Are you free or a slave?

[frankky77]

Do you do the same things others do? wear the same clothes, listen to the same music, watch the same TV shows, idolize the same celebrities, eat the same food, I occasionally I listen to the Rush Limbaugh show just to see how people behave and I see that every single caller agrees with the nonsense he talks about, they don't question him they just agree like sheep, they even idolize him like some kind of a god. Why do people behave like this? I hear he has millions of listeners! But he's not the only one there are other celebrities that have millions of fans, like that Korean guy on you tube who dances like a horse and every body loves him. Are people just going through the motions? Are the government and big financial corporations involved in making us behave like sheep? So that we buy what they are selling? Are they programming us like robots so that we are easy to manipulate? Do we have a mind of our own? Don't we have a little bit of mind control?

[Vashta]

Honestly, I'm not convinced the governments aren't just the same... I personally don't think there's anyone making people act like that, I think it's just the natural condition; humans are, after all, animals. I think it's just how herd mentality manifests in human beings. There are people that exploit it, sure, but those kinds of people aren't really known for their teamwork skills, so I'd sincerely doubt there's a big global conspiracy behind it, obviously I could be wrong, but, that's my take on it

[Vulpecula]

I was just watching this, which is certainly relevant.

[Frater ALV]

There are very few 'individuals' in this world, we all share some aspect of our existence/preferences with others, we are all members of 'the tribe'.

There are few who are in a tribe of one, and there are few who are in but one tribe.

Where we may be viewed as 'individuals' is through the various tribal affiliations and how they measure up against any other set/combination of affiliations and memberships of another being.

[Vulpecula]

The "individual" is largely a western cultural premise. Many religions and belief systems still teach and strive to achieve the removal of all self identification as an "individual".

One is a slave to their ego at very least, for it is the self definition of who they are. Twist the ego, twist their opinions, twist their actions. (And they will not even realise, nor will they realise they even have an ego..)

And yes, I am one of those whom has done away with her ego.

I do not exist as an individual. Biologically perhaps, however that is not a constant.