How to define the difference between "Non-Conformist" and "Speaking Out"?

[Rainbow Skywalker 642]

Today I learned that my AP Language teacher liked to screw the system when he was a kid.  He once refused to say the American pledge one morning, (just after the gulf war started) and got suspended for two days.  This was normal activity for him.  I consider him to be a good role model for such things.

 

The thing is, I never see myself breaking the system in such a way.  I can never imagine being suspended and disappointing my peers and family because of something even as important as my teacher's actions.  Sometimes, it seems like people who do try and bust out of normal society are just doing it to be a non-conformist.  These people who lead rebellions are just kids who have it in their head that they have been mistreated and chained down by the shackles of society, when in fact, the opposite is true.

 

So now I ask, how do you determine the difference between these two types of people?  The ones who rebel just because its cool, and the sensible revolution leaders.

 

Should I lead a full scale revolt against school uniforms? Or just sit back and watch for fear of being overdramatic.

 

 

[Scootalove 10,689]

The people that rebel just because it's cool, don't seem to understand that when you rebel it has to be for a good reason. Speaking Out is just saying what you have to say, without any consequences. But, if you want to have a full scale revolt against uniforms that's your choice.

[Harmonic Revelations 8,835]

Speaking out is when you're doing/saying something because you believe in it, but it's not normally the way of things. For example, the civil rights movement in the US was speaking out.

 

Being a non-conformist that you are doing/saying something only because it's not normally the way of things. For example, your AP teacher not doing the pledge. Unless they had a reason not to, besides seeing what would happen, they were a non-conformist.

[ChoroChii 284]

Some people just act out because they think they're being cool by acting edgy and others act out because they have a beef with the system. 

[Frith is Magick 1,471]

A non-conformist rebels consistently and with little or no purpose, meaning their actions and words soon loose meaning. Speaking out is done in response to an issue, standing up for what you believe. Non-conformists speak because they like the sound of their own voices, those who speak out do so because they have something to say.

[Zygen 6,066]

I think that if you just kinda revolt aggressively or by acting out its not really going to get anywhere.

 

If you really want to get somewhere i'd say start some kind of petition or something. 

 

being a student compared to teachers and stuff, they have their authority and stuff so yeah.

 

Idk i'm not much of a rebel really ;p. I don't follow all the norms, but i don't go around trying to change everyone else's stuff about something either.