Like a bleating sheep
Humans behave like sheep more often than they want to believe. Why is that?
A major reason is that many feel safe in the anonymity of the masses, i.e. herd, and are sheepish when on their own. They voluntarily follow and do as they're told. But that subservience always comes at a price. Somebody will perceive it as an offer to be taken advantage of: politicians do it, companies do it, bosses do it, colleagues do it, media do it, networks do it. Subservience leads to exploitation. The message is "We know what's good for you, you don't have to worry. Save yourself the time and trouble to think about it. Just eat, i.e. consume, what we serve you. In return we get your wool, i.e. trust, vote, money, time, personal data – whatever is applicable – and take care of the rest". The sheep are fed, sheared and their wool sold. It goes without saying that the profits don't go to them. Sheep sell themselves short! Bleating in the anonymity of the herd isn't going to change that. We have to step out of the illusion of heteronomous happiness driven by consumption. As opposed to sheep, we can think and we can take control of our lives. That obviously comes at a price, as there are no rights without duties. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe once said "None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free". And you?