To my dear readers,
I haven’t written a personal post in such a long time! But I was inspired by my friend Karen’s Social conformity post so I wanted to write one as well.
Karen shared the following video:
Honestly, I was shocked by how not a single person asked what was going on and continued standing up after the beeping sound purely because everyone else was doing it.
Although I might have stood up if I was placed in the same situation, I know I would have asked the others why they were doing so.
To me, if it doesn’t make sense, I need an answer.
If I was told, “I’m standing up because everyone is standing up.” I would personally go up to the front desk and ask why the beeping sound = standing up. Are we being recorded? Is this some type of fitness challenge?
If the front desk cannot give me an answer, I would sit back down even if it was uncomfortable.
People may or may not believe me, but I am somewhat of a rebel.
In the past, I have always tried to conform to society and everyone else around me because I wanted to be treated well. I wanted everyone’s approval because I felt like it would make my life better.
By conforming, it would definitely make life a lot easier. You would fit right in and no one would challenge you.
It’s kind of like peer pressure. Why do kids smoke? Most of the time, it’s because their peers smoke and they want to fit in. By refusing to follow the crowd, you might get excluded or treated poorly.
Therefore, I can understand why people want to or feel the need to conform.
However, I’m at the point where I don’t care about what others think anymore. Before doing _______________, I would ask myself the following questions.
1. Why am I doing it?
2. Would I do it if no one was watching me?
3. Does it make me happy and/or is it related to my goals?
If 2 out of 3 questions are positive responses, I would probably do it. But personally, I’m not afraid of being the odd one out.
If it doesn’t make sense, I would ask questions. It might make me look “stupid”, but I’d rather know the reason than to follow along doing something just because everyone else is doing it.
Anyhow, I thought this video was very interesting and I would like to know your thoughts on this topic! Please share. 🙂
Thank you for reading!!
P.S. I am extremely tired and demotivated right now, so the next translation chapter might take a while. Sorry!
Grow with me 
I would just stay seated cuz I am deaf. I would feel very weird standing up without knowing the reason why.
Oh my goodness. 😦 it might be so tough for you. I can’t imagine what you must go through…
Thanks for reading and commenting.
This normative social influence happens subconsciously for the most part. It might *look* “dumb” to a viewer because it is situated in a controlled experiment environment, but social influence works in so many ways around us. Usually it is not so black and white. That’s what makes this video so interesting to watch and talk about. A lot of us have been socially influenced without knowing it.
Thanks for sharing, Karen!!!! I thought it was very interesting. I know what you mean, a lot of the times, we are socially influenced without knowing so.
Wow, that is sad. I’ve usually been the person who questions things and my theory has been that if I’m in a room full of people and everyone is agreeing on something, then someone isn’t thinking. I immediately question anything that “everyone” is doing. I’m all for living and working in community, but group think can be dangerous.
It’s incredible that no one asked why they were standing up! Except the one guy who was alone with the girl. If the group had been there, I have a feeling he would not have asked.
Thank you for reading and commenting! I know… I guess most people would be too intimidated to ask.
I am surprised the girl continued even after everyone went back into the room though. I thought she just wanted to fit in.
That’s the problem really. Too many people are afraid to stand out and would rather succumb to any weirdness than question things. Great post. I’m glad you shared it.
Thank you!
Lol this usually happens to me only cuz im dazed and not paying attention in class so if a group of classmates in my vision abruptly stand up i join them before figuring out what the hell is going on or whether i even need to be standing.
Haha. I know what you mean. :p pay attention in class!
Thanks for reading, Tachi!! ❤
Very interesting. It’s all about free will that has lately become the main theme of my works, books and life. Those who conform have no free will because society has taken it away from them so they ape and follow. The reason is because humans are basically pack animals so they do what they are told and what others do especially if the conformity and behaviour is dictated by some authority. While it has some social benefits at the same time it’s actually the worst aspect of human behaviour because is the way people or say the masses are being manipulated. If I had been in that situation I may have got up the first time but not the second because unless somebody explained to me why they stood up it made no sense.
Thanks for reading and commenting, controversialcook!!! True. It’s easy to manipulate others if people tend to follow or do as they are told.
I would have gotten up as well, but I would need a good explanation in order to continue.
I honestly think I would be to lazy to stand up, I would be pbbly playing phone games LOL
Lol oh Jack. 😑😑😑 I don’t know if I should give you props or smack you. Haha