Responses of University of Buffalo Freshman Honors Students

Individuality is rebellion with an open mind. Think of one person you  would consider an individual, do they follow every social convention?  Individuals often are not afraid to break away from they way things are supposed to be and to do what they want regardless. Some people  think that they are individual on their social networking sites but I  do not believe that this is true because they are doing nothing different then everyone around them. Whether it’s dressing against  the norm, making a new form of art, or speaking theirs minds,  individuals are there to try to make others think. That is another  requirement in my eyes; they have to be able to command an audience. They do not have to have fan though, negative press is just as good  as good press. As long as what they do is on people’s minds there is the ability to influence them and to make a change.

Individuals must have an open mind. If they cannot see the world around them from many different angles they cannot begin to think out of the box, or to be individual. Also if they refuse to listen to the opposition, how can they truly debate their viewpoint and make themselves seem valid? They may be stubborn but individuals do not  hide away and refuse to hear from those around them. If someone has these qualities and can think creatively then they could easily be considered an individual. 

In college it is hard sometimes to get a good view of the world because many end up on a college track that they devote their time to. As students we should reach out and take different classes because then we have even more information to use in every aspect of our careers and courses.

Amanda Adams

amandaad@buffalo.edu

You are right in saying that individuals must have an open mind. A conformist is very close-minded and will not listen to anything that departs from the convention. Only somebody who has an open mind can even consider what is available outside of the rigid conventions of the traditional society.

You have used the word rebellion in connection with individuality. Those who refuse to conform to the majority and want to strike out on their own will certainly have to rebel in order to assert their own individuality. In a sense rebellion and individuality do go together. Many notable individuals in history have been rebels. For example Karl Marx was a rebellious individual who refused to believe that capitalistic mode of economy is the only worthwhile social system. He envisioned the possibility of a communist mode of production and a classless society and this necessitated his emergence as a rebel. Luther who initiated the Protestant Reformation was a rebel who looked at the functioning of the Church with a different perspective and saw that so many things could be changed.

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When I hear the word individuality, I think about how people stand out from one another. Growing up it has always been instilled that everyone is unique in their own and that no two people are the same. Now there is another train of thought that says people are actually more similar and that we aren't really individuals. I think that is wrong because no matter what you do there will always be something that is going to separate you from the person standing next to you. There are too many variables in what makes a person themselves that anyone else can be exactly like that person. I don't understand how people can be thought of not being individuals. When just thinking about the meaning of the word it means one person or thing from a group. So just by that definition every single person is already an individual. Its not right for society to not consider people indivduals just because one may not be as talented as another. Its true that in the world we live in today being creative and outstanding is what makes us stand out but even if we aren't as creative as someone else doesn't mean we worth less than someone else.

I believe that today there are more ways for people to develop their individuality even more. Technology has definitely made expressing oneself a lot easier than it used to be. Now you can go on youtube, or facebook, or twitter and just tell everyone what you think without anyone stopping you. By having more freedom and more ways of expressing ourselves society is becoming more creative and people are becoming more and more different from each other. Other than technology I think individuality is definitely affected by the environments in which we grow up in. If people are exposed to more arts than someone else than maybe they would be more creative than the other person but nonetheless both people are still individuals. Everyone is an individual but the amount of individuality in each person is different.

Shelly Bendit

shellyb91@gmail.com 

You are right in saying that everybody is unique and that no two persons are the same.  Uniqueness and Individuality are related concepts. The more individualistic a person is the more unique he becomes. The founding father of my nation Mahatma Gandhiji was unique as well as very individualistic. His concept of non-violence as a tool for gaining  political freedom was a unique concept and that singled him out as a special individual in the freedom fight of India.

Uniqueness is so pervasive that even twins do not share the same finger prints. You are trying to say that common people who are not notables can also be individuals to the extent they arrange their lives in some special way.Individuality by its very specialty will tend to make the person possessing it become a notable person in whichever field he or she is operating. A teacher who has evolved his own independent teaching methods will not remain one of the many teachers in the school he is operating. He is bound to be noticed by his students as well as other teachers in the school. It may be a small circle but still within that circle he will become a notable person. So there is no way a person can exhibit individuality while at the same time remaining a non-entity.                

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Many of the people participating in the forum are older, professionals. We would be able to offer a new and different perspective then what they have already. They haven't been in school in some time and therefore do not remember it completely, and times have changed since then. We would be able to discuss both individuality in high school and college, major parts in a persons life when they find out who they are going to be. College is a time when students begin to discover themselves and decide where they want to go with life. It is a major component in a person's individuality.

Therefore, I think since we are currently living through such an important time of growth and discovery we should talk about that. We should tell our stories, about what we think individuality is in this point in our lives. Our generation has new issues which may have an influence on  individuality is technology, reality television, and the influence on of celebrities. With technology our generation uses Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and the Internet in general. Facebook and Twitter allow for people to say what they want and post comments and pictures, which may show their individuality. With reality television and celebrities this may take away from individuality because people are trying to be like these people they see on the TV or the Internet. Instead of being themselves they try to act and dress like others because they think that if they do they will be able to have their lifestyle. This takes away from a person's individuality because their trying to be like others.

In the end I don't think the forum should even come up with a set definition of what individuality is. Individuals are people who are themselves. They act and think originally and are who they are. By giving a set of characteristics of what makes someone an individual you are taking away from the whole concept. An individual is someone are act as themselves and therefore cannot be described in a list. First off because there are so many different traits and aspects that would make up the definition of an individual that it would be impossible to finish. Also because people start changing in order to become what the characteristics tell them. A person will look at what makes someone an individual and then think that they have to make themselves into the person described in order to become an individual. But by doing this they are actually becoming less of individual because they are being the person a list criteria says they should be rather then being themselves. That is the reason I think that if we are going to contribute to the forum we should tell our own stories. We should tell of why, at our age, we are individuals and what makes us an individual. Everyone's characteristics will be different because everyone is different. We are all our own person, with our own emotions, beliefs and attitudes and therefore we are all individuals.

Paige Bouley

paigebou@buffalo.edu   

You have carried individuality to the extreme position whereby no one should tell anybody else how they should be and what values and goals they should adopt. It is fine in theory but this can be practiced only in an anarchic society where there is total freedom and no legal restrictions of any kind binding on the citizens. Parents feel bound to teach their children what values they believe in and teachers in schools and bosses in    an office will definitely tell students and subordinates about their own belief systems and values and these people cannot be stopped from imposing their views on others around.

The basic concepts underlining the phenomenon of Individuality are certainly worth elucidation and exposition. However any person is free to accept the whole of it or only certain appealing aspects. As Saraswati, a colleague of mine has pointed out, there are different levels in the expression of individuality such as the physical, social and mental etc. A person  may be interested in developing all these dimensions of individuality within himself but may feel deterred to go on to the topmost level of spiritual individuality as he may not even believe in the existence of the spiritual dimension of the human personality. What he refuses to label as the spiritual dimension he may in effect accept in the garb of ethical dimension by which he tries to cultivate goodness, truthfulness and service-mindedness etc. He is free to reject labels and pursue the development of his individuality in whichever manner he envisions it.

Each person however literally lives in his or her own world and must face the consequences of such a unique world picture they see around themselves. For some it is advantageous while for some others it is detrimental. It is difficult to say whether this is for the better or worse.

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I do not think that it would be necessary for us to have a class consensus on what individuality is. Because of the generation gap between us and the older contributers to the WAAS, we probably have a slightly different view towards individuality than they. Perhaps if they see our views they may think about the issue from a different perspective. Everyone is an individual.  Everyone has certain strengths and weaknesses, they like and dislike certain things, and they act differently.  Many people misunderstand individuality as appearing to be different from everyone else, usually by having a different physical appearance.  Individuality should be about being yourself and not trying to be like everyone else.  It is not necessarily related to physical appearance.  If you everyone shares similar interests however that is not a bad thing.  People who are truly individuals are confident and not self-conscious about themselves.  Individuals are open to new ideas.  They are willing to fight to achieve their dreams. Technology can assist us in expressing our individuality but at the same time may pressure some into giving up their individuality.  It exposes us to new ideas and an almost unlimited amount of information.  It may help us discover what we enjoy doing and are interested in.  At the same time, websites such as Facebook may cause some people to be pressured into conforming.   They may not want to be seen as different from everyone else.

Nikita Butakov

boutakovn@gmail.com     

Society certainly has a powerful determining influence in the lives of its members. Very few can escape that all pervasive influence. In India before  1970s people were obsessed with notions of security, safe jobs and respectable status etc. Now the young generation in India is more enterprising and adventuresome and less diffident about violating social conventions. Whatever be the prevailing social climate, each individual can have his or her own individual adaptation that sets him or her as slightly apart from the rest. For example the prevailing trend in India among the young generation is to make a lot of money by entering the IT industry    as opposed to the conventional government service or traditional businesses. However while the majority of IT professionals earn their income in order to lead a good and comfortable life, an individualistic IT professional can choose to use his IT earnings for a noble cause that sets him apart from the  normal ITbrigade that spends all that money in eating, boozing and sight-seeing etc. He can for example use his earnings to set up a trust for helping handicapped people to come up in life or a trust to put up a hospital in a remote area without proper medical facilities etc. Such an individual is conformist to the extent he has joined the IT industry like everyother young person in the country. But at the same time he is an individual since his particular use of his earnings is unique to himself and not like the other youngsters in IT who only want to spend their earnings and enjoy what they call a good life.      

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I think that individuality is a slightly misunderstood topic.  It is important to think about what makes us individual, how we express it, and how it affects society.  In this way, we can do some self-reflection and decide if we are putting our best foot into society.  Many leaders and innovators often break free from many of the norms of society and take their own approach.  This can be beneficial.  Those who are not afraid to step into the unknown and take risks, even if it makes them different or they are judged are generally the people who change the world. However, that does not need to be everyone.  Some people are meant  to fit into society, otherwise there would be no cultural norm. These people are not inferior in any way.  In fact, it is degrading to ask the question, "Is this person an individual?" Yes. Everyone is an individual, by definition.  No one is truly a faceless, idealess, member of society with no personal thoughts or aspirations.  Therefore, although someone may not act out of line or be particularly boisterous or revolutionary, they are still valuable as an individual. The question we should be asking is how can we capitalize on our individual traits in a way that stays true to who we were meant to be and benefits society.  We should be confident of the fact that we are individuals and then from there decide if we were meant to stand out and be an agent of change, which we should not be afraid to do, or should carry on as we are.  There is no point in sticking out and going against the grain for no reason.

I think what the WAAS forum wanted to discuss is what made us individuals--what forms our personalities and makes us who we are. That is greatly influenced by our upbringing.  Major factors are family, religious upbringing, culture, and friends.  Something slightly paradoxical is that society shapes individuals, but is also made up of individuals.

Jennifer Cockrell

jlcockre@buffalo.edu

A society where each and every person is a self-sustaining individual is what we are aiming at. But that is very difficult to bring about. The majority will remain conformist for a long time to come while a significant minority can take efforts to become true individuals.

As my colleague Saraswathi has pointed out the collectivity and the individual have a mutually beneficial and complimentary relationship with one another. The individual accelerates the progress of the collectivity by his innovative actions while the collectivity supports him in so many other ways. One cannot exist without the other.

The potential for developing individuality exists in everyman and one need not come to a conclusion that he has nothing to contribute by developing his individuality. People are so preoccupied with following the general social trends that they have little time to isolate themselves from the rest of the society, look at themselves as a separate person and see what unique attributes they have and how they can be developed. If enough time is given for such introspection everybody will find amazing treasures within oneself that they should bring out. The flowering of one’s individuality may require courage, independence, persistence and original thinking etc. Without the support of these positive qualities one may find it very hard to emerge as an independent individual.

 

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We had an interesting discussion on how we can contribute to the Project Individuality as college freshman. First of all, I think we can definitely contribute to the project in our ways. I don't think we should be intimidated by the intellectual responses that we read from the 'professionals'. The reason that they agreed to have our participation is that they are interested in our perspective. I think we should appreciate that and try to make the best of the limited time we have. I agree with what David said in class, that we tend to all focus on how individualist we each are, and overlook what makes us similar. Some people have made a conscious decision and chose to live their lives by obeying the social norms. Are these people not expressing their individuality by doing so? I believe individuality has to do with one's attitude towards life. To be able to become whomever you want to be, the average Joe or a social outcast, requires lots courage and being comfortable with yourself. To me, that is individualism. One way we can explore this topic is using new social networking media on the internet such as Facebook, Twitter, and Youtube. Many Youtubers put themselves out there on the internet and shares their stories and beliefs despite numerous cruel comments. I think it will be interesting if we are able to contact some of the top video makers and have them talk about what they think about individuality in forms on video skits or rants. Many popular Youtubers are young, and are from different backgrounds, so I'm sure their ideas will be valuable to the overall project.

Lin Feng Guan

lingfengg@buffalo.edu  

Your  view point that even those who choose to conform to the general norms of society are also individuals is a little untenable. One needs courage only to differ from society and not to fall in line. A white American marrying another white lady is only conforming to the general trend. But a white boy marrying a black girl may raise eyebrows and it definitely requires courage on his part to go ahead with his wishes. This does not however mean that all conformist behaviour reflects lack of individuality. An individual may come to a certain decision based on his own convictions. In implementing that he may end up giving a conformist appearance when he joins a group of like-minded individuals. For example corruption is rampant in my country India. An youngster fresh out of college may decide on his own that even if he becomes a government officer he should not take money and become corrupt. When he does join a government office to his surprise he may find that most of them in them in the office he is joining have chosen not to be corrupt. When he joins such a group to outsiders he may simply look like a conformist. But it is really not so. He has taken a good decision already and life has put him in a group of similar individuals thus giving an apparent conformist appearance. Conversely not all rejection of majority views would mean a display of individuality either. Supposing most of the officers in a government office are honest and corruption free. A new recruit chooses to take money and become corrupt. He is advised by others to be honest like them. But if he refuses and insists on becoming corrupt he may function differently from others. But this cannot be taken as an exhibition of a healthy individuality but as merely succumbing to his wrong impulses.

Many American youngsters  rejected the prevailing American values in the 1970s and came over to India seeking something more deeper than money-centered values of their native country. Many were opposed by their parents but they were courageous and stuck to their decisions and came over here. Had they chosen to fall in line with their parental wishes it would have been an easy task. It is their wish to be different from their parents that led to a clash and consequent necessity for courage to back up their resolution.                                

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With the semester winding down, I don't think that we can manage to do much as a class. I think the best way to contribute to the World Academy is to just input our ideas. There were a lot of good ideas brought up in Tuesday's class. I think that we should make a post with all of our suggestions to the Academy to see what they think. Below are some ideas that I have for the World Academy. From childhood we are all told that we are supposed to be individuals. To learn to be unique and stand apart form our peers. If we all are individuals, then why do we only choose to identify individuals as those that have made major accomplishments, achievements, or contributions to our society. I think that the World Academy is taking a flawed approach to addressing the problem of what is an individual. I think that the Academy should take a closer look at the common individual, what makes us each unique, as well as the notorious individuals.

To examine the individuality of the common person, requires the input of people from a broad range of society. Currently, most of the participants are professionals in their respective fields, educated people from mostly modernized countries. This is but a small percentage of people in the world. How does the average middle class American distinguish himself in society? How does a poor farmer in Africa express his individuality. Does a Buddhist monk see himself as an individual? To find these answers we need to get these people involved somehow in the discussion.

I think that the World Academy also need to look at the individuals who were considered notorious and harmful to society. They too were individuals who expressed their individuality in a way that did not benefit society. While being an individual has its benefits, we should also examine the harm that individualism brings. For example, Adolf Hitler was a unique individual. Some call him a genius in the way he was able to conquer almost all of Europe. He swayed massive amounts of people to believe in his ideas and support his cause. He was steadfast in his ideals and forced society to conform to him But his individualism led to the outbreak of World War Two, to the death and suffering of millions of people world wide. By expressing his individuality, he brought pain and suffering to a whole generation of people. Is this to be admired? No, but we must acknowledge the fact that individualism is not always beneficial. Knowing that individuality can be both positive and negative, we should look to identify the individuals in our society who are shaping it. They may be unknowns, some crazy inventor working in his mom's basement, a lab researcher in China, or even a school teacher in Tehran. All of the great and evil individuals were not identified until after they did something miraculous. But is it possible to find them before they do something that can change the world. Is it possible to find future Hitler's and stop them from becoming notorious individuals? Is it possible to help the next Edison create the next life changing invention? Is it possible to help inspire more people to become the next Einstein? It may be true that we are all individuals, but what makes an individuals stand out amongst his peers? Is there some factor that we can zero in on to help us find the great individuals of the future and to help nurture their development?

Here are just a few of the ideas that I have on the topic. Hope that it makes sense to all of you.

David Huoh

davidhuo@buffalo.edu 

Certainly gifted children clearly exhibit signs of their genius even when they are only 7 or 8 years old. The school teacher for Napoleon commented in his school report that the boy was unusually ambitious for his age.  He did prove to be extraordinarily ambitious as he tried to bring all of Europe under his control.

No doubt Hitler was a persuasive leader who mesmerized millions of Germans with his powerful oratory and made them plunge headlong into his disastrous schemes for a German empire in Europe. But our definition of Individuality is an inherently positive definition and refers to those unique attributes of each person that helps him accomplish in a meaningful manner that adds to the development of the society while at the same time setting him apart from others. By this definition Hitler though standing apart from others was doing nothing to benefit society but was only threatening the very basis of European civilization and as such he is not a true individual.  True individuals are those who take society forward and not backward. Hitler in rousing the hostility of the Germans against the Jews was only reviving basic  subconscient dislike of insiders against outsiders which is there in all communities. Bringing that subsconsient feeling to the surface and organizing it as a mass hysteria is clearly a backward step in the social evolution of humanity and for that Hitler needs to be branded a retrograde personality and not a positive individual.         

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Individuality is an extremely broad topic.  There are many things that can be encompassed into this topic, including, but not limited too:  The propensity of a person to differentiaite themselves from a crowd based on personal beliefs, the cultural, parental, and religious effects upon one's feeling of differentation or one's pursuit of individuality, The extent to which all persons are differentiated from one another, and are therefore "individuals", and the effects of the individualization of a population on the general well-being of said population. It is my personal opinion that it is impossible to say that all people are not to a certain extent individuals.  Everyone has their own thoughts, their own opinions, and their own style, despite , what the powers that be would prefer.  The human condition would be nothing without the ability to deviate from the norm.  Imagine a world such as that, where their is not deviation...how incredibly dull and meaningless it would all be. This is what seperates us from the animals. It is also certainly true that different individuals, as well as certain groups of people, seek to radically deviate themselves from the normal confines of society.  While many may signal out the great inventors, philosphers, musicians, and artists as well crafted individuals, it is important to point out that those termed "less successful" by the socially accepted definition of success should also readily be considered individuals. It is easy by those "intellectuals" of a higher social standing to denounce the punks, the anarchists, the Dungeons & Dragons obsessed basement dwellers, the gothic cliques, the Dead Heads, or the Ed Woodian B-film directors and aficionados as "nihilistic losers", "privy louts", or "the everyman".  I would like to express that what makes these people individuals is their personal definition of success.  There are those who find happiness and success by finding unity among similarly inclined individuals.  Others who wish escape from their oppressive environments, or acceptance in a life devoid of such a simple pleasure.  Then there are those who find success by doing what they love and foregoing outside opinion of the matter.  This deviation from the intellectuals, and similarly the publics at large definition of success, is what makes these people individuals.  Therefore we are all individuals, poised to obtain our own goals in the crazy whirlwind that is the human life. It is important the the WAAS consider the collegiate perspective on individuality.  As a college student, I have been thrust into a situation where the decisions that are made about my life are my own.  Given this position of power which up until this point, did not rest solely upon my shoulders, the newfound freedom can be overwhelming. Acceptance is still sought after, the comfortable normality of home a gentle reminder during breaks, and at first, these may seem a hinderance to one's individuality.  However, once one grows accustomed to this freedom, the individuality of youth is reestablished, and is further expounded upon by the feelings that one's future is truly and ultimately in one's hands.

Thank You.  My speech is finished, and the soapbox is being removed from my feet.

Charles Lavallee

charlesl@buffalo.edu   

Certainly each person is an individual in his own way in his own sphere of life and nowhere has it been said that only distinguished people are fit to be called individuals. In a small circle of relatives if the majority have taken to salaried employment but only one of them has chosen to be self-employed, to that extent he is an individual even if his operations are very small. The signs of individuality are courage, originality, self-reliance, persistence and a keen perception that discovers what is not visible to others. All these characteristics are linked to accomplishment also and therefore individuals with such characteristics invariably accomplish a lot if they take the necessary efforts.

The transition period for a teenager when he shifts from parental reliance to self-reliance will be to some extent painful for the time being. But as you say once the transition is over and the new-found freedom becomes familiar the dawning individuality will be an enjoyable experience.

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Subject: Matthew Leibowitz on Individuality

Individuality is about being yourself no matter if it is accepted or not.  I think individuality is having the courage to not follow other peoples thoughts and ideas if you do not agree with them. It is necessary to do whatever you think is morally right in order to be an individual.  Otherwise you become the opposite of an individual; you become the person whose ideas you are following. It is not necessary to always be a leader to be an individual, but it is essential to formulate thoughts based on what you believe and not based on what others tell you to believe. I think as a teenage college student that individuality is more important than ever.  What we do and think now will formulate the rest of our lives, not just academically, but socially and physically.  Of course we are at the time of our lives where we get to pick the career we want to go in but we also get to choose the type of person that we want to be for the rest of our lives. The habits we make now will carry with us.  You may ask what this has to do with individuality?

The merriam webster dictionary definition of individuality is  a : total character peculiar to and distinguishing an individual from others b : personality.  Most people think that it takes a distinguishing achievement to be an individual but I do not think this is true.  If you are following what you believe, that is enough of a distinguishing achievement in my mind to be considered an individual. I hope we can help the WAAS with our responses, but besides formulating our opinions on individuality I do not think we can be of much help.

Sincerely,

Matthew Leibowitz

mgleibow@buffalo.edu    I agree with your definition of individuality as the capacity for doing what one believes to be right even if others do not approve of what one is doing.   Let us take nuclear disarmament for example. None of the nuclear powers are willing to totally give up their nuclear capability at present. Suppose Obama takes a bold stand and declares that the U.S will destroy all its nuclear arsenal and will never make these bombs again, he may be laughed at by fellow American politicians and perhaps a good deal of the American citizens as doing something foolish.  If he is a true individual he should persist with his resolution and that can turn the situation around and bring the other nuclear powers to toe his line though in the transition period he will invite a lot of protests and ridicule from within the country and outside.     

What the American President can do on the international arena can be repeated at a much smaller scale within the confines of one’s family by one member doing something unusual such as taking up a job that none in the family or relative circle has ever done. In my country the majority of girls accept the marriage arranged by their parents. A few chose whom they think is the perfect groom for them. But they are opposed by parents on grounds of caste and religion. But they stick to their choice and undeterred by their parents they go ahead with their marriage plans and have a secret marriage if necessary by eloping. In their view their choice is right and that is what matters to them. Their individuality may invite unpleasant reactions from their family members but they value their individuality.      

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It seems that their process of researching and delving into individuality is going rather slow and the three weeks we have left will not be sufficient.  If we were to reply and send in our thoughts, we would not have enough time to respond to everyone else's thoughts and opinions.

I think that everyone is an individual by nature. Everyone is their own person and has their own individual characteristics. Even if a person were to make themselves exactly like another person, they would still be an individual, just maybe not an original individual.  I think maybe the World Academy should be looking into more of how people show their individuality and uniqueness and how a society perceives it.  Each person chooses to express this individuality in their own ways, it may be through their clothes, hair, piercings, tattoos, make up, actions, music choices, or decoration choices (room decorations).  These choices can reflect ones mood or views on life or personality. Each society in this world can be receiving of an individuals expression of uniqueness in a positive or negative light.  What is acceptable in one society may not be acceptable in another.  Some societies outcast people that don't fit into their "social norm."

Other societies may embrace this type of expression. Some may really like one's type of expression and end up copying it, this happens a lot with celebrities.  Fans see their favorite actor or actress wearing a certain style, and then they copy it to try and look just like that person.  This is an expression of their individuality also, since it shows their interest in that person and/or their taste in clothing. Individuality is something that is key to a good society.  If everyone was the same, the world would be boring and monotonous. Expression of individuality makes for a better world, it can lead to new friendships, inventions, and new expressions of emotion through art, music, etc.

Christine Lundhahl

cmlundah@buffalo.edu

Fans copying the dressing and hairstyles of their favorite actors cannot be seen as acts of individualistic expression. It is only a follower copying a leader. But I agree with your statement that if the world is uniform in every way it will be very boring and monotonous. But there is no dearth of variety in human life. Rather there seems to be too much variety and it is becoming a problem to hold everything together in some united harmony so that society does not disintegrate and fall apart. Any amount of variety can be sustained in a way that helps the society to advance if the necessary organizational capacities are there. But when organizational capacities are lacking holding together so many different countries with such a diverse cultural, religious and political and racial backgrounds as we see today in a harmonious and integrated whole  can become very difficult.

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Individuality is made up of a person's thoughts, appearance, values and choices. Everyone has something special about them that makes them unique from others around them. Individuality is important because when many people contribute to a conversation and give their own perspective each person is able to grow more. Each person is able to take in many viewpoints when everyone else shares their own perspective. For example in class when someone simply restates what someone else has just said, this is not stating their view, this is agreeing and the class cannot grow from this type of response. In our class your opinions matter, so it is important to state them, not simply agree, and although you may agree with someone, I'm sure you have something better to say than "I agree."

Individuality is important because a big part of life is standing out, whether this is for a job, a promotion, acceptance into graduate school, it is important to have something that makes you you. It may be an experience or a talent or a passion. Finding what makes you happy and will help to make you an individual. It is easy to look at someone's life and try to guess what makes them happy, then try to obtain this, but whatever makes them happy may not make you happy. Since we are all individuals we all have different needs and wants, we all need to find what makes us a whole happy person.

Some people find it scary to be an individual and to be independent. It may seem easier to follow the crowd. But in order to grow up and be an individual, you must learn what makes you happy and what makes you unique, and then you must set your goals for it and embrace it.

Jeannette Russell-Shepherd

jeannett@buffalo.edu

Discussions where everybody presents their viewpoint will certainly enliven any issue. What each person says need not contradict or cancel what the first person has said. One can enrich a discussion by adding the missing or complementary elements. For example in a discussion on Individuality if the first person talks about physical individuality as shown by capacity for physical self-reliance, the next person can talk about social individuality by which one exhibits his or her unique individuality by following values not commonly practiced by others. For example while the majority pursue the common way of life which includes getting a job, getting married and having children etc, a few choose to dedicate themselves to a life of service and spiritual pursuits which requires staying unmarried and not getting children etc. Such people are still in society but not following the typical pattern and thereby they exhibit social individuality. The third person can talk about career individuality by which one fashions one’s career in a way that sets him or her apart form others. So discussions can be enriched by talking about the many other dimensions of the issue than what the first person has talked about.

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Individuality is defined as the aggregate of qualities and characteristics that distinguish one person or thing from other; identity. By this definition everyone is an individual in certain aspects and not in others. Being an American college student has a lot to do with distinguishing yourself from all the others, whether it be by getting to know your professors or by having the most well- rounded resume.

All of this is an effort to compete against everyone else for the jobs and opportunities. I feel like a lot of people don't have a developed sense of individuality when they first come to college. A lot of this comes from the fact that in high school, most people tried to fit in not stand out. This is a major teenage ideal, as a teen we all just want to be accepted. The portrayal and reinforcement of this thought comes from society, any teenage movie will be a struggle for acceptance from peers. Upon coming to college, students will slowly realize the importance of standing out but for some it may be too late. Once something is drilled into your head for years it is hard to change. And nothing about college helps those students. The classes are larger, the teachers care less about students and the societies (like fraternities and sororities) continue to put pressure on "following the group." Overall what I'm trying to say is that, sure it's easy to have a lot of individuality once you are an established professional but what about while you are trying to climb the professional ladder? Before we are established, we really have to fight to keep our individuality from being stomped out of us.

Steffanie Rydzik

steffani@buffalo.edu

The pressure to conform is a very real pressure among teenagers. When one is at a budding stage the support of the group is certainly very helpful and one will think twice before antagonizing the group one belongs to. But at the same time one should take care to ensure that one does not hopelessly get stuck in a rut from which one cannot later get out and that calls for a certain courage and refusal to conform to peer pressure if one sees that in the long-range conforming to peer pressure will hurt one’s future’s interests and plans.

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Based on what I heard in class on Tuesday and what I have read on the forum, I have decided that my opinion on this matter is that the World Academy’s task is impossible. There is no general way to define individuality. It cannot be done. Why do I say this? The way you feel and express individuality is completely different from person to person, so how can something that is so different with every person be defined in one singular definition that applies to everyone? Either it is completely impossible or it is going to be a very long definition. What is individuality to me? To me individuality is the pride I take in the qualities that make me a unique person in this world. It is all of the things that I participate in, and just my general personality for that matter. For example, I am an honors student with a 4.0 GPA and a double major that also competes in athletics at the division 1 level. I am an eagle scout and a black belt. There are very few people in the world I would bet that could say they have done all of that. The sense of pride I get from that is what I feel is my individuality. Now that is probably different for other people. They probably have different definitions for their individuality.  That is why it would be cool to ask everyone in class how they define their individuality. I would bet that it ends up that there are so many varying and different responses that it will be a very hard task for us to generate a unified response as to what individuality is for just a typical college student! Imagine doing that for an individual that is one out of the entire population in the world like they are trying to do in the World Academy! They can try to do it, but it sounds pretty near impossible if you ask me.

Paul Garman

paulgarm@buffalo.edu

We are only trying to get to the essence of what is true individuality and not the infinite minor variations that it is subject to at the level of each person. I suppose you will agree with this.

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In regards to the world academy project on individuality, I do believe that this type of class can give a meaningful response simply due to our different perspectives and age group. However, I do not believe that we will be able to formulate together as a class a well developed thought to convey to these professionals. Without the proper time and effort, I believe that the current contributors to the project will disregard a quickly formulated unsophisticated thought from us. In the future, I believe that a class filled with freshman at the age of eighteen or nineteen can show different perspectives on individuality and how people may apply it just to stand out or represent something. For instance, it seems as though teenagers more often than adults try to identify themselves within certain cliques, thus wearing certain clothes or acting a certain way. Some people seem to think of this as individualizing themselves, but really they are just conforming to a specific group’s ideals. Consequently, we can share to the forum that different age group’s view and express individuality differently. An older group of professionals such as those on the forum would relate individuality more so with success since someone is trying something different in their respective fields. Since their background contains success in their fields, they think back on how they initially became successful.

In my opinion, the world academy responses simply revolve around how people become successful due to breaking boundaries and being “themselves”. However, I think that this class can elaborate more on the negative side of individuality and how one’s individuality may lead to transgressions that don’t promote success or the betterment of society. For example, colorful characters such as Mike Tyson who is certainly an individual and not afraid to do whatever he wants as he bit an opposing boxer’s ear off once and got arrested multiple times. Also, we can bring in the examples of extreme figureheads of their respective regimes such as Adolph Hitler, Joseph Stalin and Osama Bin Laden. We can explain how their individuality relative to the world brought about negative change on the international society as a whole. Additionally, we can say how specific aspects of their cult of personality attracted members into their regimes. Thus, they drive people into their own ideals and get people to do what they want for them. Overall, I do believe there are many different aspects of individuality that we can talk about on the forum. In doing so, we can even expand on the topic of individuality and not only help define it, but refer to how people apply it to do what they want.

Ravi  Budhan

ravibudh@buffalo.edu

We can discuss the negative expressions of individuality only with a view to preventing their recurrence. Conforming to the expectations of a group that one belongs to can carry a deceptive semblance of individuality. But you are correct in showing that it is not real individuality.

Amanda: I like your definition of Individuality – “Individuality is rebellion with an open mind.” It raises the question as to why certain individuals rebel against social conventions while others follow the society’s norms. Are they both individuals according to you? If so, why? What is the seed or spark in these individuals that makes them change the society’s conventions?

I think rebelliousness may have two different motivations & results: 1. The individual may tend to turn away from the society and there are chances that he/she becomes selfish 2. The individual acts as a pioneer to lead the society to higher levels of awareness and accomplishment.

I believe the true “Individual” is of the second kind. Rebellion against the status quo can represent a mere reaction to what is, rather than an original creative response. Children react. Mature conscious individuals respond.

I also appreciate another point you made about an individual willing to hear other’s opposition. An individual respects the individuality of others even if they disagree with him. So certainly an individual should have an open mind. It will be interesting if we can think of ways in which an individual can have an open mind. I will list some characteristics that come to my mind: 1. Respecting the other man’s point of view 2. Being self-aware and valuing himself and others as individuals 3. An individual thinks for himself and forms his own opinions of every social and national issue 4. True Individuality cannot be inhibited by religion, social norms, or family.

Would love to hear back from you about the approaches an individual can adopt to have an open mind and be a pioneer who leads the society.

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Shelly: I found your response very insightful. The basis of individuality is “uniqueness”. Our uniqueness starts right at the physical level as demonstrated by our unique fingerprints. Each member of the human race is an individual in the sense of being a single, separate physical person. However, individuality is not a surface difference. It is born deep within us. Merely being unique need not be an indication for individuality.

Individuality does not stop at the physical level, it can be expressed at various levels and in varying degrees by different people.
I will illustrate 3 different levels that I am familiar with:
1.    Physical Individuality – We become physical individuals when we acquire the capacity to take care of ourselves physically, support ourselves economically and are self-reliant.
2.    Social individuality - We become true social individuals when our social values and actions are determined by our own distinctive judgment and values, not merely by conformity with our peers, community or nationality.
3.    Mental Individuality - We become mental individuals only when we think and form judgments based on our own mental outlook and understanding, not merely accepting established beliefs and conventional wisdom. 
Can you think of other levels of individuality? It would be really interesting if you could come up with various levels at which individuality can be expressed.

“I believe that today there are more ways for people to develop their individuality even more.” - This is an excellent observation.  For citizens to acquire Individuality in a society, that society should function in freedom. The society we live in influences the process of individuality. As you mention, our society today is enjoying great freedom, unlimited opportunities to express ourselves and share information. Women’s suffrage was introduced in the United States in 1920. Just imagine, the freedom that all of us enjoy today. Also, Education is rapidly being extended to the entire population of the world. What do you see as the future of individuality? Do we share any ideas of how the world is progressing towards greater individuality. Is there a way we could come up with a process of development of an individual? :)

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Paige: The ideas presented by your class are truly insightful and give a good perspective of your thoughts on individuality. The present generation are the future individuals.

As you suggest rightly, imitation can never be true individuality. The seed of individuality is born and emerges from deep within us. Each person has to find his own spark of individuality within him/her. It cannot be taught or imitated. But it can be aspired for. I will explain it further.

The individual is the pioneer who leads the society. He changes the course of the society towards greater accomplishment. For eg: Napolean, Churchill, Martin Luther King Jr, Einstein are remarkable individuals. Individuals are those who consciously embody the subconscious aspirations of the society and promote the society’s development by their individual actions, even when in pursuit of personal accomplishment. If one individual can change the face of the world, what will happen if every person is an individual? We can strive and aspire to be individuals. Individuality is valuable for the reason that the society accomplishes through its individuals. Becoming an individual is the highest human achievement and describing the characteristics of an individual would be equivalent to showing the future path for man and inspiring him. However, there may be imitation in the initial levels. Gradually, the human race can shift its aspiration towards becoming true individuals.

“That is the reason I think that if we are going to contribute to the forum we should tell our own stories.” – The forum would become very meaningful with the stories of true individuals.

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Nikita: “People who are truly individuals are confident and not self-conscious about themselves.” 
You have brought out a very crucial point in this statement. I appreciate it because it reflects a deeper understanding of individuality. Individuality when it is developed has a chance of becoming selfish. By self-conscious I am assuming that you mean being non-egoistic. Let me re-define what you have said: “A true individual is one who is non-egoistic and is a catalyst for social evolution.”

Sites like Facebook/Twitter/Youtube provide a platform to express our preferences and thoughts. Our preferences or likes/dislikes can be termed “Personal”. It will be very interesting if we could think of these various terms – selfishness, personal, privacy & individual and come up with a way to differentiate them. What do you think truly makes a person an individual? Would like to hear your views on this topic.

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Jennifer: It was very interesting to read your reply as you cover various facets of individuality.
“Some people are meant to fit into society” – That is the present scenario in many countries. Do you think it will be beneficial if this situation changes? What is it that makes a person an individual while the others remain as they are by following the society’s norms? Do you think the seed of individuality comes from within oneself or is it completely influenced by external circumstances? Can every person of the society be an individual in the sense that he acts as an agent of change?

“Society shapes individuals, but is also made up of individuals.” - Isaac Newton had written about his reasons for accomplishment as: "If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants". The society in which we live has an aspiration for higher development. The true individual consciously expresses the society’s aspiration. In essence, the society forms individuals and the emerging individual leads the society to higher levels of accomplishment.

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Ling: “An individual’s attitude towards life” – That is a good observation. We can also think of what is an individual’s attitude towards the society, towards himself & others?

An individual judges himself in terms of what he knows himself to be as a human being, not on the basis of his wealth, occupation, status or what others say or think of him.  Each individual should be both free and responsible for choosing and determining his or her own destiny.

Your ideas are valuable. Getting some real-life stories of individuals all across the globe would be a meaningful addition to the discussion in the forums.

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David: You have raised very thoughtful perspectives about individuality. Individuality can settle down as selfishness where the person thinks from his own point of view as is demonstrated in Hitler’s case. When a man thinks from only his point of view, he becomes exclusive, rigid, aggressive, violent. Terrorism is the result. An individual leads the society to greater levels of awareness and accomplishment. This vision/spark comes from within the individual.

“Is there some factor that we can zero in on to help us find the great individuals of the future and to help nurture their development?” – What do you think about education playing a role in developing future individuals who will not be detrimental to the society? How should such an education be designed? Do you think the present system of education has the potential to inspire and nurture individuals? What do you think about freedom of speech, equality to all men, democracy, religious freedom etc contributing to the growth of an individual? How can the society prepare itself to give the necessary freedom for an individual without him being detrimental to its growth?

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Charles: Without individuals the society cannot progress. Individual deviation is essential for social evolution in the same manner as mutant genes are required for biological evolution. Individuals are the catalysts of social development. In essence, what you have spoken about human deviation and this characteristic differentiating us from animals is a good observation.

I liked reading your definition of success that individuals set for themselves. Individuality begins with awareness–self awareness-that leads to creativity and in the process pioneering a concept. It will be beneficial to think at this point about the different terms like success, happiness, enjoyment, accomplishment and what does an individual achieve? Would there be any parameters to measure an individual’s value? or his impact on the society?

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Matthew: Your response is very thoughtful. The choices that a human being makes during the course of his life are very important. How do we make the right choices? You have brought out the characteristics of individuality well. An individual decides what is right on the strength of his own mental judgment, not on the basis of what others think and say, and he does what he knows to be right, not what others do or approve. We can modify the Webster’s dictionary’s definition a bit and re-quote that “Individuality is the personality that refuses to conform to the collective.”

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Christine: Taste in clothing, likes/dislikes can be considered as the personal preferences of a person and may not necessarily indicate individuality. Individuality is not just a surface difference in how we dress, eat, work etc. Individuality is born and emerges from deep within us.

“Individuality is something that is key to a good society” – This is true in the sense, individuality is the highest accomplishment for the human race.

“If everyone was the same, the world would be boring and monotonous.” - The greater the variety, the greater the delight.

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Jeannette: An individual is aware of the other person’s unique nature and acknowledges it. An individual also respects the individuality of those who disagree with him. When others criticize him, an individual takes it as the other person’s personal opinion and impartially evaluates the truth of the criticism, rather than taking it as an abuse that evokes his anger, defensiveness or resentment. Making a choice helps to build personality. The choices we make in our lives determine our accomplishment.

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Steffanie: True Individuality cannot be inhibited by religion, social norms, age or family. Being an individual is not the result of being an established professional. An individual judges himself in terms of what he knows himself to be as a human being, not on the basis of his wealth, occupation, status or what others say or think of him. Do you think our present educational system or universities can be transformed to create more individuals? What are the gaps in the present college/universities that can be bridged so that every college graduate is a true individual?

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Paul: What you say is true in a sense that individuality will be expressed differently by every person based on their own contexts like culture, family, country, religious beliefs etc. There are various grades and levels of individuality. Individuals express their individuality in various forms like the physical explorer, the leader, the politician, the pioneer or the scientist. But is there is an ultimate goal for the human race? If there is a goal, then is that goal to achieve individuality? Why should we be individuals?

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Ravi: The examples of Mike Tyson, Adolf Hitler & Stalin you have quoted are definitely negative examples of individuality. Hitler chose to express & execute his lower subconscious urges like jealousy, hatred and inspired others around him to do the same. So, it is really a question if we can consider Hitler as a true individual. The course of history would have been different had Hitler made a choice to express higher human values. A true individual is one who expresses the higher values of the society and aids in human evolution and social progress. The human race has made great strides in technology & science. But there is not yet much progress in overcoming our psychological deficiencies. When a man sees his own point of view, he becomes exclusive, rigid, aggressive, violent. Terrorism is the result. In my view, a true individual is one who consciously expresses the society’s aspiration in a direction that will lead to the society’s progress and accomplishment. Without an individual, the society cannot progress. Becoming an individual is the highest human achievement. The final aim of the individual is to create a society where every individual is fully evolved. How do we create such individuals or rather how do we become such an individual?

Every member of the society has his own opinions, thoughts and attitudes that make him different from others. However, the question is, do these seemingly distinct personal preferences really make great men what or who they are? While it’s undeniable that every single person has the potential to accomplish what he aspires for, not many are adventurous enough to come out of the shell of conformity that cocoons them and dare to challenge social conventions, as Jennifer, Christine and Shelly point out. I would say this is what differentiates an average person from the Individual.  

Jennifer makes a compelling point when she says Individuals are “those who are not afraid to step into the unknown and take risks”. Amanda, likewise, stresses the importance of breaking social norms by calling Individuality “rebellion with an open mind”. Her opinion that an Individual takes the other man’s point of view and is always open to ideas is convincing. But that leads to a contradiction: When you say the Individual is open-minded, there’s no question of his rebelling against the society. I would rather say the Individual is unique not because he refuses to conform to social conventions. He is unique in the sense that he conforms to his own ideals, expelling any thoughts of security to rise to phenomenal heights his contemporaries would consider objectionable.

Most of the responses cite technology as an influencing factor. Facebook and Twitter are great places to exhibit our personal opinions. The Internet, no doubt, is a hub of information that has had a profound impact on our lives. Nevertheless, it plays a personal role while what we are trying to discuss seems to be more impersonal. From what I understand, Individuality is not just a surface difference. There’s something more to it than what meets the eye, as Nikita says. Your liking facebook as opposed to my favoring twitter doesn’t necessarily mean we both are individualistic.

Paige’s notion that Individuality is all about being oneself is interesting. But we must ask ourselves if Individuality and self-centered egoism are the same. The Individual is not a single, separate existence but rather a part of the whole society. He represents the urges of the society yet chooses not to be limited by the society’s established beliefs. It’s not the society he opposes but its anachronistic, conservative beliefs that hinder his development. This naturally has an effect on the society’s development as well. In Jennifer’s succinct words, Society shapes Individuals. What she calls a paradox, I would call a complement. The society shapes an Individual and the Individual shapes the society. Both are balancing forces that determine evolutionary progress to the extent that one can’t exist without the other. 

Lin expresses attributes that I think are best associated with our topic at hand. But I disagree with her notion that a conformist needs courage to take decisions too. My question is, how can a person become an Individual when he refuses to come out of his comfort zone? Doesn’t the very act of his doing the ‘accepted’ thing make him look less individualistic? Making conscious choices to pursue a course of action takes a lot of courage, as Lin and Jeanette rightly point out. A strong sense of responsibility, self-reliance and self-respect form the basis for the flowering of Individuality. Steffanie brings out the essence of conformity by elucidating how rampant the urge to conform is. That makes us wonder why it is difficult to make choices.

David’s questions are indeed thought-provoking. How does an average middle class man distinguish himself? I would just use one word to answer his question: “Choice”. Every single person can become an Individual if he makes the right choices. I would also like to mention that Individuality to me sounds more like a psychological process that doesn’t necessarily mean one should become famous to be called Individualistic. Even a day-day activity may involve making choices. The average middle-class man in America or Africa can become a millionaire, if and only if he makes choices and pursues his goal relentlessly, thus determining his own fate. The same applies to the Buddhist monk. If he does what he wants to do without relying on external support and does what he thinks is right, he is an Individual in his own way.

David and Ravi make a wonderful distinction between Individualism and Individuality. The positive expression of a person’s uniqueness is way different from a negative one. Hitler is probably the best example for Individualism. I would say Individuality is all about sharing a positive relationship with the society, unlike Individualism. Adolf Hitler may have made conscious choices in other fields, but when it came to his dictatorship, he was not individualistic by any means. Individuality, primarily, is determined by a person’s acts. The stages of Individuality may also vary. Individuality may be exhibited psychologically, socially or mentally. Finding traits of Individuality in others is fine, but why don’t we try becoming the Individuals we want others to be? Why don’t you become the Edison or Einstein that you want the world to produce? Even to expect the society to call us Individuals is a sign of conformity.

What separates us from animals is basically our ability to make a choice. What we are trying to discuss is not something that goes like “What-I-conceive-of-Individuality has become the new conformity”. Charles brings that out in his argument really well. However, he seems to be keen in emphasizing that treading on the road of unconventionality would ultimately lead one to Individuality. Non-conformity for the sake of being different from the rest is rebellion not Individuality. Differentiation is the effect and not the cause. Differentiation in the case of Individuality is not accompanied by an inflation of the ego. It doesn’t matter what the Individual calls himself. It’s not the Individual’s personal thoughts or opinions that exemplify him, but his acts. What he calls himself is of little significance when compared to what he does. The Individual may have views that defy a common man’s perception of Individuality. Deviation, as Charles thinks, may be one of the aspects of Individuality but I wouldn’t say it’s the only one.

Matthew makes a remarkable distinction between leadership and Individuality in his response and brings out the significance of the fact that even an ordinary person may become an Individual, if he tries. The leader just shows the way; the Individual inspires. Besides, we are not here to find if we have been endowed with individualistic aspects or not; we are here to create those aspects and aspire to grow—every single moment.  Individuality is an end in itself.

Christine raises important questions with respect to the emergence of Individuality. How is originality associated with Individuality? Can an act of imitating an Individual be called Individuality? What is the society’s part in creating/nurturing the Individual?  An Individual is original in the sense he sees and responds to every moment with a fresh perspective, not merely acting from past conditioning or by endorsing what his peers believe in just for the sake of getting along. I would say that the society and the Individual need to be in equilibrium for Individuality to flourish. Freedom is a prerequisite for Individuality to emerge in a society. As a general rule, dictatorship suppresses the society’s creative energies. The freer a society, the greater the potential for the development of individuality.

Paul makes a perceptive observation that Individuality is too broad a topic to confine it to rigid boundaries and define on a singular basis. The very fact that it is individual admits of infinite possibilities. Individuality is like freedom in this regard. Any attempt to define freedom would bind the very freedom we talk about. But we need to honestly question ourselves if we have given a thought to such a topic before or if we really know what it is all about. My conception of Individuality may be different from yours, but I must make sure I don’t block my mind trying to define something I barely know about. Defining Individuality is secondary, but what I learn from Individuals who have accomplished thus far is what matters. How can I improve myself with every single opportunity that heads my way now that I know there are people who have braved many a storm to accomplish what their peers couldn’t?