BEING ALTERNATIVE ISNT A COMPETITION

whenever im online I constantly see people asking how they can "be more alternative" or comments under posts degrading others in their subculture (I.e. those stupid "jirai maxxing" accounts..) and it just doesn't make sense. the sole point of being alternative is being yourself and expressing what you stand for. yes, subcultures rely on political beliefs and music taste typically, which leaves me to question why we as a community created a set standard for ourselves physically? as soon as we push ourselves into a set box we kill the whole point of individuality and being "different" as a whole. my grammar is so poor in this writing but I hope you understand what im getting at. just because you dont look "naturally alternative" or whatever people on tiktok say, doesn't mean youre not welcomed in the community <3