Only two things that will always remain inherently non conformist are absolute free speech and pure violence. All ways of trying to be nonconformist may begin with one of those two ideas, but it neccesarily degenerates into the normal behavior in several generations.
Why wouldn't stuff like the punk movement, drugs, gothic ideas, rock and roll, even comic books, eventually become normal once old generations have grown old and whithered, no longer able to retain their deathgrip on the standards of what should be correct? People die and other, more strong willed people come to take thier place. Any idea that is a manifestation of free speech or violence (as opposed to coninual use of one of the other for itself) is doomed to fail from the beginning.
Why do free speech and violence stand the test of time? No one can control those forces, even if their manifestations can be managed. Those two ideas always ultimately lead to the creation of yet another rebellion in the youth, and the established will is quite aware of this. The only recourse left for the Established is assimilation or rejection, and of course, when most people choose rejection, the new will almost always ends up overcomming them in the end anyways.
Even being a "nerd" is going through is steps now. In the last newsweek I found lying around some doctors office or another, they had some ****** little quiz about testing one's "geek chic" Bloody morons...
Edited, Mon Apr 17 06:42:47 2006 by Pensive