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Conformity and Non-Conformity: A Fine Line between Peace and Chaos

Quote of AWESOMENESS: “The opposite of bravery is not cowardice but conformity.” ~ Robert Anthony

A conformist is a person that follows what is directed through laws or imposed beliefs. Nonconformists, on the other hand, questions rules, contest ideas and beliefs and even cave their own paths. There are times when conformity is needed, but there are also times when nonconformity is necessary.

Although conformity is sometimes seen as restrictive or as something that prohibits ones freedom of expression, it is also important. For example, when driving a vehicle, the use of conformity is needed. Conforming, like following the rules and regulations helps in ensuring and keeping the safety of the people. The importance of conformity is the increase in safety and decrease in accidents. Another contribution is the advantage in which people conform to a better example to improve oneself or spread an idea. An example for this would be the creation and spread of lawns. It began during the late Middle Ages in French and English aristocrats castles where the birth of nurturing the lawns happened. As time passed, since lawns was good as it helped in the air quality, worked as a pollution filter, reduced environmental heating, improved soil structure, and more, there were more conformists which helped in adding more lawns. However, conformity also has its downside. If everyone conformed to every rule then the world would never change and it would also lack diversity. Imagine a world where everyone conformed to what society gave, this would look like everyone were to wear the same trend, like walking into school one day finding out that everyone was wearing the same denim jacket, the outcome to this would be a monotonous world. With conformity, it also sometimes brings pressure and stress as someone tries to “fit it” and be accepted by those around that person. An example would be in school when a student tries to conform with the intent to keep this ideal picture to most as the cool or smart student. This could be forcing a student into working harder which may lead to affecting their health. As Logan Feys writes, in his essay on The Sociology of Leopard Man, there is “constant pressure to surrender our individuality to the will of the majority” when one lives in society. Consider, for example, China. In China, circa 1979, the One-Child Policy was implemented, restricting citizens of China to only having one child per family. It created a disparity in the childbirth ratio yet no one tried stopping it. Another thing that would happen if everyone were to conform would be the risk of unjust and danger. An example of this would be in Germany. It was on September 1, 1939, this is when the government of Germany started putting these restrictions on the Jews giving them a strict curfew, prohibiting them from certain areas in Germany, reducing their food rations, and more. Unfortunately, this wasn’t the worst thing that happened during this time, the genocide of millions of Jews which were caused by the Nazi soldiers happened because the soldiers did nothing but “follow orders” and to conform to orders. Despite the fact that conformity brings harmony and safety, the exact opposite can happen too.

Nonconformity has proved to be beneficial during specific situations but other times it may be problematic. The civil rights movement is a great example of how nonconformity was used for a good reason. Martin Luther King Jr. knew that the segregation was unjust and needed to change which he did by nonconforming. As Feys has written, “it takes a strong will” which exactly who Dr. King was. It is sometimes a necessity to be a nonconformist to do the right thing or change something else that isn’t good. With nonconformity, the world has also been able to advance forward. Elon Musk is a nonconformist as he veered away from all the typical gas-powered vehicles which were being made and instead manufactured electric cars. Another nonconformist would be Charles Babbage as he created the first computer and Leonardo Da Vinci who defied normality and has been known as one of the most inventive and creative beings to exist. Nonconformity, however, isn’t always good just like the failure to comply with certain rules that are implemented for safety reasons. Going back to the driving example, the use of nonconformity wouldn’t be the best thing to do as the danger it upholds is high. Nonconformists may also disrupt the harmony in society as rule breakers form.

Although they are opposites from each other, if both are used properly then a balance of good can be created for the world. George Orwell has written, “we shall meet in the place where there is no darkness” which describes what the world would be if the equilibrium between conformity and nonconformity formed. Because of nonconformists, the world has been able to see past the rules, that have been places not for the good but for the greed of power, and change for the better. Nonconformists, just like Martin King Jr., have even risked their lives and bravely stood up for what was right. It is because of conformists that the world has also been able to advance because without conformist, then the ideas which have been put out by nonconformists wouldn’t have been able to survive long without the help of conformists. Conforming to an extent is needed in order to make the world a safe and harmonious place. In the end, with how conformity and nonconformity are used would determine whether or not the intent would be for something good or bad.

The misleading & deceptiveness of advertising and labels

Quote of awesomeness: “Truth stands, even if there be no public support. It is self-sustained” ~ Mahatma Gandhi 

Have you ever looked at a canned bottle that has a 100% juice label as you scanned it? Well, that’s the thing, it’s wrong, most of the time. If it reads a 100% juice, this means that they haven’t left any percentage for anything else? How can it be 100% juice when the back has the ingredients listed with salt and other preservatives? An example of this is V8, the photo below shows how they are lying.

As you may see from the photo above, at the top left corner, there is a 100% JUICE, but then as we look to the ingredients, we spot more than just “100% juice”. There are two types of salt put here into this juice, salt and sea salt. They just had to put two types. Also, another thing found is SOY LECITHIN at the bottom part of the ingredients list. Have you ever heard what soy lecithin is? Well, it’s certainly not juice. I mean the other ingredients should get credit too, am I right? They should put something like there are other ingredients here too but mostly almost 100% juice! The truth is always the best way to go.

 

 

Here’s another way that words are used in a different way so that we don’t really pay attention to it. Here…. wait for it…. *drum roll please*….. FUN SIZES!!!

Here’s an example. An M&M’s with a FUN SIZE labeled on it. What would you usually expect with something written with FUN SIZE on it? Probably something really big or even different shapes, a square or even letters perhaps? NO. It’s not fun. It’s extremely the opposite of FUN. When you see this fun size you have to be aware that all this means is small. SMALLLLLLL!!!!! Sorry for the shouting it’s just that making chocolate or yummy food smaller when an expectation would be something more awesome isn’t, it’s really annoying.

 

Exactly how I feel too.

 

 

 

Imagine this: When you have work and you go to your office, your boss goes to you and says “GOOD NEWS! IM GIVING YOU-” before he finishes, a big smile whipped across your face as you expect a raise “- A FUN SIZED SALARY!!”. You feel excited for like 5 seconds but then you remember reading L.O.A.S.H’s blog about fun sizes and you put on your skeptical face and then your boss sees that you will not easily be fooled so he ends his sentence with “just kidding!” and runs out. That’s right I just saved you from getting a lower salary- in some other universe. Anyways, back to reality, just be alert when your boss really does start talking about fun-sized salaries.

Always stay truthful you awesome people! And, spread about this too with your friends and family, to inform them! Here’s an activity you can do, Sherlock Holmes, next time you go out and do see something with 100% juice or 100% natural check the ingredients to see how many products out there are really on the true side. Also, not all products are telling a lie. There are plenty that does tell the truth, which is just awesome.

Yours truly,

L.O.A.S.H