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Question: A question for all the philosophers out there!. !?
Do we all really believe what the media has to say!? Or are we just alone for the ride!? It makes no sense to follow people around like puppies that don't really know what they are talking about!.
Maybe this act is just for comfort!. We (the people of the U!.S!.) are afraid of thinking for ourselves!. We think that is anyone heard our opinions they would immediately be shot down and stomped on!.
This act is followed strictly in schools these days!. Not just with the education but in the classrooms!. Kids think that they must fit in, in order to be recognized as an actual human being!. It's this popular business that screws us all over!. Girls and boys think they have to wear the trendiest clothing and use the "in" words so other kids (who are doing the exact same thing) will notice them!.
Are we all really lying to ourselves!? If we are all doing this to impress people who are also doing this, we should find something much more interesting to copy!.
I am trying to make a difference!. I am asking you all, do we really need to lie to ourselves and other to fit in!? Do we actually need that new hair product and those new jeans from American Eagle!?
We are living in a time where popularity matters, I understand that, but does popularity need to rise above everything else!? Well, I guess so!.!.!.it's sick, isn't it!?Www@QuestionHome@Com


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
It is nice to be popular!. Since you want to hear from philosophers and there really aren't very many of them, you may like to hear from Socrates in Plato's Apology, where even he admits to being uncomfortable with becoming unpopular because of his questions!.

Good luck with becoming less popular and more wise!. You seem to have a "philosopher's" essential attitude in that you seem to want more truth and less popularity!. That's the start!. Maybe you'll become an actual philosopher, yourself!.

KevinWww@QuestionHome@Com

We're to believe what is real, not fabricated

We're to witness what must be known, not what must be shrouded from reality!.

You lie to yourself, when you believe a lie is beneficial to everyone instead of just one person!.

Someone will always rise above or below you, competition is no way to gain friends, only jealous enemies, and power-headed people to cause you disdain temporarily!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

I'm guessing OP is about 13, and is just realising that the media isn't entirely honest, and that the world is imperfect!. People are not afraid of thinking for themselves!. In fact, everyone believes they think for themselves!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Peoples' needs differ!. But my ego is as big as a house, and needs no approval from anyone; I wear what I please and pay little attention to the opinions of others -- the vast majority of whom are not as intelligent as I am!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Most people don't have the critical thinking or logic skills to think for themselves!. They are too ignorant to realize the truth and are tricked by common fallacies!. Www@QuestionHome@Com

I think what cannot be cured has to be endured!. We have to show lot of tolerance and patience!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

You're good!.
World will change, eventually, to a better!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

who that was deepWww@QuestionHome@Com

I don't see why people make such a big deal of the media, it is quite fun watching it and comparing it to you own values and morals once you get them!.

The media is not telling girls to throw up to be thin, and even if it was , so be it, there weak for being influenced so easily!.

The key element is that is always our choice and we should stop blaming our actons on variable forcesWww@QuestionHome@Com

The reason people conform to things is because most people in society are constantly threatened with isolation!. This can occur in any setting!. It could occur with a group of friends, the media, a classroom, or just about anywhere that you can find a group of people!.

The "spiral of silence" theory states that people with a minority opinion are isolated and ignored by the majority!. The media tends to focus its items on what it believes the majority opinion is, which is why it influences people so effectively!. By watching the news, people think they are being informed of what the majority is interested in, and may subsequently feign interest in the subject just so they are not isolated and ignored by everyone else!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

"!.!.!.we should find something much more interesting to copy!.!.!."
NO!
We should find what moves us as individuals and GO FOR IT!
I complement you for being awake and aware!. A warning, however; the more you open your eyes to the grim reality that is our culture, the more disgusted you will become!. Be careful not to wind up cynical and/or pessimistic as a result of it!.
-E

Go look up Bill Hicks on youtube; he was awake & aware!.!.!.
-the point of life
http://www!.youtube!.com/watch!?v=Q95kX_EP2!.!.!.
-marketing (don't listen to at work; language)
http://www!.youtube!.com/watch!?v=gDW_Hj2K0!.!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

It's natural for people to copy other's behavior, but we have taken it to the point where we lie to ourselves!. You're right, it is sick!. I am reading a book, "Anthem" by Ayn Rand, about how in the future everyone's identity is obliterated and all must be the same, working for all and as one!. They can not even say "I"!. I don't think that the situation at hand will ever make it that far, because there will always be those who have a strong sense of self, but we are emboldening the same principles!. People do put an emphasis on being like everyone else; there is comfort in familiarity!. But what about the trend setters!? What about the ones who rise above it!? The controversial ones, who are either hated or loved!? They are noticed!. They are looked up to!. I notice two reactions to these people: I see the envious looks on people's faces when someone else in the class stands out from the crowd!. That envy, I think, drives people to casting those people out!. They are too coward to try to stand up to the crowd, so they rally the crowd instead!. Or, I see that people see the ones who stepped up as a leader, as cool, and follow them, trying to copy them!. We are people of imitation- it is how we learn- but it is not who we are!. We are not all the same person!. Whether we be hated or loved, we should take the risk and be ourselves!. We may not be popular, or maybe we will, but we will be happiest!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

The media is the biggest thing that influences people now, and it is targeted towards teens!. I try to keep a low life style!. I don't believe what the media says most of the time, and I wear whatever I like, regardless of brand or whats in!. You don't necessarily have to be popular to fit in, or be content!. I act like myself, and I am comfortable with it!. I don't hide my personality with a bunch of lies, for if I did I wouldn't like who I would become!. I have no need to impress others, and popularity matters for a duration!. Know all those popular high school students!? Just wait, and you'll laugh at where most of them will end up in a few years!. It is sickening, and I just wish people wouldn't try so hard to impress others!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

"Maybe this act is just for comfort"

Exactly!. Like you said, people don't like thinking for themselves, it's too much work!. It's quite sad since the local news is incredibly dumbed down so that a 7yr old can understand it!. That and it is lacking in foreign news since Americans just don't care about that sort of thing!.

Lol, American Eagle!. It's a strange time when popularity and individuality are important YET, you have to be like all the other "cool kids" in order to fit in!. But, popularity is overrated!. We shouldn't follow the crowd like mindless sheep but instead break away from it!.Www@QuestionHome@Com