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Yesterday I raised some questions about The Illusion of Freedom inspired by Fyodor Dostoyevsky's quote.
Today I found this reflection by Timothy Leary on being a nonconformist in a society that values conformity and obedience.
In a society that values conformity and obedience, the individual who dares to think for themselves is often ostracized and ridiculed. These nonconformists, these outcasts, are the true pioneers of society, the ones who push us to question our assumptions and expand our horizons. They are the ones who are not afraid to be different, to be themselves. If you find yourself feeling like an outsider, like you don't fit in with the crowd, that's a good thing. It means that you have the potential to make a real difference in the world. Don't be afraid to be yourself, to follow your own path. The world needs your unique perspective.
What do you think?
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They tell me I only think this way because I'm old.
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76 sats \ 1 reply \ @Taft OP 28 Mar
They are wrong. You think this way because your way of thinking is a result of your insightful and mature thoughts. 😊
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Thanks, but in truth I am close minded about new music. I am making an effort to change that.
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Why old music is always good?
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Because it's old 😃😃😃
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Do I have to explain myself?
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nonconformists, these outcasts, are the true pioneers of society, the ones who push us to question our assumptions and expand our horizons... It means that you have the potential to make a real difference in the world.
How can this happen if you're ostracized, ridiculed, silenced, held back, ignored censored, cancelled, bullied, killed even and so on... If people aren't ready to question their own conformity (and there are tooooo many in that vocal gang) it's a hard road for the non-conformist. Timothy Leary didn't live in our world, things have changed.
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Yep, but not impossible.
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Very very true! But when you're in your sixth decade of being a non-conformist you get a bit negative and jaded 😂
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Yep. The problems of us old hippies. I remember when liberal democrats wore "question authority" buttons. I can't imagine that now.
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Yup, and they will never be rewarded for what they do to innovate for the group. Their ideas will be carried on by others who know how to sell them over time to conformists, in a conforming way. Only the lucky ones will be remembered in death.
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For me the best version of everything is the version of nonconformity. I have so much faith in it but I want to make it clear that I don't go against the nonconformist version of others. I believe that two or more versions of nonconformity can definitely co-exist, if the aim is still the same. But there co-existence is always marked with despise and hatred.
If there is anything the nonconformist hates worse than a conformist, it's another nonconformist who doesn't conform to the prevailing standard of nonconformity.
  • Bill Vaughn
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Over in ~books, I posted a link (#483903) to Vonnegut's "Harrison Bergeron," which is the ultimate story of conformity and equality taking over society. But I think in our current society (and in Leary's), while there's a push for conformity, there's also an awe of those who break out of it. So while there's pushback against showing signs of freethinking and individuality on a day-to-day level (go to work, do your job, don't ask questions in school that make teachers mad, same with parents, etc), people who break the mold are the ones we actually put on a pedestal.
The issue, of course, is that then people start trying to conform to those people.
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