Sheeple – a mixture of the words sheep and people. It is used to describe people who tend to believe what others have told them, without finding out for themselves if the information is correct. How many times have you listened to your friends when they said something to you and you never questioned it, other than maybe saying, “No, you’re kidding me!” They are your friends, you trust them, you could never believe that they would tell you a lie. Are you sure about that?

What about your parents? Have you ever been told something growing up that you later found out wasn’t the case? However, you blindly believed it at the time. The media, the government, your teachers, your siblings and even your children will tell you things that you take for granted.

Here is an example:

In a women’s hospital ward, one of the more mature and popular ladies selected a much younger and shy girl. The mature lady went around the room whispering and telling others that the small bumps that were seen all over the young woman’s body were due to lack of personal hygiene methods, and were caused by dirt. The rest of the ladies in the room were immediately disgusted upon hearing this and avoided the younger girl, not wishing to be near her, and repeatedly whispered derogatory comments about her.

This went on for several days, until a new patient arrived and was treated in the same way: “Don’t go near her, she’s dirty, look at those lumps.” kind of comments. The new patient heard all of this and then approached the younger girl after noticing how lonely she was. A conversation ensued and the new patient tactfully inquired about the lumps.

The young woman had a rare form of cancer that causes many tumors to grow throughout her body. She had spent many years in and out of the hospital having surgery on her tumors, knowing that she would probably spend the rest of her life undergoing such treatments.

Such attitudes and the tendency to blindly believe what we are told are common. We have to think for ourselves. Many of us believe so, but we are ingrained with ‘gang car behaviour’. A follow-up of the mentality of the crowd.

If we happen to think about things, we justify not looking for answers, with reasons such as:

• I think my friend/spouse/family etc.
• I don’t want to upset people, they’ll think I don’t believe them.
• so it has always been.
• Millions of people can’t be wrong.
• Well he said it in the [insert any newspaper/news service here]

How many people do you know who suddenly developed an interest in football and being patriotic during the last world cup? People who just weeks before could be heard saying they had no interest in football were hanging England flags from their windows and on their cars. they walked around in England shirts and watched every game. They shouted phrases worn by time, and gave opinions on who was the best player, usually only being able to talk about the current popular footballer and what the media reports.

There is nothing wrong with enjoying football or being a patriot. However, patriotism is not a single event. It is a state of being. Take Glasgow in Scotland. There are two great soccer teams. Glasgow and Celtic Rangers. More so in the past, but still prevalent today, is the view that by default if you are Catholic you will support Celtic, and if you are Protestant you will follow Rangers.

There are many people who like things, do things, and follow things, but have no idea why they do these things. They have never analyzed themselves or the world around them. How many of you have music in your collection that you’re embarrassed to admit you own? Why are you embarrassed? You obviously liked it enough to buy it and listen to it. Don’t you like to admit you have it because everyone says it’s no good, or because you bought it at a time when everyone said it was great, but you really didn’t like it?

Think for yourselves. You don’t need to distrust the information you read or hear, but find out for yourself if it is true and how it affects the world around you. Don’t blindly follow the pack simply for fear of missing out on the cabal. Allow yourself to be an individual and feed your mind.

I remained friends with the youngest girl in the hospital for years. If he had blindly listened to the other patients, he would have lost a valuable friendship.