Acts of violence Quote by Gavin Extence
““In case you didn't know, in secondary school - especially in the early years of secondary school - diversity is not celebrated. In secondary school, being different is the worst crime you can commit. Actually, in secondary school, being different is pretty much the only crime you can commit.Most of the things the UN considers crimes are not considered crimes at secondary school. Being cruel is fine. Being brutal is fine. Being obnoxious is fine. Being superficial is especially fine. Explosive acts of violence are fine. taking pleasure in the humiliation of others is fine. Holding someone's head down the toilet is fine (and the weaker the someone, and the dirtier the toilet, the finer it is). None of these things will hurt your social standing. But being different - that's unforgivable. Being different is the fast-track to Pariah Town. a pariah is someone who's excluded from mainstream society. And if you know that at twelve years of age, you're probably an inhabitant of Pariah Town.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Interview on education and social conformity, 2020
In secondary school, conformity is prized and any deviation is harshly punished socially, creating a culture where cruelty is tolerated but individuality is ostracized.
In simple terms: Being different in school leads to exclusion.
Key Takeaway
Value authenticity over peer approval.
Themes
conformity
bullying
identity
social exclusion
peer pressure
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
advisory
observational
When to use this quote
- school environment
- online forums
- youth mentorship programs
- anti‑bullying campaigns
Key Concepts
social dynamics
groupthink
psychology
education
adolescence
Questions to Reflect On
- How can schools reward individuality?
- What structures protect non‑conformists?
A Different Perspective
Encouraging diversity can clash with entrenched hierarchies.
![“The most important thing I learned [...] was that when a person dies he only appears to die. He is still very much alive in the past, so it is very silly for people to cry at his funeral. All moments, past, present and future, always have existed, always will exist.” quote by Gavin Extence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/89d/gavin-extence-17798_alive_the-most-important-thing-i-learned-was-t_8160.jpg)
