A flock of sheep stick together to protect themselves by eliminating the idea of the individual. They are able to look like one white, fluffy unit of sheepy goodness. This is so that a wolf – or another predator – cannot discern one sheep in a flock to single out for dinner. It is a functional method of group camouflage. There are other animals in nature that practice this tactic as well. The most commonly known are the zebra and the college student.
It doesn’t matter whether you are a sorority girl or an emo kid -from the outside looking in, it appears you seek safety in numbers. You sacrifice some part of your individuality to blend in with the group. These groups, along with 99 percent of all others, have their own prerequisite looks, vernacular and music. This is fine unless belonging to that particular group compromises your sense of self and supersedes your unique traits.
I think there absolutely has to be more to an individual than just a prescribed set of ideals to comprise a person’s true core of being. No one is just a jock or an art nerd; those are just facets of a much more complex person. So why are we all hiding behind these paper-thin subidentities? Who in their right mind wants to be just a stereotype?
By conforming to these labels, we participate in category one sheep-like behavior. We hide the idea of the individual, not in a white cloud of fluffy goodness but in a giant, angry and slightly depressed emo kid or a perpetually hungover, croakies sportin’ frat boy. I know those are stereotypes but so are the things people do in order to assert themselves as members of these groups. Where are you in all of this?
There has to be more to all of us than just a set of John Hughes-esque stereotypes. I refuse to believe anyone can be reduced to the identity of their flock. This is not high school – there is not a bully waiting in the bathroom to give you a swirly. The predators have dissipated, and there really isn’t much of which to be afraid. At this point in your life, sheep-like behavior is less than advantageous. You are much more likely to fend off an oncoming wolf with an independent bit of knowledge than by blending into a would-be giant sorority girl.
The problem with sheep – they’re never willing to be different.
—–Sam is the black sheep of the columnists.Contact her at [email protected]