Tryin' to be Hot

Remember high school fads? When people stopped thinking for themselves and joined the crowd, doing whatever the metamind told them to? When Tamogatchis became appealing, Survivor held meaning and those little Pog things looked like a wise investment? However, the high king of all stupid fads would definitely have had to be anything and everything Hot Topic. I do not know what kind of people first bought clothing at that store, but I think most of us experienced a Hot Topic wave in our high schools. \nIt seemed the majority of people in high school social life were required to pick between being "in," subscribing to a narrow variety of clothing and music, or being "out." In recent times the definition of "out" coalesced into one class of clothing, one genre of music and one name brand store: Hot Topic. Out of this "out" culture, Hot Topic-ites formed a rebellion, dressing in a uniform for all to see. A skinny white guy would walk by wearing a black shirt with plain white text upon its front: "This is the shirt I wear when I don't give a crap." "Original," some thought, classifying this boy as someone who had rejected societal norms in favor of finding his own, personalized route. Another young man strolled down the hall with a shirt with red lettering: "Just be happy I'm not your kid." Again, some classified this rebel in a similar vein as the first, but no less original. However, utilitarian sarcasm is not a universal method of adolescent rebellion. Both of these shirts could be had at Hot Topic, and it was Hot Topic that was nearly requiring that societal rebels join the "popular" side if they were going to be different at all.\nThere is no problem with a group of people acting different than the norm, even if they all act different in the same way. However, Hot Topic bloated to such proportions that there was only one way to be "different" in many high schools. "You laugh at me because I'm different. I laugh at you because you're all the same," says one shirt. Not one of the 28 different people I have seen wearing this shirt must have thought about how they were all the same, too. Many of us joined the "I'm different than all of you" crowd, sometimes vehemently spouting curses at the "normal" people, but why? Some people joined the Hot Topic crowd not because it actually fit them, but because of peer pressure. This, from what was supposed to be an expression of individuality? This brand of dress, attitude and music was a fad, and while it was not getting everyone, it was definitely mainstream. The rest of us had to put up with such banter as: "I'm unique! Look, I have a shirt that says so, and a button that says so, and a wallet chain that says so and a leather bracelet that says so ..."\nHot Topic remains a strong force in my old high school. However, here at IU I'm glad to say I find something refreshingly different. There are still cliques, groups, clubs and fads. But very rarely do I see groups of people in lockstep hawking their "individuality." This might be true of all universities, but I see more and more people at IU who are truly extraordinary and unique that do not dwell on these facts, but look at the similarities between themselves and the rest of the human race. A nursing student from Alabama and a music performance major from Asia seem to have very little in common, yet I see them playing checkers together at the Indiana Memorial Union. These two who barely share a language find common ground, and it makes me happy. So, to the students of IU: Thank you, for trying to break down the barriers between you and those around you. And to those of you who are not: Get with it already! What are you, some kind of square?