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

[klingonlandlady.livejournal.com]

Yep, same here. one of the values of the mainstream really is that the default, the normative if you will, is of a heterosexual white male.

Being a girl was not mainstream, being Too Smart especially wasn't (thank you, public school)... and liking non-girl activities was not cool. And I'd traveled a lot and didn't have an American upbringing per se. I spoke like an adult. There was no way i could fake fitting in.

It was interesting living in japan and being a "visible minority" though, where people can tell at a distance... an educational experience. In the US there is a certain amount of safety in "at least I'm white", especially if you dress well. People treat you better.