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.

1. 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?
2. If your friends teased you for getting good grades, would you slack off a bit? Y or N?
3. When someone tells a joke you don’t get and all of your friends laugh, do you laugh too? Y or N?
4. Do you always agree with who your friends say is hot and who is not? Y or N?
5. 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?
6. When you ask friends “What do you think?” do you always take their advice? Y or N?
7. All of your friends quit an afterschool club. Do you quit too? Y or N?
8. Your friends decide that anyone who wears white t-shirts is a loser. Do you stop wearing your favorite white t? Y or N?
9. “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?
10. 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.