Is it normal that i make myself feel bad under "mainstream" circumstances?

49% Normal
16 Comments

Keep in mind that the best way to describe my personality would be by the definition of a hipster as defined on http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=hipster (although I care nothing of style in terms of clothing).

Anyways, I always feel as if I am unable to accept "mainstream culture". I dislike our "fast food culture" and always give myself a headache whenever I am around people that are merely having fun based on immature comedy or irrational beliefs (this is a very general description). Basically, if something has meaning which moves beyond superficial joys and curiosity, i enjoy myself, but If I am around vain and ignorant people, I give myself a tension-type headache and find nothing funny, even things I would normally laugh at (such as some good ol' George Carlin stand-up).

I don't feel bad when I understand and am able to accept such things, however, most of the time my headache takes over and I am unable to think or speak properly. I don't feel sad or angry, but apathetically depressed.

How normal is this feeling and how do you perceive it?

Voting Results
49% Normal
Based on 35 votes (17 yes)
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Comments ( 16 )
  • Blackwargreymon
    12 years ago

    @notallthere

    I wouldn't be putting off the humour of South Park as stupid. It might be in your face and low brauw/brow.(What's the expression?) But it usually acts as a mirror or comment on society. I even dare to say that things like South Park take the place of art in modern society, after all the thing people call art has become somewhat elitist and comformist to society.

    This is not actually to comment on South Park. But not everthing one thinks is mainstream/stupid...*shocker*...is actually stupid.

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    • [Old Memory]
      12 years ago

      Since you think such things, I would like to know your views about Beavis and Butthead.

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  • FocoUS
    12 years ago

    I hope your hipster brain doesn't explode but everything has been mainstream since the creation of the internet. There's a difference between being anti-conformist and non-conformist. Anti-conformist can be just as bad if not worse than a conformist. Just chill out an actually stop caring about what advertisers shove in your face. You're worrying about things that don't matter.

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    • [Old Memory]
      12 years ago

      "things that don't matter".

      isn't that subjective?

      If "the opium of the masses" or anything I find valuable matters to ME then wouldn't that make it meaningful and hence something to care about?

      It's not that I upset myself over things that I think are wrong, it's that I fail to understand why.

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      • FocoUS
        12 years ago

        When I was talking about things that don't matter I was referring to the entertainment business or as you called it "the media." Unless you work in the entertainment business I don't see why you would get worked up. (I'm studying to work in the media)

        Things that you should worry about: family, friends, reality. It's okay to get angry when life throws a curveball at you. But if you get disgusted by people enjoying a bad movie you need to lighten up.

        I wouldn't call "things that matter" subjective at all. If a man told me that his left shoe mattered more than getting a job I'd call him abnormal.

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        • [Old Memory]
          12 years ago

          I get what you mean, but by "things that matter" i'm referring more to ideas than inanimate objects.

          I guess I do compare myself to a grumpy old man frequently. I do have to lighten up. I just don't know how to without neglecting myself?

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  • [Old Memory]
    12 years ago

    See, your problem is that you take everything way too seriously and don't know how to enjoy yourself anymore. It's very telling that you said you give headaches to yourself, it's obvious here that you're responsible for this and it's not some mental disorder that you don't have control over.
    What you need is basically to change your entire mindset; the only problem here is that I don't know how you could do that since it came to me naturally (I used to be somewhat like you too). I can tell you though that life will be much easier if you achieve it; in fact I'd compare it to some sort of zen enlightenment.

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    • notallthere
      12 years ago

      I disagree. I think this is totally normal -- in fact, I have this problem! In my opinion, I think our society is crashing, people are becoming simpler, more jokes are stupid, not smart (e.g. South Park. Don't argue with me, you know I'm right).

      Sometimes I can't handle these ridiculous people at my college that are always complaining about schoolwork and aching and blah, when life is so much worse in other places.

      It's sort of like being beyond your time. But don't tell anyone that, lol. (;

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      • [Old Memory]
        12 years ago

        I feel like that about society too sometimes but then again people have always thought this way (seriously, I read a text by Socrates complaining about kids in ancient Greece!). I figure it's just easier to go with the flow and not think about the stupidity surrounding us. Anyways if you don't believe me, just listen to Weird Al, he's got the right idea:
        http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMhwddNQSWQ&ob=av2e

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        • [Old Memory]
          12 years ago

          Which song by Weird Al is it? I assume it's the " . . . because I got high" song that my friend used to sing to me constantly.

          If it is, I've smoked weed and it hasn't distracted me enough. I'd rather read a book than consume a pleasurable feeling because knowledge is better used than blind sensations.

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          • [Old Memory]
            12 years ago

            It was actually Dare To Be Stupid.

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        • notallthere
          12 years ago

          You have a good point.

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  • Blackwargreymon
    12 years ago

    Ahw, Goths, I used to be one of those. Still am:D (At least, I guess)

    Don't see those around, they kind of died. (I'm a highschool teacher and the kids ask whether I'm goth, but I haven't seen any around.)

    What a fun generation the Goths and the Skaters, getting stoned in harmony. I imagine the hippie gen too, more a hippie nowadays myself. But I really must be old thinking the current generation doesn't have it as good:D

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  • nagasonavimana
    12 years ago

    Anyone remember when goths had the market cornered on this kind of weltschmerz? They did it with a better sense of high drama as well, don't you think?

    God, I'm getting old.

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  • Blackwargreymon
    12 years ago

    What FocoUS said.

    Not meant as an insult, but you sound a bit young and like most non-/alti-comformists roaming the street. Being non-comformist is kind of mainstream. And I think you will stay mainstream until you let that go. The idea of mainstream and non mainstream is usually a non problem in adult life.

    A lot of us have our non comformist yought. (Hell I'm a man and went to highschool in skirts and make up(not wanting to be seksist) and stuff like that.)
    Some blossom into normal people, some blossom into the weirdo's we all know and some stay wound up and focussed on being not mainstream. Be careful you don't turn out the last one. Nobody actually cares whether something is mainstream or not, worry about the actual things.

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    • [Old Memory]
      12 years ago

      The thing is, people who know me think I am nerdy and weird. I try to express what I think and I know that I am not like everyone else.

      I am into science (most prominently psychology and biology), economics, the liberal arts, and philosophy.

      I think I am truly frustrated because my environment is dominated by stupidity. I think if I were to live in a library with some cognitive psychologists, I would be happy.

      My problem is not merely labeling things mainstream and then condemning them (I just used the word "mainstream" instead of "unacceptable" in my question because I assumed more people would understand where I am coming from).

      this is just some more information about me so that I can be better understood

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