When you're free to be who you are, you're also free to be who you want to be...

[MrScorpio]

4. Oh, yeah… There's this idea in this country that someone can buy their own authenticity

When usually what they're really doing is buying someone else's ideal.

That's pretty much why I was never into name brands and things that are more expensive than what they're worth. This is also why I would never want to live in some rich, gated community.

Also, there is always a certain amount of conformity in "counterculture". Some mistake non-cooperation with non-conformity. Even the outsiders can create other outsiders.

My artist background has taught me that, for me to be unique, I have to create my own ideal instead of grafting on to someone else's. I choose to cooperate or not cooperate, because the key component is choice.

When you have that, then there's no need to punish others for being free in who they really are.