[kaffeemitsahne]

> In an attempt to appear unique, everyone ends up doing the same thing.

Time and again it is said about people subscribing to various subcultures or styles: "they think they are unique but they all are the same!" However I have never once heard or seen anyone in any such group actually claim to be unique.

[grkvlt]

Indeed, what they (members of said sub-culture) all are is collectively different to, or in some way deviating too far from, whatever the current social norms, mores, or accepted majority cultural standards are. In this way, the group as a whole will appear unique compared to the majority of the population, who (usually) behave, dress and act in a (mostly) homogeneous way according to whatever the culture deems normal and within (somewhat) acceptable deviations.