If the word “Hipster” makes you cringe, if you’ve had enough of people parading around in Nirvana T-shirts without knowing a single song other than “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” if you feel the need to scream every time someone says they “only listen to weird music that literally no one else likes”, then join the club my friend.

Over the course of the past five years, it has become a trend to be “weird” or different from mainstream culture. The overarching concept surrounding the issue is that people are trying to change their entire personality to fit a mold seen as unique. However, because so many people are trying to adapt this style, there is a paradox in that by being abnormal you are actually in the midst of a larger conforming movement.

I spoke to Seniors Libby Mattson, Emma Cunningham, Tori Davenport, and Libby Wickham to find out how people feel about the new trend and how protective they are over their own style.

“ I feel like a child who works at a library, in personality and clothing. I like the way I dress and I wouldn’t want to change.” Mattson said.

“Can I say sleepy grunge? I feel my style is unique to me simply because it’s what I want to wear and I’m piecing the clothes together as I want to. Not necessarily that I’m going out of my way to be different.” Cunningham said.

“Everyone gets inspiration from everyone. It depends on the way you carry and own yourself. I don’t feel angry when people have things in common with me because that means I have others to talk to. What annoys me is when someone pretends they’ve liked something way back when they didn’t.” Wickham said.

“I definitely get defensive if people copy my style because I do want to be unique but I also feel like I should be flattered if I influence anyone.” Davenport said.

Personally, I become easily irritated if I know someone is trying to be something they’re not, mostly because I have a deep appreciation for people who don’t have a problem being themselves, but if someone else genuinely likes the same things I do and understands the things I feel to be important, then I couldn’t care less if we wear the same shoes or listen to the same bands. It’s plain to see that it’s becoming very common for people to want that essence of “weirdness” but perhaps the issue actually resides at a deeper level. I believe people are still trying to figure out who they are.