There are so many sayings about non-conformity, but what's it really all about? Is it denying certain things just because they're "mainstream" (*cough* hipsters *cough*)? Or is it holding a political philosophy that will "start a revolution" (*aherrrrmmm* #FeeltheBern #democraticsocialism #socialistshavekilledmillionsofpeoplebutthat'snoneofmybusiness)?
Or is it anything specific at all? Let's delve into it.
Conformity
Before we can define non-conformity, we first must discuss conformity. Conformity is defined by dictionary.com as "action in accord with prevailing social standards, attitudes, practices, etc". So a conformist is someone who acts according to how society expects them to. In some cases, this is a great thing. Society expects you not to walk into Walmart completely naked to pick up some groceries, and I, for one, am glad of that. Society expects you not to kill other people, which is also a bad thing to do. Society also expects that you have a job and support yourself, if you are capable, once you have grown up sufficiently. But does that mean one should follow society's commands blindly? Where do you personally draw the line between what you will abide by and what you won't? These are questions you have to ask yourself.
Original Thought
Being a non-conformist absolutely does not mean that you go against the flow just for the sake of going against the flow. Thinking of oneself as a non-conformist means that you recognize that you are going to do what you think is best for yourself regardless of what others/society tells you is best. That means if your parents, all your friends, society, the government, etc. tells you that you shouldn't walk into Walmart naked but you have a deep inner urge to be a perpetual nudist that grocery shops in the nude only, then you will do it anyway. You'll also likely be arrested, but that's a whole different point. To give another example, it means you will vote however you see fit, whether that's for a major party or a minor party, not at all, or writing in Harambe on the ballot.
Being a Democrat, Republican, Green partier, Libertarian, Socialist, Marxist, Communist, Statist, Moderate, Conservative, Liberal, Anarchist, Minarchist, Monarchist etc. does not make you a non-conformist. Coming to the conclusion to be any of the above or something different entirely on your own does. Being a Unitarian, Protestant, Catholic, Jew, Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, Atheist, Agnostic, or even if you worship the Dear Leader Kim Jong Un, that does not make you a non-conformist. (Well, if you live in North Korea and don't worship Kim Jong Un that might make you a non-conformist automatically, or if you live in North Korea and have access to this article for that matter.) Being of any particular group does not a non-conformist make, it's arriving at those conclusions that "this is what I am" on your own that makes you independent minded. And you should be independent minded!
Don't let anyone else think for you and come to your decisions for you. You are you, not someone else, so don't let them decide who you are. Don't go with the flow just because it's easy.
I'd like to close with my favorite quote, who exactly said it first is unknown, but it sums it up pretty well:
"Only dead fish go with the flow."
