Control & Conformity

1. 86

   gmwilliamsposted 4 years ago

   
   People are mostly ruled by the opinions of others. Others oftentimes determine how they think & wear.  Others even determine what they believe.  People have a strong sense of belonging.  There are people who will do anything to belong & be accepted, even at the peril of their own individuality.  This process starts in childhood.   Conformity is greatly rewarded.  It takes a rare person to go against societal conformity.  Such a person is oftentimes derided while h/she is alive but revered after his/her death.  It is the nonconformists who question societal norms & thus are the cause of societies advancing & progressing.  Your thoughts?

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   1. 84

      Kathryn L Hillposted 4 years agoin reply to this

      Totally agree. And yet, we have those who do see the truth and do rebel. What does it take to get to the point when we wake up and sense our individuality and work to keep it?

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   2. 72

      Ken Burgessposted 4 years agoin reply to this

      Psyche 101...
      
      Yes young people often want to conform and belong. 
      
      Some never really grow out of that stage, to become more independent.
      
      Most do, eventually, though it may not be until they are in their 30s or 40s even.  Some are forced to quicker than others.
      
      There are more people ill equipped to handle change than there are people who can easily adapt and accept change.  Most people don't want drastic change of any form in their lives and are even less likely to seek it out. 
      
      This includes breaking free of social 'groups', this often requires something else happening in a person's life that forces the change, such as becoming a parent or starting a new job in a different State.
      
      But I don't think most adults are "ruled by the opinions of others".
      
      What IS happening in current times, is that people are becoming isolated in their "bubbles".  Echo-chambers. 
      
      The bulk of adults who are busy living their lives, raising families, working jobs, being involved in the community do NOT have time for Twitter... few of them tweet.  Even fewer of them follow the 'progressive left' crowd.
      
      Facebook is something plenty of people do, and that platform also allows you to stay in your bubble, or create a bubble, by blocking people and restricting who has access to your page(s). 
      
      As it happens there is a larger amount of Conservatives on Facebook than there are Progressives.... or so I read in an article recently.  I would imagine that you would find the opposite regarding Twitter.
      
      Twitter seems more focused on those seeking instant gratification and response, while Facebook tends to be more about posting memories of events, people and places, and keeping in contact with one's closer relatives and friends.
      
      Either can be used to the extreme, and people can get addicted to the constant re-affirmation of one's opinions and actions... those people are the ones most likely to be self-isolating and in a 'bubble' or 'echo chamber'.

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2. 84

   Kathryn L Hillposted 4 years ago

   Control is what TYHEY are after. We MUST learn to resist THEIR control.
   We all have a common enemy. THEY are taking advantage our our weaknesses and human foibles.
   
   Free ourselves, we must.
   
   What will it take?
   
   
   Very timely question/topic, gmwilliams.

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