"Squares used to be the ones who followed all the new fashions and generally conformed to what everyone else was doing around them. You know, the sheep and robots among us; the spontaneous inauthentic people that we have spent so much time trying to understand. Now you tell me that this has switched to where being cool means dressing to impress your friends because your ego, your self-esteem is utterly dependent on what they think; that you can't stand on your own two feet and that the square is the person who dresses like a nerd because they could care less what everyone thinks? Now tell me, what are the implications, who is most free, and more importantly, most authentic? Isn't the new craze in tattoo's and body piercing simply a vulgar attempt to gain attention and recognition from other equally pathetic and shallow people who have no unique, original, or substantive way in which to infuse meaning into their empty, insignificant existence? It's so disappointing to see young people so deeply seduced by these fashion traps. I understand the feeling of alienation and their need to rebel against conformity and boredom and hopelessness, but they rebel by simply switching masters."
It's not that way for everyone. It all depends on the person's intentions. People have their own outlets to express themselves; for example-music, writing, sports... etc. Fashion and piercings are outlets and opportunities to the expression of one's culture. Following fashion styles can be an appreciation of ideas. Tattoos are a means of commitment to what you believe in. Whoever wrote this forgets that this can be a hobby and a vocation. And some people dress for themselves and to feel good about it-I'd want to ask this person, what's so horrible about that? interesting topic tho!
ReplyDeletethese are the words of my philosophy professor. of course he is speaking in general and i understand that this does apply to everyone. i 100% agree with you that people dress for themselves and don tattoos to represent something they support or believe in. but, you know what he is trying to say. he is talking about those people who jump on the bandwagon and let other people influence the choices the make, rather than them making their own choices.
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