"Better to walk alone than to walk with the mob in the wrong direction".
That quote is from Alan Jones, the Australian broadcaster, which he attributes to his mother.
There are two words at the root of why a group of "passionate individuals" become a mob.
Altruism is one. This word denotes a principled act of selflessness in the service of others. Being selfless is rooted in the human want to belong. To belong to a family. To belong to a group. To belong to an organisation. However this human trait often plays out in life as a desire to be led. Often it is the Altruist among the group who becomes their leader. The followers then create a Cult-like devotion to this person and so they begin to dote on all his or her whims. If more than one leader emerges a power struggle erupts. Raging conflicts cause spot fires within the group. The resultant landscape of 'ideological differences' offers up no hope of amicable agreements on core issues and so a once consensually united group splitters into an array of warring tribes. Territorial boundaries are redrawn and new oaths of allegiance are sworn. However. As these tribal groups roam aimlessly through the streets of the Hood they quickly forego any sense of unity and dissemble into a misdirected mob.
Empathy is the other word. This word is all about emotions. It denotes an ability to feel as others do about an event, issue, tribe, or individual. A sentience boundary is formed and the empathy each person inside the circle feels for the other is impossible to describe or discard. Empathy often evokes feelings that transcend the limits of rational decision-making. And so many people begin to perceive a world no longer grounded by rational thought, facts, and empirical evidence [they act like Alice as trips, stumbles, and tumbles through Wonderland]. Empathy can lead one to become totally delusional about situations, events, and hardship; nevertheless it remains a trump card for all those seeking to be perceived as victims in the eyes of their peers. Eventually it is empathy that adds fuel to the anger, hate, and rage displayed by a misdirected mob.
Meanwhile. Those who choose to walk alone invariably have a resilient character anchored by selfishness. To be selfish is to focus on meeting one's needs. But in times of crisis to be selfless can be one's greatest asset. It may seem counter-intuitive to be selfless in a crisis; however, this is what is needed if one is to survive. For example. Just before each flight takes off the cabin crew remind us that if the oxygen masks drop down from the panel above our heads we must first secure one to a child nearby. This act of selflessness comes naturally to any adult who is willing, and able, to walk alone on his or her road through life [see photo].
Richard
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