http://www.tv.com/south-park/raisins/episode/290382/summary.html). (<--- I want this on a black t-shirt)

With one correction, however: "the very thing they have been 'fighting for' has resulted in exactly what they wanted to begin with, ..."

I really have to agree with Cannot think of a name.

Emos and other "non-conformist" types aren't trying to be different from everyone else or different from each other, they're trying to be different from a specific group that is often seen as the "popular norm" and that they don't like.

They want to be different from them, but the same as each other. When they say "I'm different." they're saying they're different from you.

Really, I don't give a screw and basically wear all the same clothing until it dies and I get some more just like it.

Commentary from my philosophy lecturer.

Some time ago there were a lot of usual people ('grey mass') and everybody was just like everybody else. Then some people tried and became different from everybody else. During nineties everybody wanted (and became) different from everybody (every person needed unique clothing, original hairstyle etc.).

Now I want to be just a usual person, just like everybody else, and it is no longer possible, since by wanting to be 'one of the crowd' I am different from most people. There is no escape.

Now everybody is cursed to be different, want it or not.

The dress of a gentleman should be such as not to excite any special observation, unless it be for neatness and propriety. The utmost care should be exercised to avoid even the appearance of desiring to attract attention by the peculiar formation of any article of attire, or by the display of an immoderate quantity of jewelry, both being a positive evidence of vulgarity. His dress should be studiously neat, leaving no other impression than that of a well dressed gentleman.

I prefer to dress like a young man of great expectations.

Whats wrong with the color black? i wear black all the time, black jeans that is(scientifically proven to have twice the awesomeness of blue jeans) and yes, occasionally during winter I wear huge cylindrical russian-style hat with ear flaps not because I like being different but because:
1 Russian hats are awesome
2 They confuse people
3 they are the warmest garment ever created PERIOD if everyone was forced to wear a Russian hat no one would freeze to death ever again,
trapped in the Coldness of space? no problem WEAR YOUR HAT

My ushanka was shipped from Ukraine. I've even got the hammer and sickle on the front.

Commentary from my philosophy lecturer.

Some time ago there were a lot of usual people ('grey mass') and everybody was just like everybody else. Then some people tried and became different from everybody else. During nineties everybody wanted (and became) different from everybody (every person needed unique clothing, original hairstyle etc.).

Now I want to be just a usual person, just like everybody else, and it is no longer possible, since by wanting to be 'one of the crowd' I am different from most people. There is no escape.

Now everybody is cursed to be different, want it or not.
I've often wondered why anyone cares.

Perhaps my indifference makes me different.

You cant think or try too hard to be different because you'll just end up crazy!

I always tell people who "want to be different" that they should scoop out their own eyes with gravy ladels and pour bleach in the empty sockets.

Hey ... how many people have you seen do that?

I always tell people who "want to be different" that they should scoop out their own eyes with gravy ladels and pour bleach in the empty sockets.

Hey ... how many people have you seen do that?

Didn't Sam Neil do that once? And then kill a bunch of people on a spaceship?

Didn't Sam Neil do that once? And then kill a bunch of people on a spaceship?

Oh ... well damn ... you may be right.

My ushanka was shipped from Ukraine. I've even got the hammer and sickle on the front.

SWEET my Aunt got mine in Latvia made out of rabbit-fur(sssssoooo toasty:D ) but sadly, no hammer&sickle

You cant think or try too hard to be different because you'll just end up crazy!

What's wrong with being crazy? :p

I prefer to dress like a young man of great expectations.
YEAH! Etiquette! Fuck Yeah!

I fail to understand why anyone would ever make a conscious decision to differ from the norm, except if they are deluded in some way.
Shaggy hair is not emo. I have shaggy hair, and I am definitely not emo. Hippies, heads, and retroes (like me) wear their hair in a shaggy formation.
Eh? My hair is shaggy and I belong to none of those groups, or any for that matter. I have a couple friends who have shaggy hair. Neither of them qualify as parts of those groups or any group either.

I personally dislike those who are trying to be "different" because they, the emos and the Otakus are the only ones who make a conscious effort to avoid getting along with everybody, at my school anyway.

Case in point, I was once discussing the finer point of Rome Total War strategy with a friend of mine in the lunch line. Some kid dressed like a goth started getting in our face about it, apparently under the impression that we were "Star Wars geeks" despite never saying anything about that topic in his presence. Everybody else in line just looked at him like he was an idiot. In fact, a jock stuck up for us, not that we needed him.

I don't ever consciously try to be different, but, by virtue of my personality, I usually end up different from most people anyway. Things I've worn to school that could probably be considered different include the following:

Capes
Masks
A disposable diaper...on my head (actually, I had a reason for that)
A fake, attachable mustache (I'm a girl, and, actually, I had a reason for that, too)

Of course, I usually just wear all black and express my personality through my socks, but I really don't care if I'm different or not different from everyone else. I just usually end up being different without trying to.

What's so great about being different? I like to look as ordinary as possible. It keeps authority figures from singling you out and it increases the psychological impact when you say or do some really fucked up shit.

SWEET my Aunt got mine in Latvia made out of rabbit-fur(sssssoooo toasty:D ) but sadly, no hammer&sickle

Damn! That's nice!

See, mine is genuinly Soviet, which means comfort was not a priority. It's REALLY itchy, but I get used to it, and in the cold it doesn't bug me much.

If you want a hammer and sickel you can pick em up on ebay for a couple dollars.

just a thought but girl jeans aren’t designed for the crouch so wouldn't wearing them make you crouch look HUGE

yes I once put on a pair of girl jeans for an interview (by accident of course) and spent the whole time wondering if my interviewer was wondering if I had a massive hard on I have yet to discover whither or not that helped my case

By trying to be different, you are being the same as all the people who want to be different.

Just be yourself.

I fail to understand why anyone would ever make a conscious decision to differ from the norm, except if they are deluded in some way.
Well, when the norm is the "New New Wave", why wouldn't you want to differ from it?

Eh? My hair is shaggy and I belong to none of those groups, or any for that matter. I have a couple friends who have shaggy hair. Neither of them qualify as parts of those groups or any group either.
...I find this surprising. Didn't you say you wished it were the 90's again in another thread or something like that? Maybe it was someone else...

Case in point, I was once discussing the finer point of Rome Total War strategy with a friend of mine in the lunch line. Some kid dressed like a goth started getting in our face about it, apparently under the impression that we were "Star Wars geeks" despite never saying anything about that topic in his presence. Everybody else in line just looked at him like he was an idiot. In fact, a jock stuck up for us, not that we needed him.
You were talking about a stategy game in the lunch line? You dork.:D

I always despised the high school clique system. I despised the dress code that membership in a clique always carried with it. I despised how shallow people could be towards those who were not in the clique. And most of all I despised the obsession with being a member of the clique was to some people, and how it became the center of their lives.

I never became a member of a clique. I had no desire to. I was always on the fringes, yet I managed to develop a lot of good friends, a lot of them were in the cliques (except for about three or four other dudes, who were in roughly the same situation as myself). I dressed in what I felt like wearing. My clothing collection is easily described as eccentric. Typically loose, comfortable, convenient stuff. I did have a penchant for blue and green. I did what I wanted. I never found myself being hated, I never got into a fight, nor did I ever need to.

By trying to be different, you are being the same as all the people who want to be different.

Just be yourself.
...Can I be a robot instead?

I never found myself being hated, I never got into a fight, nor did I ever need to.
Never getting into a fight is not a good thing. How much can you know about yourself, you've never been in a fight?


(Thanks, Tyler.)

I never became a member of a clique. I had no desire to. I was always on the fringes, yet I managed to develop a lot of good friends, a lot of them were in the cliques (except for about three or four other dudes, who were in roughly the same situation as myself). I dressed in what I felt like wearing. My clothing collection is easily described as eccentric. Typically loose, comfortable, convenient stuff. I did have a penchant for blue and green. I did what I wanted. I never found myself being hated, I never got into a fight, nor did I ever need to.

Amen to that.

...I find this surprising. Didn't you say you wished it were the 90's again in another thread or something like that? Maybe it was someone else...
That was definitely somebody else. I am perfectly content with my time period.

Never getting into a fight is not a good thing. How much can you know about yourself, you've never been in a fight?


(Thanks, Tyler.)
It means I never had to use force to win an argument. Or at least physical force.

It means I never had to use force to win an argument. Or at least physical force.
I know what a fight is.

So recently at school (fine, a few months ago), I was talking to my one friend who we'll call Hami. Hami has gottan into the whole shaggy hair, dark clothing, skater shoes, etc. Yes, some of you would call this "emo", but I am not looking for an "emo" bashing thread. Anyway, we were sitting down at lunch, and I see a guy walk by wearing jeans for girls. Of course, I've seen this before; guys wearing girl jeans, girls wearing really wierd clothing (I saw this one wearing angel wings and other times wearing multiple ties). Personally, I see nothing wrong with this, or rather, I didn't at first. So I ask Hami, "Now why the hell would a guy wear girl jeans?" He responds, "He just wants to be different."

In fact, these people have wanted to be SO different from everyone else, that they have conformed to a group that "wants to be different." So in a sense, the very thing they have been "fighting for" has resulted in something they don't want, which is to conform.

It bugs me when these kids want to be "different" with absolutly no objective except for being different, and by doing this, have formed their own group that in the end, only contradicts what they were originally doing: being different.

All I want to know is, why do people still give a shit about this kind of crap?

Why are people still surprised that teenagers want to be different just like all their friends? Why are we still supposed to be surprised when young people act out, or wear weird clothes, or obsess about how crazy they can make themselves look? None of this is news.

Young people have been doing this for as far back as history goes. I'm sure that Roman adolescents would think they were all badass and rebelious when they wore their sandal straps CROSSED AT THE ANKLE or some shit like that. Who the fuck cares?

Who the fuck cares?
Well, when you are a teenager and don't get it...

just a thought but girl jeans aren’t designed for the crouch so wouldn't wearing them make you crouch look HUGE

yes I once put on a pair of girl jeans for an interview (by accident of course) and spent the whole time wondering if my interviewer was wondering if I had a massive hard on I have yet to discover whither or not that helped my case

Unfortionatly you cannot have male genitals if you want to put those pants on. The laws of Physics won't allow it.

On a more serious note, if the only reason for wearing those tight womans jeans is to make your crotch look bigger, then you have some compensation and self-image problems.