Comments on: The myth of non-conformity http://nicknelson.net/2009/07/the-myth-of-non-conformity/ intrigue, cognomina, and handcrafted masterworks Thu, 22 Dec 2011 19:05:37 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: nick http://nicknelson.net/2009/07/the-myth-of-non-conformity/comment-page-1/#comment-5598 nick Thu, 22 Dec 2011 19:05:37 +0000 http://nicknelson.net/?p=40#comment-5598 I agree Ryan, to some extent. Certainly the conformity to physics/chemistry argument is delivered tongue-in-cheek, however, conformity to law, broad social rules and customs (facing the correct direction in an elevator, for example), as well as a more closely aligned conformity to an in-group are more germane. The point being that a given non-conformist is only barely so for an extremely thin spectrum of the human experience. Even that said, there is still conformity even within the behaviours they deem non-conformist; and it's precisely those behaviours that are more polarizing and that they identify more strongly with. The concept of "non-conformity" seems dismissible as part of the human character given the human mammal's ancestral roots as a pack animal. It's like speaking of non-conformist wolves or non-conformist bonobos. I agree Ryan, to some extent. Certainly the conformity to physics/chemistry argument is delivered tongue-in-cheek, however, conformity to law, broad social rules and customs (facing the correct direction in an elevator, for example), as well as a more closely aligned conformity to an in-group are more germane.

The point being that a given non-conformist is only barely so for an extremely thin spectrum of the human experience. Even that said, there is still conformity even within the behaviours they deem non-conformist; and it’s precisely those behaviours that are more polarizing and that they identify more strongly with.

The concept of “non-conformity” seems dismissible as part of the human character given the human mammal’s ancestral roots as a pack animal. It’s like speaking of non-conformist wolves or non-conformist bonobos.

]]> By: ryan http://nicknelson.net/2009/07/the-myth-of-non-conformity/comment-page-1/#comment-4914 ryan Wed, 31 Aug 2011 13:56:55 +0000 http://nicknelson.net/?p=40#comment-4914 I don't believe the "non-conformist" is under any illusion that they've become some kind of non-human existing in some universe where physics no longer applies as we know it. In normal usage, the term refers to a relativistic social concept. To think of conformity in absolute terms, and in boundless scope, to not be subject to a degree of contradiction or shallowness would require one to be a random pattern - absolute chaos. I don’t believe the “non-conformist” is under any illusion that they’ve become some kind of non-human existing in some universe where physics no longer applies as we know it.

In normal usage, the term refers to a relativistic social concept.

To think of conformity in absolute terms, and in boundless scope, to not be subject to a degree of contradiction or shallowness would require one to be a random pattern – absolute chaos.

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