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Originally Posted by theburningbush  my orginal comment had more to do with science, and the way in which we view ourselves as god like, "you cant do that kind of research in relationship to humans its unholy"
as far as the ability to choose your social identity: |
Okay, scientific advancments like Stem-Cell research for example?
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Originally Posted by theburningbush 1. You can only to a very limited degree, the apperance of the group may change (goth, prep whatever see the fluid nature above) but the individuals that make up that group will be the same. They will share simliar traits, econmic position ect.
2. Body modification is human advertising if I dress goth I am letting other goths no I am part of there social group. It is not an attempt to break from the social norm, it is however in attempt to join a social group |
You are half-right but it's really both and I feel that the primary motivation is still to differentiate oneself from the core group. That is, if an individual that identifies with a sub-culture that identifies itself as being outside of the core social norm even does so as a concious decision. more often then not an individual finds themselves becoming affiliated with a sub-culture when they find that they hold common values with the pre-existing group.
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Originally Posted by theburningbush 3. "it is the choice of the indivdual live up to those standards" this is a blindly idelistic thing to say. What is the one thing a social animal fears the most? |
Death? Amongst lower social animals, to be ostracized from the core group means almost instant death. However, we have evolved socially to the point where members of our society can remain ostracized to a degree and still survive; or find a group that the ostracized individual is more compatable with. Furthermore, the majority of individuals will follow the whims of the social culture that they consider themselves to be a part of in a self-negating fashion; In order to avoid the pain associated with being shunned mentally or emotionally. I firmly consider this to be a great social ill. As has been pointed out by others, our greatest advancements have all been given to us by individuals who were outside of the social norm and not afraid to be there.