I’m just here to share a little bit of irony with the world, and to ask a tough question:
How many rebels can possibly exist?
I ask this question because I had an assignment in my sociology class where I was forced to go out and be a rebel. I was supposed to break a social norm by doing something weird. I wasn’t hit full force by the irony of the situation until one of my dorm mates was criticized for stealing his rebellious idea off a video on you tube. He was being criticized for following the crowd too much. He couldn’t be a rebel even if he tried.
So I thought to myself, “It’s getting pretty hard to be a rebel these days.” All the rebellious stuff is all used up. I mean you can’t purposely do a horrific rendition of the national anthem because that’s already been done. Can’t dress like someone of a different gender because that’s already done. You can’t flunk out of school because that’s already been done. Can’t fly airplanes into buildings. The list goes on and on.
So here’s the answer to my question: There is a limit to the number of rebels and we’ve already passed it. The rebels are looking awfully like the masses.
Yeah... I can't think of anything you could do.... I guess running through the malls cussing as loud as you can while wearing like... a santa suit... that would be original.. I don't know of anyone who's done it.
http://www.progressiveu.org/190000-help-me-out
Rebelling is the new "in." The worse you are, the more you fit in with the rest of the crowd.
I was thinking the same thing about highschool prom. If you go to prom then you fit in with the crowd but if you don't go then you just fit in with all the prom not goers. There isn't really a way to stand out anymore. it's funny isn't it?
xoxoxoxo
Dana Rena
Wow. Someone else who understands the irresistible pull of being a rebel.
I was once the non-goer rebel. I didn't go to any dances until senior year because I saw them for the empty sex-laced wastes of money that they were.
Then I got a girlfriend. I stayed away from girls for the longest time because I saw how stupid the whole dating scene.
Long story short, I went to prom because I thought it would be fair to my girlfriend. I'm actually glad that I did because I watched a sunset with her before the dance and it was really pretty.
Anyway, I saved a bit of rebelliousness and didn't lose my virginity on prom night.
At my school, literally everyone and their SO (or non-SO) go (if they're upperclassmen). I honestly know of no other person that is willingly not going, and there are hundreds of upperclassmen at my school. I think schools have populations that differ in opinions and the like. Environment is a big thing.
But, if one looks at the grand scale, I suppose there are the "prom not-goers" elsewhere.
"Men become civilized, not in proportion to their willingness to believe, but in proportion to their readiness to doubt."
"Freedom of press is limited to those who own one."
H. L. Mencken
But...being rebellious doesnt always mean being original. For example, my family would consider me rebellious because I have gone against their teachings and do things my own way. I may be doing what many other people in the world are doing but I am still viewed as rebellious because it is going against the norm in my family's beliefs. It is a matter of opinion from person to person whether I am rebellious. One person may see me doing drugs and say, "Everyone's doing it." while at the same time, someone is watching me and saying, "Drugs are bad. Why are you doing that?" and wondering why I am defying my parents' rules.
Does that make sense?
I just dont believe that being a rebel has to do with originality.
Kissing Sun Firefly (Suzanne)
Ah yes, just like the old quote:
"You can be a rebel to some of the people all of the time and you can be a rebal to all of the people some of the time, but you can never be a rebel to all of the people all of the time."
I think aristotle, abraham lincoln, or Dick Cheney said that one.
...breaking social norms doesn't necessarily make one a rebel either. I used an example of men's restrooms below, and that kind of thing would make someone a weirdo moreso than a rebel.
I think that originality isn't exactly a requirement of a rebel. Instead, I think that's more of an end result.
"Men become civilized, not in proportion to their willingness to believe, but in proportion to their readiness to doubt."
"Freedom of press is limited to those who own one."
H. L. Mencken
You're right. People now adays want to be original. It's become popular not to follow the norm and to be your own person but how far can that go. If you look at a lot of "rebels" you see that they are becoming a lot alike. There is the people that dye their hair black to become different but in actuality, they are becoming more the same. It's sad to see that fans of up and comming bands are getting mad cause their favorite band has been heard on the radio and has more fans. They should be happy for their band because they are doing something with their lives and living their dream. It it that important to them that that band is just for them alone that they wouldn't want them to succeed?
today's youth.. i'm part of it, but I still don't understand it... Maybe I'm the real rebel cause I haven't dyed my hair and I don't wear straight leg jeans.
There have always been rebels, and even those in the past that were considered true rebels were probably doing something someone else has done. Obviously, someone must've started something if others are doing it, so we have had rebels, but after the first wave, there aren't many.
Although a rebel is someone who's supposed to be doing something out of the norm, someone who's a renegade or outcast, etc. but I think that part of being recognized as a rebel is some kind of distinction. For example, one thing that separates many modern authors and classic authors is language use. The older authors had unbelievable style. It also helps that some of them pushed censorship to its limits or stood up for some cause like women's rights, but I really think that their non-liquidated use of language is one of their greatest strengths. Mencken wouldn't have been Mencken and wouldn't have been so prominent a reactionary without his acerbic style.
But, if one wants to violate social norms, there are some available. Take the men's restroom. If there are five urinals, and one man as it one end, it is probably expected that man #2 will go to the other end, not right next to man #1 or even two urinals away. It's probably considered rather abnormal for two men to be next to each other at the urinals if there are other empty ones available.
Of course, that may qualify someone as a weirdo and not a rebel, but it's a thought.
"Men become civilized, not in proportion to their willingness to believe, but in proportion to their readiness to doubt."
"Freedom of press is limited to those who own one."
H. L. Mencken
How about rebelling by being anti-rebel? Like being unrebellious.
wait, I'm not sure that makes any sense. I need sleep.
Actually, if being rebel is the "in" thing today, perhaps your idea isn't a bad one.
"Men become civilized, not in proportion to their willingness to believe, but in proportion to their readiness to doubt."
"Freedom of press is limited to those who own one."
H. L. Mencken
That was my idea when I was 13 and one of my leading excuses for obeying my parents.
hahhaha I always looked for excuses to not obey them.
I think instead of trying to be rebels, people need to simply stand up for what they believe in, and do what feels right. It makes more sense than going out looking for ways to be noticed.
Depends on the extent of rebellion. On terms of real rebellion, it'd be nice to see some more people who are willing to fight oppression - remember, that's just as rebellious. Wearing unusual clothes or doing unusual things doesn't count - that's just being a teenager. Being rebellious isn't about being different, it's about defying rule or law.
____
If a society is willing to give freedom for temporary security, they deserve neither.
that couldn't be said any better. I agree.
Rebellion that includes fighting oppression is honorable- forget passing curfews or talking back to parents. I think everyone should rebel for a noble cause they believe in. And not confuse rebels with jerks.
If you really need something rebelious to do you could simply just go up to the teacher slap them in the face and then walk out, it would be totally rebelious. Think James Dean man, there is no cause for the madness<3 Tina
doesnt it... ? the origional gerneration are gone.
[please dont hark me about the punks are dead!]
now it's just copy cats.
origionality is lame now
bc kids really believe everything they're saying is origional. but havent they heard it on mtv? didnt htey hear a teacher say it? wasnt their funny joke what the comedian said last ngiht? kids dont even think for themselves anymore! does anyone pay attention to the level classes in highschool? they are always given the answer.
every rebellious idea seen now. is a like a cover song. someone already did it.
No you see the true rebels are those kids who, by means of conforming, rebel against the conformists, who by conforming, are rebelling against the rebels, who by rebelling are actually being conformists. so...
anyways, one of the rarest things is an actual individual and real individualism, a person who acts without regard to what other people have done first, without regard to precedent or orthodox, so that if that person acts like others do, it's only a coincidence. such a person acts only on what he or she judges is right.
Michael Allen Yarbrough (PBUH)
I actually read a pretty interesting article the other day on just this topic. I agree with you, up to a point -- buying clothes from your local Rebellion-mart, engaging in cultural appropriation with dreadlocks and mohawks, and yelling about killing cops at stupid white-boy "activist actions" is most of what the counter-culture idea of rebellion has degenerated into. It's not so much people with real problems or issues with society trying to express themselves -- it's kids being sold a problem and a solution.
It's time to take back real "cool" from the corporations that are selling it to us. It's time to start thinking about the real systems in society that cause the real problems we see around us -- the institutionalised *-ism, imperialistic capitalism, environmental destruction -- and saying NO with a big loud voice. Buying clothes from Hot Topic is not the way to be a rebel; not buying into imperialism is.
Anarchism, Social Justice and Discussions about Beer and Sex at http://progressiveu.org/blog/against-the-system