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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Looking the part | Looking the part |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Is this what a sociology student should look like? | Is this what a sociology student should look like? |
| Not everybody looks the part when it comes to more stereotyped areas of our lives, writes Laurie Taylor in his weekly column for the Magazine. | Not everybody looks the part when it comes to more stereotyped areas of our lives, writes Laurie Taylor in his weekly column for the Magazine. |
| Nigel was probably the only student on my sociology course in the early 1970s who was not actively working for the overthrow of the capitalist state. | Nigel was probably the only student on my sociology course in the early 1970s who was not actively working for the overthrow of the capitalist state. |
| Although he was surrounded by young people of his own age who spent every minute of their free time reading revolutionary texts and preparing banners for the forthcoming occupation of the administration block or the next big London demo against the war in Vietnam, Nigel remained politically aloof. | Although he was surrounded by young people of his own age who spent every minute of their free time reading revolutionary texts and preparing banners for the forthcoming occupation of the administration block or the next big London demo against the war in Vietnam, Nigel remained politically aloof. |
| This attitude alone was enough to irritate his fellow students. But Nigel chose to supplement his demeanour with a lifestyle which seemed designed to arouse their radical fury. | This attitude alone was enough to irritate his fellow students. But Nigel chose to supplement his demeanour with a lifestyle which seemed designed to arouse their radical fury. |
| No bicycle for Nigel. He would arrive every morning at the university in a battered open-top sports car which he parked aggressively alongside the crowded bike shed. | No bicycle for Nigel. He would arrive every morning at the university in a battered open-top sports car which he parked aggressively alongside the crowded bike shed. |
| Or is this more like it? | Or is this more like it? |
| Neither did he make any concessions whatsoever to the sartorial conventions adhered to by other students. Whereas they largely opted for battered trainers, grubby tie-dyed shirts and faded ripped jeans, he was invariably to be found in heavy brown brogues, houndstooth suit (with double vent), clean open-necked shirt and a silk cravat. | Neither did he make any concessions whatsoever to the sartorial conventions adhered to by other students. Whereas they largely opted for battered trainers, grubby tie-dyed shirts and faded ripped jeans, he was invariably to be found in heavy brown brogues, houndstooth suit (with double vent), clean open-necked shirt and a silk cravat. |
| He was, inevitably, taken to task by his fellow students. I recall one seminar in which the topic was Herbert Marcuse's neo-Marxian argument that students were well-suited to be the vanguard of the forthcoming revolution against contemporary corporate capitalism. | He was, inevitably, taken to task by his fellow students. I recall one seminar in which the topic was Herbert Marcuse's neo-Marxian argument that students were well-suited to be the vanguard of the forthcoming revolution against contemporary corporate capitalism. |
| As usual, Nigel had done the required reading. He was perfectly au fait with Marcuse's reinterpretation of Marx's concept of surplus value and able to give me a more than adequate account of repressive de-sublimation. | As usual, Nigel had done the required reading. He was perfectly au fait with Marcuse's reinterpretation of Marx's concept of surplus value and able to give me a more than adequate account of repressive de-sublimation. |
| It was at this point in the seminar that one of the more radical students, a hairy young man called Paul, wondered aloud about why Nigel bothered to read Marcuse in the first place if he had no interest in changing the present system. | It was at this point in the seminar that one of the more radical students, a hairy young man called Paul, wondered aloud about why Nigel bothered to read Marcuse in the first place if he had no interest in changing the present system. |
| Nigel was his usual calm self. He explained to Paul and the rest of the group that it was perfectly true that he didn't wish to change the present system. He rather liked the present system. | Nigel was his usual calm self. He explained to Paul and the rest of the group that it was perfectly true that he didn't wish to change the present system. He rather liked the present system. |
| FIND OUT MORE Hear Laurie Taylor's Thinking Allowed on Radio 4 at 1600 on Wednesdays or 0030 on MondaysOr download the podcast here | FIND OUT MORE Hear Laurie Taylor's Thinking Allowed on Radio 4 at 1600 on Wednesdays or 0030 on MondaysOr download the podcast here |
| That was why, he went on, he was a conservative with a small "c". But that didn't mean - and I seem to recall that at this point he elegantly adjusted his cravat - that he had no interest in reading books by those who held a contrary opinion. | That was why, he went on, he was a conservative with a small "c". But that didn't mean - and I seem to recall that at this point he elegantly adjusted his cravat - that he had no interest in reading books by those who held a contrary opinion. |
| This was far too much for Paul. He proceeded to round on Nigel and denounce not only his political views by his style of life. He was particularly exercised by his dress code. | This was far too much for Paul. He proceeded to round on Nigel and denounce not only his political views by his style of life. He was particularly exercised by his dress code. |
| "Why," he demanded, "do you have to wear those ridiculous clothes? You only do it to annoy. Why don't you dress like other students? Why do you make such an exhibition of yourself with your well-pressed suit and your polished shoes and that silk thing you wear around your neck? Why do you make yourself look like a country squire? Why are you such a conformist?" | "Why," he demanded, "do you have to wear those ridiculous clothes? You only do it to annoy. Why don't you dress like other students? Why do you make such an exhibition of yourself with your well-pressed suit and your polished shoes and that silk thing you wear around your neck? Why do you make yourself look like a country squire? Why are you such a conformist?" |
| Nigel was unperturbed. "I'll tell you something," he said, gently. "If I were to look underneath all your scruffy T-shirts and ripped and faded jeans I know I'd find perfectly clean fresh-on-this morning underwear. But if you were to remove my suit you'd find that I'd been wearing the same pants and vest for the last week. I think, therefore, you could say that my non-conformity runs a little deeper than yours." | Nigel was unperturbed. "I'll tell you something," he said, gently. "If I were to look underneath all your scruffy T-shirts and ripped and faded jeans I know I'd find perfectly clean fresh-on-this morning underwear. But if you were to remove my suit you'd find that I'd been wearing the same pants and vest for the last week. I think, therefore, you could say that my non-conformity runs a little deeper than yours." |
| When I was cycling home that night I suddenly found myself flanked by Nigel in his open-top sports car. | When I was cycling home that night I suddenly found myself flanked by Nigel in his open-top sports car. |
| "Goodnight, professor," he shouted, before stamping on the accelerator and racing at high speed towards the next bend. I can't swear to it, but I think he may have shouted "poop poop" as he sped away. | "Goodnight, professor," he shouted, before stamping on the accelerator and racing at high speed towards the next bend. I can't swear to it, but I think he may have shouted "poop poop" as he sped away. |
| A selection of your comments appears below. | |
| Having spent some serious time away from my city job, travelling through India, I can also tell you for certain that the "drop-out generation" who travel in India on their neo-hippy missions are about as conformist and fundamentalist as you can get....the shabby clothes, the unwashed hair, the extreme views on the environment and other social fads......they're all faked. Those who consider themselves least conformist often overcompensate by associating with too similarly-minded people, thus becoming their own horde of homogeneity! I doubt they'd even admit the irony!Chris K, London | |
| I've often thought that the supposed anti-conformists are just conforming to a different norm. In some ways there is no difference between a lawyer putting on a designer suit, a surfer choosing a particular brand of wetsuit and a goth and their tight black jeans. Seems that many people want to use clothes to express their personality. Might be nice if we could have a little more confidence in our personalities to express themselves!Alice (who has lots of different types of clothes and often agonises over which ones best suit the image she wants to project), London | |
| Ah the old dress code conundrum! When I started work in the Civil Service I was told off for not wearing a collar and tie. Six months later, I moved to a new office and was told off for wearing a collar and tie. My manager told me that I had already been told about my dress code at my previous office and I really ought to know better!!!Bernie Furlong, Yatton, N. Somerset | |
| I do always love some people's idea of being a non-conformist: by doing the same things as all the other "non-conformists"Ian, Newcastle | |
| Fantastic. Just goes to demonstrate how we all conform in one way or another. Even if we do chose non-conformity en masse as our method! Rachel, Surrey, UK | |
| As someone who has both struggled for individuality whilst at the same time trying to blend into the background through natural timidity, I can only stand and salute the Nigel's of this world. People who have the courage to be entirely themselves. | |
| Ian, Redditch | |
| I like to wear jackets and blazers. When asked why I conform in such a manner I laugh and look around at almost everyone else wearing jeans, trainers and t-shirts with 'amusing' designs.James Stuart, London | |
| So the big question is where is Nigel now?Stuart Singleton-White, Reading, UK |