In every social society, there are people who do not fit into the status quo. These people are called degenerates, weirdos, pariahs, rogues, and rebels. They are ostracized for daring to be different in a world that is slowly becoming more and more uniform.

When people see the word “uniform” they think of their primary school outfits or military fatigues. They think of things being absolutely identical and without variation, but that is not what is meant when I say the world is becoming more uniform. When the world becomes uniform, people’s ideas and thought processes begin to mimic each other’s. The ability of an individual to have thoughts and ideas of their own fades into obscurity when the world becomes uniform.

Today, it seems as though many have fallen into a one-track mindset. Those who choose to steer away from that one-track are called “outsiders”. The outsiders of society choose to think outside of the box society has created and they are often shunned for it. A prime example of this would be in the social media world.

On social media and social media platforms, people are told to promote their best thoughts and looks to the world. Outsiders bravely go against that idea and choose to promote all sides of themselves. They post about their bad days as well as their good. They post their strangely angled selfies as well as their golden hour photos. That seems so simple and insignificant, but it is little differences such as what you post on social media that can set you apart from a crowd. In the social media world, it is easy for individuals to follow the group mindset and function as a single organism with a single agenda.

It is so easy to fall into group or crowd mindsets. When you fall into a group mindset you do not have to think for yourself. You can listen to the thoughts and ideas of someone else and simply follow along. Your only job is to follow as closely as you can and try to get others to follow right along with you. If it turns out that the train of thought you were following was wrong, you can just blame it on someone else because those thoughts were not original to you.

Those who follow are free of judgment, but those who diverge onto their own path are publicly judged and ostracized. This can make it difficult or undesirable to be different. It is basic human nature to want to be accepted by someone or something. Being an outsider in today’s society would make it quite difficult for an individual to be accepted. What is the true cost of being your true self?

Although it can be hard and it can be taxing on your social life, you should be yourself. It is a thousand times easier being yourself than being someone else. If it helps, think of yourself as a rebel fighting against the status quo. As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “to be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment”.

I have a message from the outsiders of 2018: a not so subtle “piss off” to anyone who tries to assimilate us.