The other morning I found myself almost snorting coffee through my nose, as I came across this article on the Hipster Effect. The article talks about how hipsters, who want to be counter-cultural, end up all looking the same. The part that almost made me snort was that some guy saw the article and the photo used for it and went after the MIT Technology Review for using his photo without his consent.
Except, he wasn't the one in the photo.
He just looked exactly like the guy in the photo. Which comically underscored the point of the article.
And that got me thinking. In the end, we all want to fit in, or probably more accurately, we all want to belong. That starts with the way we look - most of us don't want to stand out. We don't want to be underdressed or overdressed for the event. We don't want to stand out by asking a question or voicing an opinion. We want to be part of that group of people who are having such fun or carrying on interesting conversation.
And we all run the risk of becoming part of the herd, of choosing not to voice our thoughts when that's exactly what is called for, of condoning behavior and thought that are opposed to our values and beliefs.
We often wonder how evil happens in the world, and we forget that all evil needs to succeed is for good to do nothing.
But I digress. The point of this blog is fitting in (or not).
Don't get me wrong. I have nothing against fashion trends - except when they call us to expose things better left to the imagination. And if you know me, you know my love of shoes. I will not ever protest high heels and how we ladies conform to the excruciating experience of walking if skyscrapers all night because they look so very good. And I really have nothing agains people wanting to fit in - it's how communities are built.
And I do see the point of going against the culture, especially when the culture has turned the world around us into a version of the Stepford Wives. But just changing the way we dress or the cars we drive isn't enough, even though it might be a visible sign of resistance - until, as the article above points out, it isn't.
So, I challenge all of us. Let's look around us and take a look at the world today - at the culture, at the trends, at the way in which our focus has shifted to place importance and emphasis on things that shouldn't matter as much as people. Let's take a hard look at shifts in values and attitudes. Let's take a pause and figure out why shouting and vitriol have replaced dialogue, reason and collaboration.
And let's be ok with being counter-cultural. And I don't mean wear a beanie and a plaid shirt, grow a beard and a man-bun. I mean be kind. Be courteous. Be considerate. Put people first. Give others the benefit of the doubt. If we're going to be wrong, let it be because we're coming from a place of grace and not a place of judgement. We don't have to shout and be the loudest, most strident, most vulgar voice in the crowd to be heard and make a point. Let's remember all human beings have inherent dignity.
Why fit in when you're meant to stand out?
Stand out as the best version of yourself, and give others reason to notice you in your humanity.
