Sociology

I need to stop thinking about people. When I do, this is what happens:

One of the things that most bugs me about society is the fact that we are so much a society; that is to say, I think people have an unnecessarily strong need to associate with other people. By this I don't mean that people shouldn't want to be around other people. That's a necessary part of life. It is instead the way people act around other people that gets on my nerves. The "crowd mentality"... the "Oh look, everyone else is clapping, I think I will too"... the "You do things like this because that's how people do it." Grrrr.

This manifests itself all over the place. Expressions... manners... customs... traditions. Are these all stupid? Nah. But, here's one that simply drives me up the wall: applause.

We clap at any performance, whether we like it or not. And then we clap for every sentence that comes out of the president's mouth, and I know that plenty of people don't like any of that. Why do we clap? Think about it. I couldn't figure it out. It's not because we appreciate what we've just seen. It's not to make people feel "nice". Is it because everyone else does it? Well, so why does everyone else do it? Because they assume the performers/speakers expect it? Why do the performers/speakers expect it? I'm guessing it's because "everyone else does it". GAAAH! It's circular logic! There IS no good reason. And why clapping, anyway? Oh look! I am beating my own hands, therefore I must appreciate you! Grrrr.

Expressions: Things such as "beating around the bush" or "touch base" or "hit two birds with one stone". Some of them actually make sense, most of them don't. But, everyone is expected to know what they mean. In many cases, saying what you actually mean is easier, shorter, or simpler than substituting it with some expression. Why do people use expressions? Do they have some kind of emotional significance? Does it imply superiority somehow?

And then there are traditions... things we do every year just because we think it appropriate. Why do we have Mother's day, for example? Many people would probably come up with something like "because we like to appreciate all the work that mothers do". No, Mother's Day is the creation of a card company that saw an opportunity for revenue and jumped on it. But all you have to do is attach nice, fluffy emotionalism, and people will jump on board out of perceived obligation. Oh, how sheeplike we are. No, I'm not saying we shouldn't celebrate mothers. For all they do, they deserve something. But limiting it to a single day per year doesn't do them justice. But, why bother doing anything about it during the rest of the year? We might as well just wait for mother's day! No, traditions have taken the spontaneity out of life, I think. Surprises are far too surprising these days.

So, essentially, what am I saying... I suppose I'm just thinking that people ought to think for themselves a little more than they do... in as many words.