What is it that drives a man to try and stand out amongst his peers?
That seems to be the flavour of this week. I don't know why, all of a sudden I have had a deluge of people this week who were trying so hard to stand out that they almost fell over. And the funniest part is that almost all of them are so plain run-of-the-mill that it isn't even funny. Maybe that is the point. If you are really a stand-out person then you don't have to try to stand out! But returning to why.
Why this urge to be different that makes people, normal ones like you and me (????), to make a mess of their lives, their health, their relationships and whatever else that may matter. I mean, if you have to believe Darwin then the wilderbeast that conform to the herd have the greatest chance of surviving as against the 'hero' who decides to stand apart. If I were to apply that logic to humans I would be making the generalization that humans are a herding people. But we are, aren't we?
So then why do we want to stand out of this herd? Why are we so upset when life gets boring and monotonous? Why does the mundane always draw groans and sighs? Why do we want to find a meaning to living? Why do we have to think that there is a greater purpose to life than the crass one of just being? Why?
Any answers?
Everybodys trying to be different , n we want to be like everybody
ReplyDeleteLiked the mention of Darwin's theory with relation to the urge to stand out... I think the reason Darwin's theory doesn't hold true in this case is that Darwin said it with regards to natural environment, and the issue in concern is pertaining to social environment.
ReplyDeleteNow "why?". I agree, we really have no need to find out greater purpose in life. Existing harmlessly itself is the best thing you can make out of life. But the very design of our intelligence-driven world is such that unless you earn some importance you can not feel fulfilled. The reason is that we are not living natural life... We are living human life where the essential things for living are not free. They have to be earned. The better you portray yourself, better you stand a chance of earning things. This is the reason which triggers such behaviors on people.
The design of the human world is faulty. No one can help it.
@ anushree - so are you saying that conforming is really being different these days?
ReplyDelete@ darshan - why do you say that the human world is faulty? in which world are the essentials free? doesnt every animal have to earn his needs in some way or the other? as far as portrayal goes - the better the peacock portrays its feathers the likelier he'll have a mate??
I guess irrespective of whether we try it or not, we ARE indeed different from each other in some way. I guess the smart thing is to embrace that; instead of trying to moulding ourselves to be something else.
ReplyDeleteNormal? You and me??? I can only guess that you weren't specifically directing this towards me and alluding to yourself was simply because it fits in with the rest of the sentence.
ReplyDeleteAnd we've always stood out my friend, more often for the wrong reasons than the right ones, but stood out nonetheless. :)
@prithvi - completely agree my dear friend. didnt u notice the deluge of question marks after that statement?i especially remember the times we STOOD OUT of class due to some prof not quite understanding us, or due to Pali!!!
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