When people say be "different" and "stand out" and "exception" you should remember some things.

  • Being different is only good IF it is in a positive way.
  • Standing out is only good IF it is in a positive way.
  • Being the exception is only good IF it is in a positive way.

... and one seddit should pay attention to:

  • Peacocking is only good IF it is in a positive way.

What I mean by that last one is this. If you dress differently you will always get attention. The thing people don't remember is that you also have to look good doing it. Think about the following two examples:

  • Slick, professional paint job with wonderful colors on a classic muscle car that is in good condition
  • Beat up old car with rust that was painted with spray paint cans with a giant rainbow and unicorn images

They both stand out. Only one actually is positive in standing out. The second isn't good. The second isn't even normal. It is below normal. So before you stand out, make sure it is in a positive way. Don't be a fool and dress up like a clown. If you do, make sure it is a hell of a classy clown.

EDIT: I don't think people are getting the correct message about this post. Let me try and expand on it to make more sense of it. Confidence is great. It can do awesome things. Sure you can be awesome and look like a slob. That isn't the point of this post. The point of this post is to add to the concept of being differerent or being the exception instead of the normal boring status quo.

The point of this post is to make sure people understand that being different doesn't mean paint your face purple and wear a weird bird hat on your head to get attention. Attention is great. How you get it should be realistic and not be something of who you are not.

If you don't like dancing then don't use dancing to get attention. If you don't like wearing hats then don't wear hats. If you don't like a band tshirt then don't wear that bands tshirt. Don't do things just for attention. Do them because they fit you. If you stand out doing so then great. Don't purposely do something that doesn't match who you are and what you want to show.

For instance, not everyone likes wearing hats. I fucking love wearing hats. I don't think my friends should wear hats for attention if they don't like hats. I don't wear band tshirts just because people like them. I would only wear them if they matched my enthusiasm and like of it. Now if me and my friends had a night where we were doing a theme or we had a bet going or some other shit then sure why not. I am talking on a general basis to stay congruent to yourself if you decide to be outstanding. Honestly everyone should be outstanding at something. Having a passion is great. If your passion happens to be shit you wear then awesome. If passion is things you drive then great.

Sure I could rock a garbage bag but it sure wouldn't be for positive attention. It would be because I was entertaining myself by freaking people out with a horrible outfit. I could do pick up chicks that way sure but it sure will not get positive looks or comments from people. It will get comments such as "attention seeking", "gross", "tacky", "gimmicky", etc.

Honestly, yes, I do pull out the horrible looking hat once in a while just to fuck with people. It sure isn't classy though. It isn't going to get a positive social outcome. It is going to entertain me but it won't be sustaining in a social way. However we did pull out that hat for hat night and it was a great fit with the hat theme. I think we all wore it at one point.

The point, the down and dirty, don't look like a fool to get positive attention because you won't get positive attention, you will be gossip and the brunt of horrible cheesy jokes.

EDIT: put in the bullet points I forgot and fixed the word "peacocking" as it was saying "peacoking" before. Haha pea-coking