A World of Irony

Ironic Individualism

Isn't it ironic that people try so hard to be different and want so badly to belong, all at the same time?

People generally want to be recognized as different or special and yet they want to be part of a group at the same time. Some feel lonely, unappreciated, or overlooked, and want to feel a sense of belonging. Let's all try to be "different" in the same way. Where does that get us? Where is the line between unique and part of a rising subculture? Once everyone is tattooed and pierced and "modified," then we're all the same again. It's pretty hard to be unique and assimilated at the same time. Unless you're a part of Mensa, whose only criterion for membership is that your intelligence is in the top 2% of society, in which case you do belong and stand out at the same time.

posted by Karl Richter @ 4/08/2005 01:04:00 PM