Definitely not a sheeple
Everyone wants to be liked. That’s normal. And there are times we each choose to go along with the group just to keep the peace or avoid confrontations. Nothing wrong with that. In fact, it makes sense to be agreeable if we’re talking about some little thing that really doesn’t matter. But what if the issue does matter to you? Do you still do what they say when it’s not right for you? Do you go along with the crowd just so they’ll like you?
If this sounds familiar you might want to ask yourself, “Am I a sheeple?” In case that’s a new word for you, sheeple are people who act like sheep. They’re most comfortable when following other people’s rules of “acceptable” behavior (what to wear, what to think, etc.). The Golden Rule rule for Sheeple: “Thinking for yourself and being your own person is way too risky! Play it safe. Follow the others.”
Wonder if you’re a sheeple? Always? Sometimes? Never? Try this Quiz.
- You’re looking forward to eating pizza today at school, but rumors say that it’s topped with moldy mushrooms. The pizza looks totally normal and you’re hungry. You could pick off the mushrooms. But to play it safe do you just skip the pizza? Y or N?
- If your friends teased you for getting good grades, would you slack off a bit? Y or N?
- When someone tells a joke you don’t get and all of your friends laugh, do you laugh too? Y or N?
- Do you always agree with who your friends say is hot and who is not? Y or N?
- Everyone you know, except you, thinks chocolate ice cream is way better than strawberry. If you were ordering with your friends, would you order chocolate? Y or N?
- When you ask friends “What do you think?” do you always take their advice? Y or N?
- All of your friends quit an afterschool club. Do you quit too? Y or N?
- Your friends decide that anyone who wears white t-shirts is a loser. Do you stop wearing your favorite white t? Y or N?
- “A” and “B” are running for class president. All your friends are voting for “A.” You vote for ”B”. When people ask, do you say that you voted for “A”? Y or N?
- Your teacher asks for volunteers for a really cool project. When you see that you’re the only one of your friends raising your hand, do you put your hand down? Y or N?
If you got:
7-10 Ys: You have some strong sheepish tendencies that can prevent you from calling your own shots. You might want to cut loose from the herd every now and then, just to prove to yourself that you are still an individual. You are, aren’t you?
4-6 Ys: You sometimes find it challenging to stand up for yourself so you don’t push it very often. But sometimes you are your own person and it actually feels good.
0-3 Ys: Most of the time you don’t hesitate to think for yourself. Your friends might respect you for being independent and whether you know it or not, you could be inspiring others to think for themselves, too.
If you take this quiz, I’d like to hear from you. Post your comments below.
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Though I’m no longer a teen, I’ve known people who are sheeples and others who are flagrant anti-sheeples. (This is fun. I feel like I’m playing with a new language.)
I’m trying to remember when I last wrote about the sheeples in my life. It was probably in my journal. A journal makes a great, non-judgmental friend. It’s a great place to rant, process, and find hope.
Thanks for sharing the concept and the quiz.
B. Lynn Goodwin
http://www.writeradvice.com
Click on Journaling for Caregivers and see what you think. =)
Comment by B. Lynn Goodwin — February 19, 2009 @ 9:06 pm
Interesting idea. I like the quiz a lot. When I took the quiz I found that with questions pertaining to core beliefs and values (voting a certain way in the school election, volunteering to take part in a project even if no one else does, getting good grades even if it’s not cool), I followed my heart regardless of what other people thought. However questions about a more fleeting, surface image (possibly moldy mushrooms on the pizza or wearing my white shirt once my friends decided white shirts were only for big fat losers) then I tended to go with the crowd. It doesn’t mean that much to me to go one way or another and the repercussions (teasing) can be uncomfortable. If everyone laughs at a joke I don’t get I probably won’t laugh but I will likely smile. However if vanilla is my favorite flavor of ice cream and everyone else gets chocolate, them I’m sticking to vanilla.
Comment by Fayette — February 26, 2009 @ 9:33 am
I’m glad you pointed out those differences, Fayette. Because it’s absolutely true! In some situations it is more challenging to ward off sheepishness than other times. In addition to a visceral reaction (to the suggestion of moldy mushroom) I think our ability to follow your heart… or your values, doing your own thing or whatever you call “thinking for yourself” has a lot to do with:
1. inborn temperament/personality (Are you the kind of person who needs peer approval a lot, or not so much?)
2. past experiences (What has being out there with your individuality gotten you in the past?)
3. the people you’re with (How accepting vs judgmental are they when it comes to people being “different.”)
Seems like we all have times when it’s easier to go along to get along. And that’s not necessarily a sign of sheepness… or selling out.
Comment by Annie — February 26, 2009 @ 10:31 am
this is pathetic. the whole test is to see if you do the same as other people around you, but it doesn’t adress motive.
if you’re in a club with friends for fun, and your friends all leave, your not a sheep if you leave too!
Comment by no. — March 28, 2009 @ 2:02 pm
Hi “no.” The test was only to help people identify how much (if any) sheeple behavior they tend to have. It doesn’t set out to measure motives. yes, I agree with you, if you are in a club with friends for fun and your friends all leave, then I can see how you might think that fun has left too and so you’d leave. But what if you’re really into whatever the club is about (aside from “fun”). If it’s an after school karate club or art or something else that you’re really interested in and this is the only opportunity you have at the moment to spend time learning more about this interest of yours. Suppose then that your friends leave (because they’re not interested in it)… do you still bail on the club? That might be a measure of how much you value pursuing your own interests (for a small chunk of time each week) vs. following your friends to the exit and possibly giving up your chance to learn more about karate, etc. Personally, I think, in that case, if you follow your friends that shows a bit of sheeple behavior.
As for motive, aka, why people might act this way… i believe it comes from a lack of self-confidence, self-esteem, social acceptance. otherwise, you probably wouldn’t have a problem saying to friends, “you know, I’m really into this club and I’m going to stay.” if your friends have a hard time with your doing that, it sounds like they may need to have sheeple around them.
Comment by Annie — March 28, 2009 @ 5:48 pm
Girl in that photo…More than likely a sheeple. It’s the new thing these days to look different.
Comment by Emily — March 29, 2009 @ 1:23 am
The weirder you’re going to behave, the more normal you should look. It works in reverse, too. When I see a kid with three or four rings in his nose, I know there is absolutely nothing extraordinary about that person.
— P.J. O’Rourke
That theory’s always worked for me.
Comment by the green bastard — May 11, 2009 @ 12:19 am
Let me put it this way, Sheep: Bahh, I am only doing it because that’s what everybody else do. Person: I am only doing it because I want to. Simple as that.
Comment by Mason — March 17, 2010 @ 8:28 pm