Social Circle

MMMM you've got some very good points that must be digested.

We all conduct ourselves based on what we know influenced by our own experiences.  What is interesting is people and societies that have not been through much trama and have lived a comfortable life seem to stagnate.  But those who have had a rough go about it either turn out to be great or tyrants. 

I'm going to have to digest and think about this much more, but excellent topic

Interesting concepts raised here FFT.  I shall employ a muse then ponder upon it within the sheltered confines of the ITZ. 

Holy cherry pits Pagan you are sounding like a B.F. Skinner pupil!  Are we no more than the collective sum of our experiences mere behavioral expressions?

Nope, never heard of him.  That's just my opinion

This group would not contain criminals or sociopaths for the small reason that those types of individuals do not question their way of life, and are not deep thinkers to question everyday view of existince.

They don't?  So are your saying because they lack the emotional ability to feel the way the herd thinks they should they can not be free thinkers? they do not question life? and lack the ability make life conform to their own values?

 Where do you think these individuals are then- groupwise- first or third?

I gathered that they are outside the social spheres altogether.  They are equal opportunity outcasts who would victimise any human in any social circle.  I believe that FFT's supposition that sociopaths are not self-aware is a conclusion based on analysis by members of society trying to understand or fit them into the norm.

interesting facts about the social world freind

Thanks for pointing out

thats not what I intended to mean by that sentence, I mean just that a regular criminal or average sociopath that is physically in the Herd, but are seperated from contact with them, a good point you brought up though but in this one example the people I'm refering to are labeled by their predominant mental state.  So if you are more of a freethinker who happens to go against the law, you are more part of the ITZ and cannot be labeled as part of the Herd or the Followers.  If you are just the average criminal who lives and takes life as it appears than you yourself are technically part of the Herd as I said in the post.  So what I mean to say is your predominant state of mind places you in one of these groups.

by the way this website helped me think of a good rap name, as I discarded my previous one "UnHerd" is what I call myself now.  I'll have to post one of my writings on the radio and mainstream music and how it ties in w/ the degeneration of our current generation, which thankfully I dodged by a few years

I don't know how much I agree with that statement, seems society does alot of labeling and grouping that is just a convienent way to shut up those that dare to speak out. I as a critical thinker can have a positive state of mind in my own convictions all I want, that don't mean that the colletive herd will agree with me, respect me or support my right to disagree with them. In fact I am sure there are many that find themselves at swords point simply because they dared not to conform. Sounds like a made for TV movie but I bet it is more widespread then most would like to admit.

Far to many assumptions drawn, yet a nicely defined reality that works within itself.  I treat all in my social circle eaqually both family and friends are disliked in an equitiable fashion.

Now as for one's reality - well it is defined by the individual discernment of patterns in the matter energy flow.  When considered within the unique framework of individual reference to reality that of course is dependent upon where the punctuation of sequential events is established as part of the discernment process.  This of course gives rise and acceptance to the cliche' "Whatever floats your boat" implying another's discernment is acceptable.  Ponder and muse is what it is about!

The problem with this is the absolutism of the literal term. Is this a general, or absolute term? Is one trying to pigeon hole another into a generality or a literal sense of the word "herd" here?

Myself? I think I follow the herd sometimes and my own desires most of the time. Others? I think they follow the herd, but also have their own ideas as well.While we may differ, I think the commonality of this thread is the desire of better political representation from both the left and the right. The methods might not be the same, but the desires are out there and they are getting clear. I don't think that most Americans are satisfied with our government and the legal issues it has imposed upon it's people is the sense of laws and taxation without representation. I think most abhor how bills are introduce en masse within state and federal packages. Does that make us all radicals? No! Hell no.

The good thing is with most of my opinions in this article are that they are from experience.  i have been in all 3 part inside, a member of the herd, a criminal or sociopath, a person taking advantage of those in complete ignorance, and now am predominantly in the ITZ.  So I do understand criminals they are non conformist only in behavior, but mentally they follow the closed thinking of the average citizen found within the Herd

Good comments. I, too, have been a part of all three at different points in my life as well. I take your comments, positively and am also a member of what you label the ITZ. The "Herd", or the name of the herd is referred to with disdain here. You will find very little of that mentality within. Only when we have walked a mile in another's shoes is when we truly understand the problems and success's in life. More important to me, however, is the truth. And my truth differs with any truth that I witness in most media productions as I feel they are no have the right to call these productions "news". It is entertainment, under the guise of "news", for the herd. The government uses this "entertainment" to further agenda which is why this country has gone down hill fast, and will continue to do so until this is cleaned up.

indeed, they call it propaganda

B.F. Skinner, why does his behavioralist method keep showing up

yes in theory the truth will allow us all to access the ITZ, but there are those who would rather live in ignorance, and sometimes i do not blame them one bit

Even if someone is in this ITZ, they still can't live in a social vacuum. So there are really only two places they can be.

Etiher:

  1. They are among the elites who can (and know how to) manipulate the herd to benefit themselves,

  OR

  2. They are also part of the herd, even though they don't identify with the popular sentiments of the herd.

Well Wonky after that bit of drill down I must admit I would prefer to be counted amoung those under option #1.  Since shit rolls downhill mostly, I like the lot at the top of the hill more often than not!

Can't say as I blame you, AO. Of course, power is a tricky thing to hold onto. At the end of the day, it comes down to just a willingness to do what the other guys won't.

And there's always the worry that someone might be manipulating you in ways you aren't aware of.