an act of pushing one self to fit in somewhere to where it becomes obviously unnatural. it feels like people are trying hardest when they start to change themselves. sometimes people seem like they're
trying too hard to fit into a certain crowd (e.g. punk, hip hop, emo, mall shopper,
football jock, high school prep,
pretentious hipster, republican, etc) but they're really not. Most people will criticize based on speculation of noticeable differences such as clothing style and skin color or interest. at first everyone tries too hard, then eventually they just naturally fit in. some people try too hard to act like they're not trying too hard. people who try the hardest are the ones who criticizes others for trying too hard. it states that they're not trying hard by projecting on to others. Others seem like they're trying too hard when they don't fit into the mainstream. but sometimes people try too hard to fit into the mainstream also. this term could be pushed either way or at anybody and could be justified from any perspective. just be yourself, you'll be criticized no matter what. whatever being yourself means.