What's up gang?
I am good, thanks for asking. I've talked about the circle jerk that is the Steemit community, but I haven't pointed out the fact that this is downstream of human psychology in general. Why we do what we do? Why do we want to fit in and be a part of a group or tribe?
We've all heard that term. It is easier to control a group of people, than controlling an individual. We are less likely to take action in an emergency, when we are surrounded by other people (Bystander effect). We are more likely to commit unethical actions if we observe others doing it.
That last sentence is very frightening to me. Every dictatorship, from Hitler to Stalin to Religion, capitalized this exact phenomenon. And now, corporations are doing exactly the same thing, hence the outrage/PC culture. One random excuse for a human being is offended and all of sudden we have a global reaction (just kidding, only the nerds give a fuck).
But what this have to dude with you and your little buddy Frank?
First and foremost, why do you call your dick Frank? Why not Butch or Prince of Darkness? Anyway...
Remember the last time you saw injustice and you didn't speak up? Maybe someone cut in line or someone bullied your kid (it was me). You just stood there, with your dead eyes staring. You were too much of a deli-meat to act. What will happen when the aliens come, scum? Are you gonna sit there and wait to get buttfucked by a weird alien probe?
WOW, I need to sleep. I started talking about alien porn again.
Social compliance serves a purpose. If we weren't hardwired to fit in, we would be on edge all the time. Every interaction would be novel and we 'd have to handle it like such, looking for signs of danger and treason. No, it's good that we all face the same direction in an elevator and it's good that we don't allow people to eat scat in public. In the past, the tribe had to be constistent and homogenous and we've carried this trait with us.
Here's what you should do though.
There's a social experiment, where a company brings people in a room and tells them to fill a survey. Meanwhile, there are already 3 people there, who are actors. They've been instructed to sit down when they hear a buzzing sound and get up when they hear it again.
At first, the "victim" is confused, but quickly subdues and follows the norm. Up and Down.
As time goes on, they bring more and more people. Then, they remove the 3 actors from the room and only people who'd NEVER been given instructions are in it. Now, we have a bunch of people following arbitrary orders, without them knowing why.
How far do you think they could go?
We all have a hero inside us. Or at least, let's pretend we do. This hero, this voice is in the back of our heads, reminding us that this (social compliance) is happening. Being aware, can be very useful in situations where you have to stand-up for yourself or in situations where there are actual lives on the line. Keep that voice there. Look your surroundings and think why and for whom you're doing what you're doing, BEFORE you do it. Think about it.
-Thatredbeardguy
