Conformity vs. extremism

July 21st, 2023

Which is worse? It might seem obvious at first glance, but in reality, it is not. Anything that deals with the absolute is supposed to be considered wrong, since it doesn’t give any room for subtlety or doubt. Any dogma — be it religious or political or social (even on some level scientific) will lead to atrophy of the mind and will destroy internal curiosity. It will lead to abuse of any other who dares to have a different view, or maybe just a smidgen of doubt. And the actual truth in the extreme adherence to dogma is proportionally measured by the muscle power — the stronger you (or your group) are, the truer your belief, since others are in no position to question or avoid it. They will have to share the same dogma or else.

And now conformism is coming into play. It is just easier to accept the belief of those stronger or older or more persuasive or better off or better looking or louder or more annoying. Just a nod of the head, a couple of words of affirmation, thumbs up and you are great — you participated in a ritual of cementing your place in society. You belong. And there is no need to present your beliefs. Or fight for your beliefs. Or even to establish your beliefs. There was a choice and the easy way out (or in — depending on how you look at it) didn’t require much work. It is comforting to conform to beliefs held by others. Or shouted by them. And now the lies and creation of fantasy start. And, quickly, as that fantasy is repeated enough times in mind, it becomes one’s own truth.

All that is connected to the false comfort and easy lie of democracy and undeserved pride in participation in the democratic process. Conformity in democracy is constant voting for the status quo or the lesser of two evils. In the modern world, no one votes for betterment. If anyone says that they do — I’ll show you a liar and an idiot. Meek and pointless participation in the current style of democracy is the ultimate conformity and I don't know how it can be changed.