So much negativity. I've learned that as humans, we are always on the lookout for certainty where there exists very little, which is why we make up rules of thumb and categories, and then we rationalize them to our comfort.
If someone's overly concerned with something to the point that it outweighs other elements in their lives they are either obsessed or compensating.
If a person places too much emphasis on their appearance, then my claim still holds true. Either way this does not necessarily make them shallow, less unique, less valuable as individuals.
It's an obsession that is harmless to others as opposed to other more criminal obsessions.
Does the quantity of pipes you own make you shallow? But what if there exist millions of pipes of the same model in other people's collections?
Some people invest in clothes because they can afford to, others do so to boost their confidence and others just like using new things.
Let's assume most of the above are lazy to a normal degree when they can afford to be, and the vast majority don't have the time or skills required to manufacture their own wardrobe, and therefore hit the mall and buy whatever is available to the rest of the masses.
Now, how do you tell them apart? Should you care whether they are dressed or haircut similarly?
The beard issue is the same. They were inspired to test what theyd look like with a beard grown out and happened to like the result, for now.
Self expression, attention seeking, acceptance seeking, conformity or non conformity, all originate somewhere and that somewhere has nothing to do with lack of depth.
There's nothing counter culture about this. Just healthy self experimentation that is harmless.
Categorizing is inevitable. We are human. But we are clever pipe smoking evolved humans, and therefore I prefer to categorize and criticise people according to that which is mostly under their control, which is how they think, talk, act and behave towards others. Their perspectives, values, attitudes.