Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Jesus Was a Shepherd...Right?

So, there were plenty of topics that I considered rambling on since my last post: Bloomberg's ridiculously irrational (and fake) proposals for how he will improve NYC mass transit if elected, or the Taconic Pkwy tragedy. Fact is, it's been days since the former story came out, and I would DEFINITELY get in heat for the latter. (And yes, two is plenty...)

Instead, I thought the overall topic of sheep would be a great topic.

Yes. Sheep.

Why? 'Cause we all are just that (for the most part). Sheep.

Think about it. You're watching TV one day, and you see an ad for the newest "lowfat" salad at McDonalds...or the newest Lexus model with "affordable" financing...or the latest episode of the hit reality show about two guys, a bunch of girls, a dog...you get my drift. And you immediately do one of three things:
  • Buy the salad.
  • Finance the car.
  • DVR the show.
You don't know why, but you are just so convinced that:
  • the McDonalds salad is the solution to your weight issues
  • the car is the solution to your image issues
  • the show is the solution to the massive boredom you are experiencing in your own life (because it is all sooo real, maaaan!)
Problem is:
  • the McDonalds salad that you saw advertised has 20 grams of fat (true story)
  • the interest rate on the financing could put you in debt in record time
  • it's all an act
The last sentence summarizes it all. Not just the reality show, but the salad, and the car. The advertising industry is built upon the fact that the majority of Americans are so concerned with "following the trend", or improving their image, that they will do whatever they are told. The advertising industry is therefore a modern-day shepherd, and we are all sheep (again, for the most part).

But, are those same advertisers shepherds? After all, couldn't they just be bigger sheep? Think about this question: Do those same advertisers possibly have a Facebook profile? I mean, why wouldn't they? It's a great advertising tool for themselves, right? Puts them right out there.

Another question: How did AOL, then MySpace, then Facebook become popular? Word of mouth.

Hmm..."word of mouth", eh? Doesn't that constitute following others? Like sheep following the herd?

"My goodness...where did this all come from?"

I had a realization the other day that it takes just one person to make you change your opinions about something. Yeah, we may say we all stand steadfast to our decisions in life...the friends we choose, the food we eat, the games we play. But, if you really take the time to think about it, how many times has your opinion changed because one person told you a singular something:
  • "Yo, dude, that band sounds like garbage."
  • "Seriously, you HAVE to check out that show...it's awesome!"
  • "Why do you talk to those people? You should hear some of the stuff they say about you..."
Makes sense, huh? We can be so easily influenced, it is astounding. I mean, entire religions are built upon this idea! Sure, some may be more susceptible to influence than others but, for the most part, our opinions change at the drop of the hat. Due the opinions, the ramblings of others.

So in one way, or multiple ways, yes...we are all sheep.


1 comment:

  1. I agree and disagree. And here's why:

    1) Yes, we are easily influenced. I think a lot of this has to do with how we personally view social hierarchy. If a person of a higher "caliber" is saying something, we are more than likely to believe them. A friend, for example, is someone you put a lot of trust into, so you'd be more likely to believe them. A doctor, as another example, is something with a medical degree, so when discussing something about your body, said degree implies (within our mind) that said doctor is a master of medicine.

    2) At the same time, I think it's a little out-of-scope to say that all people are sheeple in some way, shape or form, and that we are that easily influenced. If we were so easily influenced, the whole world would be built on the idea that the ultimate evolution of economics is all about lemonade seas and money that grew on trees (literally).

    3) Besides, accepting something because it's an authoratative figure is just as stupid as rejecting something because you think it's a sheeple thing to do. And a fair amount of people reject "mainstream" views because "you're following the man, man." And even that's a sheeple concept, except there is no leader. Or no apparent one, anyway. But that doesn't make us sheeple. Just dumb.

    I don't think it's so terrible to have advertisement or word of mouth. Without it, sheeple who complain about sheeples wouldn't be able to complain ;P Plus, life is all about selling yourselves, and selling things. Making decision, and backing them up. We are as much sheep as we are shepherds.

    Woah that was a long comment. ^^;;

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