Why did you abandon the mainstream?

[randomness]

(a placeholder for a more substantive post)

In many ways I was never accepted by the mainstream. By virtue of the combination of my race and upbringing, I was always going to be the "other". So in contrast to many of my friends, who appear to have consciously chose the subculture, I ended up here because integrating into the mainstream was problematic.

And there are many mainstream assumptions which I think are completely fucked-up. That tends to reinforce my decision. Not that the particular social niche I find myself in is lacking in fucked-up assumptions, but perhaps there aren't as many, or at least there are fewer which impact me directly.

I'm still thinking about this.

Comments

[evilbunnymayhem.livejournal.com]

*nod* makes much more sense- yes... and I suppose in many ways I oversimplified myself... I think in many ways to understand what your getting at is to understand your definition of 'mainstream views'- because to me at least it was outward appearance (basically a suburban wonderbread atomaton) as well as certain expectations (the education, the 9-5 job, the house the kids the marriage etc..). And perhaps "comfort" was the wrong word, more that social structures rise and fall all throughout history and nothing is perminant, there's always room for improvement, so if it sucks people will change it somehow. But it's pretty cool that in a few generations time we've changed the face of what it is to be 'mainstream'... slowly and imperfectly... one example-
my mum's generation... job prospects? teacher, nurse, dental assistant.... now? phhbt. women can be a CEO, lawyer, doctor, astronaut. Not perfect, but it's a start.
my mum's generation.... to be gay, good luck. now? marriage is legal and you can walk down the street holding hands/kissing etc. No, not nearly perfect yet... but it's a start. Elvis's pelvis was EVIL... now? we can be naked ona billboard or take nude yoga classes on rooftops across manhattan...

mainstream view is changing. My question/thought is... what does it matter if you fit into it if it's changing and perhaps in a few decades going to become something else that may allow for all of your differences... or at least some of them.
Why stay?
Well that's just it... I think people aren't.