Subcultures' Influence in My Life

Like some other people who have posted already, I don't consider myself a hardcore member of any particular subculture. However, I definitely share ideals and interests with several subcultures, and they have shaped my life in a deep way. From little things like skimming the fan websites of “cult” TV shows I love, or bonding with new people over music genres we listen to, to larger ones like changing my daily diet to avoid meat, I think that my personality and my interactions with others over the years have been changed and enriched by the subcultures I associate with. They remind me that it's important to keep your passions alive, even—or, in my opinion, especially—when they require that you resist the easy, mainstream road. Too many people hide their quirks for the sake of fitting in, or follow thoughtlessly the rules and restrictions set up by the dominant culture. My associations with my subcultures of choice help me stay true to myself and to remember to second guess the mainstream culture that many people take for granted.