Some of you have likely been called a “sheep” on the internet or have seen somebody else feel the wrath of such a word. While I promote individual thinking that is not so black and white and I promote the intention behind people who strive to assist in bringing this sort of thinking out of others… it’s probable that none of us are even correctly equipped to do so.
Not only do I have an issue with the fact that mere HUMANS are the ones assessing the worth of fellow humans, but I also have an issue with the ones who seem to have no desire whatsoever in building up their community, instead, tearing it down piece by piece, adding to the disaster. How are they doing this? They do this by adding a dash of condescension, a sprinkle of sarcasm, and a pinch ad hominem. To put it simply, you cannot instill these poisons to your approach if you want to do any good. This poison will overcome the good cause you believe you’re spreading all around. Who desires to lay their hands on something dipped in poison? I think we all can admit that we have never been “won over” by such a silly approach, sheep or no sheep.
Not only is it pointless and poisonous that we’re so cynical with others instead of looking inside ourselves further, we have to realize that yes, there is such a thing as “sheep”, but then there are also many people who go through such extremes of being “different” JUST so they aren’t comparable to something familiar. With either path you take, you are susceptible to losing yourself in the process. Maybe instead of losing yourself though, what you could actually be doing is finding yourself. There is such a fine line. We should delve into this even further.
Us humans are quite fond of sniffing out certain traits of each other, certain mannerisms, certain personal tastes to use against each other, just so we can corral everybody into our tiny labeled compartments so that it “all makes sense”. Does it sincerely make sense that they “do this because they like this” or that they “are this so they must be this” because those statements are truths within themselves or is it just that they make sense because you shaped them to fit in your narrow compartment? Let’s use some examples that are a bit more clear, “you’re a democrat so you must be ___”, “you live in Mississippi so you must think ___”, “you listen to this music so you must lack in ___”. The main point of one person labeling another fellow human being a “sheep” is to make it known that this person is “brainwashed”. I have to admit, I consider most of America to be severely brainwashed by the media and society, but “brainwashed” is a term that is pretty shapeless and could be taken to many great lengths. Can “brainwashed” truly be defined?
So, this begs the question, if you were diagnosed with amnesia, were put in a room full of many different styles of clothing and a radio with thousands of varying CD’s beside it, could you honestly vow that you would pick out the exact same style of clothing you’re wearing now or the same exact music you listen to now? Would you even have the same standards or limits that you possess right now? This is what I think of when someone uses such shapeless words with such hostility, with such negativity, it’s all so hopeless. Yes, they are merely words, but what I’m truthfully concerned about here is the person behind hostile words, phrases with ill intentions, what kind of character they possess or the deliberate actions they take in this world. On a more personal level, the level that ties us all together, how are YOU useful in this society?
“We blame society, but we are society.” – Anonymous.
Wall to Wall Reflections 
