Does "Alternative" Even MEAN Anything, Anymore?

Sometimes I can't help but think that the term "alternative" has (A) been hugely overused, thus leading to (B) that it has pretty much lost its meaning.

Because — God forbid — who'd want to be ordinary and mundane?

Maybe it's just part and parcel of the human experience that people pile onto alternative trends to the point where they become commonplace. I think about how — when I was a kid — someone getting a tattoo was considered extremely edgy and alternative... in 2026, it is not having a tattoo that practically makes you alternative!

Sometimes I can't help but think that those in active pursuit of "alternativeness" are actually in pursuit of seeking attention, more than anything... in spite of their insistence that they are rejecting that very thing.

Maybe that's a harsh indictment... and I'm sure there are those who are simply following their own sense of what feels right, rather than engaging in some strange game of giving society the middle finger for no greater reason than... oh, wait, getting attention.

The other day, I was rolling through the radio stations in the car and happened upon one claiming to play "alternative rock." It sounded pretty normal and mainstream to me... but then most of the music I listen to never makes it anywhere close to a commercial radio station, save for maybe a specialized Sirius XM satellite station.

But somehow it is not considered alternative.

Thinking about topics like this one often makes me also think about how the definition of what is "normal" constantly changes.

If I look back across my adult life, the thing I most notice is that "normal" actually includes only an ever-narrowing band of people/activities. In some ways, I give responsibility to the medical and mental health industries because they are eternally trying to medicalize states of being that were considered part of the typical human experience for generations.

We now have a plethora of "syndromes" and "conditions" for which we need to see specialists and consume expensive medicines we can't even afford! And the only thing that's really "getting better" is the wallets of those providing the services to address these problems... which were never considered to be problems, in the past.

I suppose I am a bit resistant to the whole thing because I don't really see people getting healed as a result of all these so-called medical advances, I just see people getting treated.

Which makes it all look more like a "cash grab" than actual medicine.

But then it's also possible that my perspective is being skewed by the fact that I live in the USA... other countries may be quite different.

The cynic in me sees mostly a somewhat twisted 3-step process: The alternative is becoming normalized, and then the normal is becoming medicalized.

Doesn't exactly make me feel very confident in the future... and at the same time grateful that I am slowly "aging out!"

Thanks for stopping by, and have a wonderful weekend!

How about YOU? Do you think "alternative" has lost some of its meaning, because EVERYone identifies with alternative? Leave a comment if you feel so inclined — share your experiences — be part of the conversation!

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Created at 2026.03.06 11:06 PST
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