{
    "href": "/post/2014/07/29/a-non-conformists-guide-to-success-in-a-conformist-world/",
    "relId": "2014/07/29/a-non-conformists-guide-to-success-in-a-conformist-world",
    "title": "A Non-Conformist's Guide to Success in a Conformist World",
    "author": "pmjones",
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    "tags": [
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            "relId": "general",
            "title": "General",
            "author": null,
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            "title": "Liberty",
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    "created": "2014-07-30 01:44:32 UTC",
    "updated": [
        "2014-07-30 01:44:32 UTC"
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    "html": "<p>I found this unexpectedly comforting;  I myself am an example of point #10.</p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>1. Don't be an absolutist non-conformist.\u00c2\u00a0 Conforming in small ways often gives you the opportunity to non-conform in big ways.\u00c2\u00a0 Being deferential to your boss, for example, opens up a world of possibilities.</p>\n<p>3. In modern societies, most demands for conformity are based on empty threats.\u00c2\u00a0 But not all.\u00c2\u00a0 So pay close attention to societal sanctions for others' deviant behavior.\u00c2\u00a0 Let the impulsive non-conformists be your guinea pigs.</p>\n<p>6. Fortunately, the content of modern education is neither linear nor cumulative.\u00c2\u00a0 You can safely forget most of what you didn't feel like learning right after the final exam.\u00c2\u00a0 </p>\n<p>8. Educational success hardly guarantees career success.\u00c2\u00a0 But educational credentials open a lot of doors - including most of the doors to non-conformist-friendly careers in academia, science, and yes, bureaucracies.</p>\n<p>10. Social intelligence can be improved.\u00c2\u00a0 For non-conformists, the marginal benefit of doing so is especially big.</p>\n<p>12. When faced with demands for conformity, silently ask, \"What will happen to me if I refuse?\"\u00c2\u00a0 Train yourself to ponder subtle and indirect repercussions, but learn to dismiss most such ponderings as paranoia.\u00c2\u00a0 Modern societies are huge, anonymous, and forgetful.</p>\n</blockquote>\n<p>There are more at the link. Via <a href=\"http://econlog.econlib.org/archives/2014/07/a_non-conformis.html#\">A Non-Conformist's Guide to Success in a Conformist World, Bryan Caplan | EconLog | Library of Economics and Liberty</a>.</p>\n"
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