Why are so many millennials so uncool (opens in new tab)

This article is hilarious - well written and good insight. Honestly this is the best culture piece I have read in months, if not ever. Well done!!

> *For the purpose of this writing, I’m defining “cool” as > those who don’t conform, who don’t always fit in nor do > they try to, and who follow their own path; and “uncool” > as those who dress, act, and have the same tastes as the > masses and are vulnerable to corporate influences.

This is total bollocks. "Cool" is not, and has never been, about not fitting in, or following your own path. It's about following the same path as everyone else, but being on the outside edge of the herd - just ahead of everyone else it best, but just the right distance behind works too. Best of all is to be just ahead of a small herd that is itself just ahead of the mainstream.

David Bowie was cool. Daniel Johnston was just an oddball.

There are dozens if not hundreds of people who frequent HN who have never taken an interest in conforming, and who follow their own noses. I'm one of them, and no-one has EVER considered me to be "cool".

I don't get why mainstream success must equal "not being a proper musician".

The author sounds a bit like a frustrated punk fan of the old times who hates the establishment for being the majority. It doesn't even matter what you like, as long as nobody else likes it!

Maybe I'm too old to care these days - I, also, detested everything mainstream in youth and early twenties, but now I am able to admit without shame that there's sometimes (but not too often) good songs on a normal radio station - even though what I really like usually is not played on air...

"I use to be cool, but then what was cool got weird..." Judgy article.