dialogue on herd and heard, here

Heard about the herds?

I like sheep--just fine (especially the ones with cute faces)--but when I think of American culture and the monomanaical premiseS of consumption and individual rationale, I think of herds of consumer driven cockroaches hungrily crunching away on the top of the counter, under the cabinets and at the table. Some do it in packs, some alone, others furtively dance between. Herd one moment, independent the next. We all eat sleep breathe and aim to procreate or make something or get something or want something or need something.

There is definitely a mass, an undefinable mass who REALLY need the rules, the laws, the how to's, the normative patterns, the prescriptions for how to act appropriately, the why you should. this is about cohesion and safety. Control and fuction. Sometimes not everyone makes great choices. Maybe you don't want someone making yours. I don't like mine being made for me, unless of course it's a delightful surprise--which of course I would enjoy, just like many other peoople. But ultimately, the herd mentality directs the masses in normative groupthink activity, with a purpose and function. you want this conversation to take place in safety, right? Laws and rules and consequences.

I try to avoid politics;I feel hopeless when I engage in that dance...But you seem to have more energy in this department--and it's fabulous to be proactive and involved. We need people in those departments with passion and conviction. Survival is an interesting concept nowadays. People work twice as hard to afford what used to be a sort of given. Work hard--40 hrs. a week--own a home go to dr. when sick go to a movie take a vacation once a year. Not so much these days. It's tough to get by. Back to the sheep thing. Nobody wants to worry about that kid who hits us in the head with his lunchbox, steals all the money and verbally insults everything in his path--the bigger stronger,grown up version. Mean and scary. Actually, perhaps he's closer than we think...But it's not a lunchbox anymore.

Anyway,

Up until consequence became a reality this person was a lawless churl. So, rules and laws and beauracracies sometimes protect us, but they exist in a dynamic that can limit and become obtrusive. If you stay under the radar you can coexist, make a difference, choose your own adventure path, and obtain a piece of the multi dimensional pie; unless of course, someone gets in your way...But that's something else--another digression I'll elaborate on later.

I can sympathize with your position, but then now and again I have a chance encounter or rare interaction with someone and determine that they are a person, too.With difficult or not so difficult lives and dreams and aspirations. I often walk around Walmart trying to figure out how the hell I fit in...I can't relate to a large proportion of the population or popular culture or the trends or ideas of how I should participate or interact. But I am a product of this bizarre world, as you are.