The mob mentality

Well I decided to make this first entry about how mob mentality is making itself evermore present in today’s society. There are a few key examples I will highlight. And how news media, although informative, is the biggest culprit in whipping mobs of people into a frenzy in a little more than a few days possibly hours. Well I think I’ll start with the biggest can of worms there is…the Casey Anthony case.

Now if you have never heard of this case I suggest you research it before reading any farther so you do not become confused. Now for those of you who have heard of the case I am referring to you probably want the mother of little Casey dead…but ask yourself this…do you want her dead because she was accused of killing her daughter, or from only listening to what the media and other outlets such as friends, family, and acquaintances? Perhaps you just drew your own conclusion because you watch so much CSI, NCIS, or Law and Order you think you can piece together the story and then join the mindless mob of people demanding she get the needle. Then you probably were one of the millions of people demanding she be found guilty on the day of her trial, but instead she was found to be innocent on the basis of the lack of credible evidence. Outrage gripped the region…well nation I should say, a murderer on the loose, a child killer walking free from the courtroom. Millions cried foul and that Florida’s legal and court system was broken and corrupt! Well guess again Florida’s court system did what it was supposed to, releasing a person when the prosecution had only circumstantial evidence no body or murder weapon or a motive for that matter. If the judge had found her guilty she would have pushed her lawyer to appeal for emotional mistrial and would have walked anyway so cool your damn jets.

It’s not broken people; you’re just another victim of mob mentality. You listened to what the media reported, to what your friends and family told you and believed what they believed and wanted you to believe. In that moment of time you lost your ability to think for yourself, the ability to draw conclusions effectively from the facts. Why do you think the way others want you to? The answer is simple and oddly enough it’s the same answer to the question as to why you lie. Its easy plain and simple. It’s easy to follow but it’s hard to lead. Just like it’s easier to lie to someone’s face than it is to tell the truth. 

Let’s face facts it’s much easier to believe the majority than it is to believe in the minority. In laymen terms it’s easier to believe whats reported than what you think up yourself. I’m not going to lie I’ve done it myself, that is to follow the mob, but there is nothing wrong with challenging the majority. After all people have been doing it for as long as history is recorded. Hell perfect examples are the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. In both cases a smaller band of people or states in either case rose up against a much larger adversary. Take note in one example the smaller power was victorious and in another they were defeated. Much is the same way today but it seems instead of fighting a lot of people are starting to go with the flow. It’s sad to be honest.