Trends. Fads. People wanting to do what everyone else is doing because it's the "it" thing. Whether it's dressing a certain way, decorating one's home in a popular style, or buying a particular product everyone and his brother seems to own, trends can spread like wildfire quickly. But I see trends as overrated. I equate them with the so-called herd mentality, where people are driven to shadow their peers in their choices -- just so they can fit in. I'm not like most people, which is why I don't subscribe to the herd mentality. I'm big on uniqueness and doing whatever you -- not the rest of society -- think is cool, however socially unacceptable it may be. Most people probably don't place me on their "coolest people I know" list. Why? Because I'm not materialistic, I don't drink, and I'm a huge psychology and history geek. Probably not most people's idea of fun. Regardless, I take pride in bucking trends r...

Late musician Kurt Cobain (1967-1994) was once quoted as saying: "You laugh at me because I'm different. I laugh at you because you're all the same." I think the quote perfectly captures a persistent problem in our society: That people are ostracized when they're noticeably different in some way from the mainstream. This runs the gamut from virgins to non-drinkers, introverts to nerds, tree huggers to the extremely religious, childfree to vegan. Herd mentality describes how people are influenced by their peers to take on certain behaviors, follow trends, and/or purchase products. Whether you're contemplating which car to buy, whom to make your next doctor, or what constitutes trendy nowadays, you'll probably take your cue from someone else. It could be a friend, family member, or coworker. The thought of someone who's a little different is unsettling for many people. That, in turns, drives us to do all we can to conform to societal expec...

Have you ever stopped and questioned how some of the things we do and wear got in style? Here are a few fashion fads that might have made our ancestors squirm: Ripped jeans Tattoos Nose and naval rings Short shorts Dying our hair non-traditional colors (pink, purple, etc.) I suppose many people might cite the 1970s as a time when many of these fads came into being.  Nonetheless, the world as we know it is becoming more and more liberal. People feel at ease wearing less, if not more outlandish, clothing these days. What's more, what would have been considered taboo when our parents were growing up -- like men wearing tattoos or earrings on both ears -- is now regarded as trendy.  How do you suppose scantily-clad women in 2015 would have been perceived in the 1980s or early 1990s? Back then, they might have been mistaken for prostitutes. Then there are young men wearing jeans so loose and baggy that their underpants come into view. Who wants to be seeing t...