Mob mentality = Just another stupid excuse

[Garbage Pail Kid]

We talk about news articles a lot here. Well, I don'thave one but I've got a piece of an article I read that I want to pick apart.

Earlier today, while we cutting out pieces of magazines in 2D Design class, spotted an article in a magazine that caught my eye. I think it was Cosmopolitian, and the article was about the Duke lacrosse rape case. The article was about how females should be careful when they're around large groups of males. I agree with this, but something in the article irked me. This isn't word for word, but it said something like this: "Otherwise decent guys can turn into monsters in the presence of testosterone pumped peer groups."

Really? I don't buy it. No doubt peer pressure can influence your actions to some degree, but there's an antidote for this. It's something that is such an alien concept in American society today: Self control. Sorry, but you don't get to chalk this up to group psychology or anything else. You do it, it's your fault. "Decent guys" don't turn into monsters, but monsters sometimes pretend to be decent. Whether it's sexual intimidation or sexual assault, if you commit it, it's because you were a scumbag to begin with, and the only role the group psychology played was making you think it was acceptable to show your true self. Don't fool yourself; you're trash, you always have been, and you always will be. Too weak to resist the pressure and evil enough to give into it.

[Darth_Toxic]

Ugh. I disagree with that too.


I am reminded of the book "Lord Of The Flies" - when Jack's gang kills Simon, EVERYONE, including the 'heroes', Ralph, Piggy, Sam and Eric, participates. The author was trying to get that same point across.

[KN]

Peer pressure CAN make you the complete opposite of what you are. A friend of mine has an ex-girlfriend who eventually went completely bat**** insane loco because her fundie christian upbringing suddenly kicked in and made her believe it is SUPER MEGA BAD to be a lesbian (even though she was one up to that point. Never quite figured that out). She then proceeded to beat the person she loved most to within an inch of her life.

Sadly for her, I was near enough to see it, and I must say, that was the hardest blow I have ever administered.

So yeah, I have seen what peer pressure can do, and we all know organized religion is the most powerful peer pressure of all.

[Garbage Pail Kid]

Peer pressure CAN make you the complete opposite of what you are. A friend of mine has an ex-girlfriend who eventually went completely bat**** insane loco because her fundie christian upbringing suddenly kicked in and made her believe it is SUPER MEGA BAD to be a lesbian (even though she was one up to that point. Never quite figured that out). She then proceeded to beat the person she loved most to within an inch of her life.

Sadly for her, I was near enough to see it, and I must say, that was the hardest blow I have ever administered.

So yeah, I have seen what peer pressure can do, and we all know organized religion is the most powerful peer pressure of all.

Well, that doesn't change what I think. I think someone who does that was really a bad person deep inside. If you give into the pressure, it's your own fault for being weak in the head...and heart.

[Grahamr]

Yea, i heard that during the macy's parade(or whatever the hell it was) In NYC, some girls were in a crowd, and suddenly took off their clothes all the sudden, and were then gang raped. eventully, one guy put a shirt over one of the girls and led her away from the crowd.


Point #1-if your a female(or a guy, if your near a bunch of sexually agressive girls) don't take your clothes off suddenly.

Point #2-If your a Guy(or girl,see the above) DO NOT GIVE INTO PEER PRESSURE. if someone is getting raped, call the police!

[Thefremen]

I agree it's a weak excuse but I think the source of the problem is that too many people listen to Jack Thompson and others like him. When you listen to fools, the mob rules!

[Garbage Pail Kid]

I agree it's a weak excuse but I think the source of the problem is that too many people listen to Jack Thompson and others like him. When you listen to fools, the mob rules!

Funny you should mention that, those are the same people who advocate blaming others for your actions, rather taking responsibility for what you do.

[kurisu7885]

Funny you should mention that, those are the same people who advocate blaming others for your actions, rather taking responsibility for what you do.

Others or things, such as alcohol or drugs. Remember that episode of South Park where Ike's teacher got off the hook by blaming alcohol?

[Garbage Pail Kid]

Others or things, such as alcohol or drugs. Remember that episode of South Park where Ike's teacher got off the hook by blaming alcohol?

Of course. I've been drunk to the point of blacking out and vomiting before, but I've never beaten or otherwise assaulted anyone close to me. It's actually surprisingly easy to say to yourself, "Get a grip. It's just a drug and I'm not going to let it make me do anything stupid." If I can do that, I don't see why others can't. I mean, I'm not the most mentally stable person in the world. Although, it usually doesn't even get to the point where I have to do that, because I do this thing called drinking responsibly and knowing when I should stop. What a concept.