What Is Mainstream?
February 1st, 2009
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It used to be that everybody defined success as being rich. That was mainstream.
Then some people defined success as being happy. They were the minority, going against the mainstream. As more and more people sided with them, they became a bigger and bigger minority.
But now everybody defines success as being happy. Doesn’t that make it the new mainstream?
That’s bad news for people who like to be anti-mainstream. Because for some reason, mainstream is never supposed to be a good thing.
February 1st, 2009 at 4:53 pm
Well then, I’m going to get really ahead of the curve and define success as being peaceful. Does that make me still alternative/grunge/nu metal?
Chris Edgar | Purpose Power Coaching´s last blog post..Inner Productivity, Part Two: Reuniting “Work” And “Life”
February 2nd, 2009 at 2:30 am
“He who has achieved success has lived well, laughed often and loved much; who has gained the respect of intelligent men and the love of little children; who has filled his niche and accomplished his task; who has left the world better than he found it, whether by an improved poppy, a perfect poem, or a rescued soul; who has never lacked appreciation of earth’s beauty or failed to express it; who has always looked for the best in others and given them the best he had; whose life was an inspiration; whose memory a benediction.”
— often atributed to Ralph Waldo Emerson but may not be originally from him.
Evelyn Lim´s last blog post..My Makeover
February 2nd, 2009 at 4:48 pm
Mainstream is bad if you’re a teen. But if you’re older, rebelling against the mainstream just for the sake of rebelling is kind of silly.
I think it’s a combination. Having enough money that you don’t need to worry about your daily expenses, your retirement and your kids’ education, definitely contributes to happiness. It’s one less (major) thing to worry about.
And have you noticed how most of the people who try to redefine happiness try to make money from their blogs/ books? Everyone wants to make money. I wish people would stop lying about it.
Vered – MomGrind´s last blog post..Women And Body Image: Ten Disturbing Facts
February 3rd, 2009 at 12:11 pm
@ Chris, I don’t know what that makes you for now, but when everyone else catches up, it’ll make you mainstream!
@ Evelyn, that’s a great definition of success, though hard to memorize!
@ Vered, LOL at “I wish people would stop lying about it.” For the record, I want to make money too!
February 3rd, 2009 at 3:15 pm
LOL, I agree with Vered.
For me, I don’t care what is considered “mainstream” or “alternative”, I’m just me. As long as I try to do well for/by myself and others, why do I need a label?
And yeah, I too want to make money – call it what you want!
Carla´s last blog post..Is it too late?
February 4th, 2009 at 12:05 am
@ Carla, you don’t need a label here, but some people seem to really like not being “mainstream.” I’m with you – just do what you gotta do!
April 15th, 2009 at 7:37 pm
Success is doing what you want however you want to do it. Mainstream means being accpeted by the larger part of society. In the case of the United States- approval from white folks.
April 15th, 2009 at 7:47 pm
@ Ron, I like that definition of success. But as one of the white folks, I can say that we don’t all approve of the same things.
April 15th, 2009 at 7:56 pm
Hunter, I know that all white folks don’t approve of the same thing. I am saying in general.
Take a look at how things are marketed. For example- Full sized lips. Black women are born with full sized lips, for years blacks were made fun of because of it. But once Angelina Jolie came on the scene all of a sudden full lips are “HOT”.
That’s a very normal situation in the USA. The same thing with RAP music. In the 80′s and 90′s rap music was largly listened to by blacks once it was given the stamp of apporval by white recording execs, “the mainstream”, that’s when the music became a BIG business and somewhat accepted as music.
April 16th, 2009 at 10:42 pm
@ Ron, I wasn’t aware of those stories, but interesting. As for me, the approval of fashion editors and recording execs have little to no influence on me. I don’t see why we can’t all be in charge of our own opinions.
May 8th, 2009 at 1:28 pm
I really just wish i understood this fascination with rebelling against the mainstream, trying to be “unique.” It just seems so silly! Music and the arts should never be looked down simply because others like it.
A lot of my peers seem to think they are individual because they refuse to listen to music that anyone over 25 would listen to, or if they’ve met a few dozen people who share their tastes. Does it really matter? All music stimulates our emotions. Does it really matter if others share our view?
If anyone is against mainstream, please. Enlighten me. I have no idea what is so repulsive about it.
May 8th, 2009 at 9:05 pm
@ Will, I’m against blindly following the herd, but if the herd happens to agree with you, I don’t think that’s a bad thing. Someone else will have to explain the need to rebel for rebellion’s sake!
July 8th, 2010 at 3:10 am
@ Ron, I wasn’t aware of those stories, but interesting. As for me, the approval of fashion editors and recording execs have little to no influence on me. I don’t see why we can’t all be in charge of our own opinions.