The only non-conformity the world likes is a limited set of
   sanctioned nonconformity.* [the stereotypical nonconformists]***
   If a label can safely be slapped on, "Oh, well, you know, he's a
   poet."* or "Oh, well, you know, she's an artist" or "Oh, he's a
   writer"... a musician... etc etc.* - then society is forgiving.
   That's what made me embrace "nerd" so young.* 4th Grade, 1980,
   prior to Revenge of the Nerds even, after a 3rd Grade of being
   called "Nerd" (in retrospect, it was only two people who said
   it, one girl and one boy, and on a few occasions, but at the
   time, it "felt like" everybody was saying it)... I stood up tall
   and proud and learned to say back, "Yes, I am a nerd." which
   took away their power and the nerd thing 80% of its power as a
   "hurt word". I believed in "Sticks and Stones may break your
   bones but names will never hurt you".* I knew that statement was
   a lie all by itself even then, because names do hurt.* But I was
   inspired by it and strove to make it a reality.* Very useful for
   me.* I'd repeat it on my way home from school to myself after
   having a bad day. And wow you're Aunt is right. Check out my
   other graph which goes from 26-101.* You'll find that "It ain't
   over yet".* The pressure to conform is a lifelong thing.* People
   expect certain things of you depending on your age and they will
   mock you to get you to conform, often by comparing you to
   someone older or younger as an example.* All ultimately
   meaningless in a fundamental sense, but as long as the person
   believes the age thing (that people of certain ages act certain
   ways) - it will be painful for them to hear it. "This person is
   an example of what not to be."* is a dangerous formula and
   divisive. I'm always on the look out for personal triggers.*
   I've come to accept politicians just only recently - about two
   months ago, as they were still one of my holdouts for, "Who not
   to be like".* I'm still working on it, and I suspect as I keep
   digging I'll find other groups I get that way about, but fewer
   and fewer as I try to bust through my own stereotypical thinking
   wherever I find it thinking and deconstruct it.