How do you know someone is an individualist?

Question

I’ve been called an individual, a unique person all my life. Even when I was part of a clique, where we all listened to the same things and acted similar- I was still an individual.

I just heard someone say “crystal is an individualist”. What does that mean? This is a concept I don’t understand. Is it the distinction between a leader and a follower? Can you stop being one? How are some people “individuals” and others not?

Answer 1

INDIVIDUALISM is the moral stance, political philosophy, or social outlook that stresses INDEPENDENCE, SELF-RELIANCE and INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY. Individualists promote the exercise of one's goals and desires, while opposing most EXTERNAL INTERFERENCE with one's choices, whether by SOCIETY, the STATE, or any other GROUP or INSTITUTION. Individualism is opposed to COLLECTIVISM or STATISM, which stress that communal, community, group, societal, or national goals should take priority over individual goals. Individualism is also opposed to TRADITION, religion, or any other form of external moral standard being used to limit an individual's choice of actions.

The INDIVIDUALIST THEORY OF GOVERNMENT holds that the state should protect the liberty of individuals to act as they wish, as long they do not infringe on the liberties of others.