i refuse to sell out to "the man" (does this bother you as much as it does me?)

i feel a bit disturbed recently....
i was talking to Tom (co-worker) about how his hair cut thinned out in the back and looked like it could pass for a short mohawk from the behind. he mentioned that he actually used to have a 'hawk. he said he cut it off when he was looking for work. i'm not sure if i can detail how it irks me, but it does. severely. i already knew that he was a bit into punk music, but as i get to know more about him, he was REALLY fuckin' punk. he had a bunch of original album (including Minor Threat- squeee ^^), 'hawk, boots, got wasted and moshed at concerts. so what happened? he grew the fuck up. he "grew out of it". it makes me wonder how many punks will do that, take out their piercings, shave their hair for the sake of gettin a 'respectable' job. Metal heads, fashion core, goths, indies, not everybody in these 'groups' wants to be an artist. how many of them will 'grow out of it'? dress 'normal', look 'normal', act 'normal', stand by the water cooler asking Norman "how's the wife and kids? you ready for some serious bowling with the company team this Sunday?" *shudder* (you people should feel ashamed!!). i'm not saying to come to work (or an interview) with a bright orange 'hawk up in spikes, twenty facial piercings, and studs-all-over clothing. maybe tone down the colour, leave the 'hawk down, take out some of the more outlandish piercings (probably take 'em all out for an interview. just sayin'), and don't stud or patch your work clothes. but there's nothing to say about the colour of the clothes as long as the type counts as work casual, or what piercings you might be able to get away with, as well as hair colours, and hey, your boss might be okay with you wearing the hawk up every once in while. we dunno, just don't give it up! don't cop out because you 'grew up'! what the fuck, man!!
The worst part is that i think he misses it. i asked him about his mohawk and was it annoying when it was down and stuff. he said he'd bring in pictures. he recommended a piercing/tat place called SIDESHOW, he seems really interested in what i'm doing but it's like he's stepped back, ready to indulge, but not encourage or participate.
i have a step-relative who, when i told her that i'm a democrat, said that it was okay for everybody to go through a 'phase' like that. people who treat beliefs and lifestyles like a 'phase' to be grown out of... i don't like them. they feel flaky. especially because they say they grew out of it with such a cavalier attitude, "oh well, time to grow up *shrug* time to shave the 'hawk/become a republican/stop being attracted to other women/give up SxE for a drink and a smoke/give up my dream of doing something creative with my life". and they talk down to me! like i'm to young to get it but, i'll "understand eventually" or some shit like that!

when i hawk my hair i will say "we dedicate this mohawk to Tom, for both inspiration and aggravation!" i want to show him that you can have a respectable job without needing to change who/what you are.