Trope

Is this true in your experience, and if so, then in what ways?
What effect will and does this have on modern trends?

"In times of change learners inherit the earth; while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists."

— Eric Hoffer

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Trope

I think his premise is sound. That with the new overabundance of variety comes a lot of fertilizer for individuation. That even as people follow various micro-trends, large scale patterns will arise. We'll just have to learn to look at things differently to orient our approach in a way that has meaning again. Failing that, in the extreme, we'd be forced to take everyone as they are--self-made patchworks of ideologies and styles--and that's just too much work. Cliques and stereotypes are all but inevitable.

The internet is a great place for fringe groups to pursue their collective interests and as they feed off of one another's ideas, unaffected by how far in time or space the inspiration has had to travel, we'll have more and more variety proliferating.

Imagine if animals could continue to evolve that way after what we now consider extinction. Mutating and giving rise to new breeds and species in turn. Raptors and wolves living side by side in the wilderness. Possibly even breeding with one another to create little raptor wolf babies.

I'm going to stop before I ramble too far off topic. Let me know what you think.

"In times of change learners inherit the earth; while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists."

— Eric Hoffer

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lily~

I agree that the abundance of styles will create individualization, but I also see it to be potential for *identity crises-es*. People are still following trends of uncool or cool, now with the added dilemma of which group to follow.

Some may think of themselves as the misunderstood artists; adopting their own styles for a while. Either they are welcomed by many *minions* or shunned altogether from the whole of society.

Just some fever ramblings.

♣♥♠

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Femme

I agree with both posts. People often have a natural desire for collectivism; many base their self-concept on which group(s) they essentially belong to.

These predetermined categories possess security, structure, and stability. Without them, humans can feel anxious and overwhelmed by their newfound freedom and independence.

Even so, I am uncertain as to what would ensue as a result. Classification would surely continue (more specific categories would merge together under the realm of broader ones). Society might just remain the same after all; there will be an ultimate 'cool' in each category. It might just be more difficult to determine the ultimate cool, as the variations are abundant.

_______________________

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knght990

It sounds so Maslow, we want to be part of a society, but rather than conforming to the standards of an existing social structure, they create one. Thus smaller more individual specific groups.
I suppose it shows a more self centered nature to modern people. Maybe we feel entitled to be individuals. Or, we think that being unique in some small way gives us esteem within our group. Emotional self gratification.
Perhaps the effect is much like a ball rolling down a hill, if we start down the side of individual entitlement we will tumble down ever faster until we find a cohesive reason to pull ourselves back up.
Then again i am half asleep.

Personal DNA = Reserved Experiencer

I am the King acting as the Fool.

Im undereducated.

A man of genius has been seldom ruined but by himself. - Samuel Johnson

The vain man does not wish so much to be prominent as to feel himself prominent; he therefore disdains none of the expedients for self deception and self outwitting. It is not the opinion of others that he sets his heart on, but his opinion of their opinion. - Niezsche

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Trope

Exactly. It's like this quote from Somerset Maugham.

"When people say they do not care what others think of them, for the most part they deceive themselves. Generally they mean only that they will do as they choose, in the confidence that no one will know their vagaries; and at the utmost only that they are willing to act contrary to the opinion of the majority because they are supported by the approval of their neighbours. It is not difficult to be unconventional in the eyes of the world when your unconventionality is but the convention of your set. It affords you then an inordinate amount of self-esteem. You have the self-satisfaction of courage without the inconvenience of danger."

Everyone has their limits as to how far they'll stray from everyone they know of or talk to though how far that is varies greatly from one person to the next. At some point, if they're left unattended, our lower Maslovian needs start getting in the way of what we might otherwise do. But that's the whole point here. People can get their validation, understanding, and acceptance from places and people they'd never meet otherwise and thus find the fortitude to continue pursuing unusual or specialized interests that could easily be lost otherwise.

I'll grant that there's still the issue of making the things you come up with work for you, personally, but that would be true regardless.

"In times of change learners inherit the earth; while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists."

— Eric Hoffer

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