Everybody is Doin' It!
I was thinking this morning about stupid people, I seem to waste a lot of my time giving stupid people consideration, and thought “you know… we are all just one group event away from being stupid.” And of course that bothered me. I don’t think I am stupid (but then again who does?) however I know I do stupid things from time to time. Back to point though, what is it about being around 5 or more people that seems to make stupid things seem like a good idea? I’m not sure yet but let’s rally the mob and see.
Tommy would never think burning down a school or the local liquor store was a good idea, until 4000 of his closest friends got together and rampaged the town. Something in Tommy said “Dude this would be sooo cool!” Why, you ask? Perhaps it’s Tommy deep seeded need to be accepted in a group of strangers. Or perhaps Tommy has some serious underlying issue with the buildings in his neighborhood. Perhaps the architect molested Tommy as a child… I don’t know but what is worse is I bet Tommy doesn’t know either. It has been reasoned that being in a group gives a sense of anonymity to a persons actions and we all know how that can be in a batch of the lowest common denominator. Is there something within us all that gets inflated by being around a large group of people doing stupid things? I think so; I believe that people tend to get a little ahead of themselves when acting spontaneously and doing things that appear to fuel the drive of a large group of people. Perhaps it gives them a momentary feeling of Alpha Position, like a rush of adrenaline but better.
I can think of a few examples in my lifetime that have displayed instances of pure mass stupidity, The LA riots where the entirety of south Los Angeles was set ablaze or vandalized to the point of non-recognition. In this case it was their own neighborhoods they were tearing up, later to be followed up with “someone come clean this up for us please.” More recently there were the French riots in Paris where college kids decided that burning schools and a few stores was a good idea. There have been riots in pretty much every country at some point or another in history so we can’t say “these darn kids today” or “those stupid Americans” it has to be something in the core of our being that allows this behavior. That to me is disconcerting.
I guess what I am getting at is don’t be sheep! When you have something to say, “Baaaah” shouldn’t be what people get from it. Individuality is an awesome thing and more people will tend to listen longer if you are saying something they don’t already know. Oh, and don’t burn schools.
Tommy would never think burning down a school or the local liquor store was a good idea, until 4000 of his closest friends got together and rampaged the town. Something in Tommy said “Dude this would be sooo cool!” Why, you ask? Perhaps it’s Tommy deep seeded need to be accepted in a group of strangers. Or perhaps Tommy has some serious underlying issue with the buildings in his neighborhood. Perhaps the architect molested Tommy as a child… I don’t know but what is worse is I bet Tommy doesn’t know either. It has been reasoned that being in a group gives a sense of anonymity to a persons actions and we all know how that can be in a batch of the lowest common denominator. Is there something within us all that gets inflated by being around a large group of people doing stupid things? I think so; I believe that people tend to get a little ahead of themselves when acting spontaneously and doing things that appear to fuel the drive of a large group of people. Perhaps it gives them a momentary feeling of Alpha Position, like a rush of adrenaline but better.
I can think of a few examples in my lifetime that have displayed instances of pure mass stupidity, The LA riots where the entirety of south Los Angeles was set ablaze or vandalized to the point of non-recognition. In this case it was their own neighborhoods they were tearing up, later to be followed up with “someone come clean this up for us please.” More recently there were the French riots in Paris where college kids decided that burning schools and a few stores was a good idea. There have been riots in pretty much every country at some point or another in history so we can’t say “these darn kids today” or “those stupid Americans” it has to be something in the core of our being that allows this behavior. That to me is disconcerting.
I guess what I am getting at is don’t be sheep! When you have something to say, “Baaaah” shouldn’t be what people get from it. Individuality is an awesome thing and more people will tend to listen longer if you are saying something they don’t already know. Oh, and don’t burn schools.
posted by Capt. Obvious at 6:56 AM
4 Comments:
Well, even as a woman all I can say is "I agree." You have said it all. Now, how do I explain this to my kids who are 7 and 3?
the way I explain it to my 8 yr old is ... Bluntly. and then I answer questions until he understands it. Dunno if it's the best way but it seems to work.
I've to tried that. The only problem is that my 7 yr. old seems to be a follower and yes, seems to do what "everyone else is doing." Guess I'll just have to keep trying. My 3 yr. old is just so daring and not afraid of anything. She scares me the most. Oh well. Wish me luck.
dont talk to me about sheep. argh!
i see it everywhere... from recent riots all over sydney for various reasons - maquarie fields, cronulla etc...
to people i know in school. Who are aware of peer pressure acutely through PDHPE lessons - yet willingly agree.
"Violence is the first refuge of the incompetent" Issac Asimov...
People are always going to be sheep - its safer that way.
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