I don't think you can accurately combine standing out with thinking your own thoughts. Nor taking influence with fitting in with the crowd. They both differ from each other.

We all take influence from other people and we all construct our own thoughts and opinions about what we hear, whether we realize it or not. So I just think that's a silly thing to bring up with being unique or not.

I think we should live life dependent on what we feel is best. If you disagree strongly enough with some sort of massive thing that everybody loves, then hell, rebel against it. While at the same time if you agree with that massive thing then go join the crowd. There is no problem with joining a crowd nor being unique in of themselves.

This should not be a question of Unique vs Follower but Want vs Self-Labeling.