True, individualism is not really compatible with conformism, although I have the sneaking suspicion that living together with other humans you have to conform to something to some degree, and it might as well be rules of generally "nice" behaviour. Hm.

Good question... I don't really see a medium, but in my experience conforming to some forms of niceties does not really hurt as long as it does not do severe harm to the person trying to be nice. But maybe, I am already too much of a conformist and bound to say so. :D