Wed, 12 Oct 1994 19:46:11 -0700 for <SOCGRAD@UCSD.EDU>
Date:         Wed, 12 Oct 94 22:25:39 EDT
From: LISA EARGLE <T040061@UNIVSCVM.CSD.SCAROLINA.EDU>
Subject:      CONFORMIST INDIVIDUALISM
To: REBEL AND MICHAEL <SOCGRAD@UCSD.EDU>
YEAH, I WAS REMARKING THE SAME THING TO A FRIEND TODAY AT LUNCH. BACK
IN THE EARLY 1980S, IF ANYONE --ESPECIALLY A WOMAN -- WORE WORK BOOTS,
HIKING BOOTS, OR CLUNKY SHOES, THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN BRANDED A WEIRDO
AND LAUGHED OUT OF TOWN. NOW, IN 1994, THE LATEST FASHION CRAZE IS TO
LOOK LIKE LUMBERJACKS OR RICH HOMELESS PEOPLE (I.E. $100 SHOES, $50 SAGGY
BAGGY JEANS). I FIND IT AMUSING TOO. I KNOW SOME GRADS WHO BRAG ABOUT
BUYING CLOTHES AT THE SALVATION ARMY THRIFT STORE. SUDDENLY TO LOOK LIKE
(AH, BUT NOT BE) TRASH IS HIP.

IT'S REALLY FUNNY THINKING ABOUT THE EARLY 1980S AND COMPARING IT TO NOW.
TWO VERY DIFFERENT PHILOSPHIES. YET, THE MORE THINGS CHANGE, THE MORE THEY
STAY THE SAME. EVERYBODY THINKS THEY'RE FOOLING EVERYONE ELSE (INTO THINKING
THEY'RE RICH, COOL, OR WHATEVER) BUT THEY'RE ONLY FOOLING THEMSELVES.

LIKE YOU SAID, REBEL, THE MOST ORIGINAL AND RADICAL THING A PERSON CAN DO
IS TO DEFINE FOR THEMSELVES WHO THEY ARE --NOT BE WHAT OTHERS DEFINE THEM TO
BE. BUT, I SEE VERY LITTLE "RADICALISM" OF THAT SORT GOING ON AROUND ME.
MAYBE THEY'RE ALL RADICALS INCOGNITO. I DON'T KNOW.