Same same but different

I saw something that frightened me a tad today. At the library, I was in the cafeteria, and almost everyone was using a Mac computer! There was only one person with a PC. It was an eerie sight!

Everyone was drinking a Starbucks and on their Macs.

Previously, I was considering getting a Macbook. I am reconsidering now, worried about the loss of my individuality. I do not want to be a Macbook clone. I know it sounds frivolous, like a desperate and unnecessary attempt to be different, but I seriously do not want to be lost in the crowd of Macbook users.

I know this is cliche and paradoxical, but I want to be "unique, just like everyone else".

What is it with people wanting to be different? To be distinguished from everyone else? I feel like I need to read a multitude of sociology and psychology books to find this answer. Or maybe google will help...

(back from googling)

Okay, so Google says "Because people want to be special, to be remembered, to somehow be significant in their own way". This is true. Everyone wants to be special. But why? Is it an innate ego thing, or is it a cultural identity thing?

It reminds me of Stephen Christian's Orphaned Anythings book; yet I don't remember the exact reason why. I need to re-read that book. It's one of my favourites, yet I don't remember one of the key messages in it. What a fail...

Thus this leads me to a conclusion: I need to read/re-read more books during the holidays. My list of things to do keeps getting longer.