Being an individual

I wonder about "individuals." What do people think being an individual is? I think that the most common definition is that being an individual means not doing things that everyone else does, but I feel like that explains everybody and nobody at the same time. On the one hand, everybody has their own things that they do, nobody really is an exact copy of anybody else. At the same time, most of the things we do we're only aware of because other people do those things. The guy at school might seem like he's really out of the ordinary because he's wearing a cape, until you see the other girl that wears a cape as well. Similarly, to all other eyes a person may seem like he conforms to social norms, but then you realize that person is a brony(That one's for you little brother). So really, what makes someone an "individual?"

In my opinion, an individual is not someone who chooses what they do based on how they feel about social rules. I always get tired of those people who enjoy something and then get tired of it because "everybody's doing it." An individual is someone who unabashedly does what they enjoy. If you're a brony, don't hide it, wear that t-shirt. If you like the way a cape feels, wear it for that reason, not because nobody else wears it. I own and wear two fedoras, not because I support snobby fedora wearers and not because I am opposed to those that don't wear fedoras. I wear my fedoras because I like them, they make me happy. If it makes you happy to wear the latest styles, then be an individual and wear the latest styles. If it makes you happy to wear a cape in public, do that.

Anyway, I just have something against people who say they're an individual when I don't think they are. I think they are just doing things because they don't want to conform. Conformity doesn't have to take away individuality and non-conformity does not add individuality.