This banana is very much like a lot of people I know who get into some weird cults. The so-called “spiritual” stuff that people go for is too often because of clever marketing. Cults, disguised as self-discovery. The separation of self from part of the norm is fine, in my opinion, but when these people start separating themselves from every normal thing, even partial normality, then there’s a problem.
The main question is this: How much non-conformity is too much?
I mean, there’s a certain level of conformity that you have to maintain. I’m just wondering where exactly that line should be drawn. If you drop out of the clothed-human crowd, then you’ve drawn the line at clothes. If you drop out of the cleanliness church, then you give up hygiene, and you’ve drawn the line at soap. If you drop out of the casual conversation gospel, then you might go either to the habit of blurting random thoughts out in front of new acquaintances, or to avoiding conversations altogether. All of these are great ways to limit your relationships—if that’s what you were trying to do.
If you didn’t mean to burn the friendly bridges, then I guess you should have asked yourself the question: How much non-conformity is too much?
Can you get along okay in society if you’ve given up the conformity of keeping mind-altering drugs out of your system? How long can you keep that up before you’re talking nonsense to a fire hydrant on the street? How long can you maintain that non-conformity before you’re a drooling meat-bag?
Can you get along fine in the world if you refuse to wear enough clothes to cover your dangling, sagging parts that no one else really wants to see? Have you ever asked anyone in your circle of friends how many clothes you need to remain normal? Many establishments, especially food-oriented ones, have a strict pants policy, and a fairly rigid shirts and shoes policy. That’s a good guide. If you’re swimming, go ahead and take your shirt and shoes off, but if you’re going to get a taco with some friends, cover your parts.
Can you get along okay, in society, if you drug up AND disrobe? Not likely. And these are only two examples. There are many more ways to become non-conformist crazy. If you find yourself losing friends: take a look at how far separated from normal you are. Are you the whole banana, or are you being sliced by the influences around you? How many degrees of separate are you? And how much non-conformity is too much?
Xenosthesia.com 