'Being different' exposes you to vilification and attack. In most walks of British life this takes the form of making the 'different person' the target of remarks, mostly behid their back, and whipping up bad feeling. But in some places it is simply fair game to give a good slapping to someone who offends your eyes or sensibilities (such as they are). It is part of the currency of being 'hard', being the sort nobody messes with, etc etc.
Find the poorest most desperate housing estate near your comfy life, and take a look around through the locked windows of your car.
You'll see the way people almost adopt a uniform to blend in, cos you don't want to be thought 'snobbish' or above yourself. It's dangerous to do so. From what I heard on the radio this morning, the young woman lived on one such estate in east London.