Those Who Think People Are Sheep Are The Biggest Sheep Out There

So this morning I was reading Seanbaby's newest article on the website Cracked.com, 6 Content Warnings We'd Actually Pay Attention To (http://www.cracked.com/blog/6-content-warnings-wed-actually-pay-attention-to/).  At one point he said "I'm not one of those assholes who pictures all other humans as impressionable sheep. That's exactly the kind of mentality that leads to censorship, and I've never actually met anyone who mistook a TV show or movie for an instruction manual."  While its well documented that I take every Tony Jaa movie ever made as an instruction guide for living day to day life, I still think this quotation is something worth thinking about.

First off, think of the context of where you've heard this phrase.  The people usually saying this will throw it out there whenever someone doesn't agree with their view on politics or whenever there is a news story that discusses how a single person or group did something terrible.  While I would never question the political consciousness of someone who has Wikipedia'ed Ayn Rand or Karl Marx and watched some poorly put together Youtube videos, I do question their psychology credentials.  Debating these people is a lot like trying to find a prostitute in a police station: unnecessarily frustrating, usually over quickly, and, even if you do succeed, you probably won't get anything worthwhile out of it.

As for the terrible things that happen, the news often doesn't cover all the good things that go on around us.  Controversy sells.  For instance, did you know that Panera bread has opened "pay what you can" locations in a couple cities?  Or that they have been a resounding success? (http://www.alternet.org/food/151730/restaurants_where_you_only_pay_what_you_can_afford_a_visionary_way_to_bring_good_food_to_the_poor_is_taking_off).  Is that something that a bunch of people who can't be trusted would do?  This doesn't even begin to touch on all the charities, social justice organizations, and others that help other people out.  Nor the people out there who don't mind doing small little acts of kindness to help a stranger out.  There are more good things going on in the world that there are Jiujitsu experts with the last name "Gracie."

But don't get me wrong, people can be persuaded in scary ways if they don't question whats going on around them (just ask my ex-wife, hey-oh!).  Events such as the Milgrim experiment exemplify this perfectly, conducted after World War 4 to test if people would blindly follow the instructions of our new robot overlords if they were wearing a lab coat [citation needed].  What Stanley Milgrim found was shocking: lasers can cut straight through human flesh!  Also, many people are willing to follow the instructions of perceived authority figures even if it means seriously injuring someone.

Its important to note, though, that there were people who also refused to continue through the experiment.  Clearly it isn't impossible for us to think rationally, and we all have the capability to overcome our own psychological shortcomings.  To say we are all sheep takes away this responsibility to think clearly.

Now you might be wondering to yourself, why am I calling out this idea that people are all sheep?  Great question, hypothetical person I invented in order to illustrate a point.  Because this paternalistic mindset has helped justify some of the most horrifying things throughout history.  Slavery, imperialism (from colonialism to present day cultural and economic imperialism), authoritarian politics (both left wing like with Stalin or right wing like with Hitler), anti-democratic activities (such as what the US and Soviet Union did during the Cold War), and essentially anytime rights have been rescinded operated on the idea that "we know whats better for your better than you do."  There hasn't been a sentiment that insulting since the idea that Soulja Boy is a legitimate hip hop artist.  It goes way beyond censorship, though that is certainly part of it.

Finally, notice how these people never say they are sheep, nor their friends and family (unless they don't like their family, that is).  Its always about how these other faceless, imaginary people are all sheep.  Their group is a collection of unique, free thinking individuals in a world of clones!  Its very easy to dismiss everyone whom you haven't sat down and had an in depth conversation with as "shallow" because you've never actually taken the time to get to know them and their ideas.

This dismissal of everyone else at best makes you a pretentious prick, and at worst links directly into the "Vanguard" idea that you are more fit to make decisions than others.  So next time you hear someone talk about how people are hopeless sheep, I implore you to take the most reasonable course of action available to you: mock their pretentious views, because you're never going to find that prostitute in the police station, buddy.