There is a phenomenon, recently re-studied, which shows how people completely submit to authority (figures).

There was a recent repeat of the study wherein people give faked shocks to a person who is crying for mercy because a lab-coated “doctor” tells them they must. There was also the Philadelphia study with college students in a prison which demonstrated how people become more culpable and sheep-like when they perceive someone else is “in charge.”

I believe that when someone who looks or acts like a news professional or God help us, the Prime Minister of Australia (!!!) many folks who don’t wish to appear dumb actually do and say things that are incredibly dumb.

The willingness to abdicate responsible thought and the refusal to question what appears in front of us is frightening.

This blog alone proves there are many who are still trying to think on their feet. The recent Media Reform Convention in Memphis proves it also, and I can think of many other examples as well. BUT… how would we hold up under pressure of the Authority(ies)?

It is this with which we must be concerned: in our Orwellian world, Big Brother must be fought against and constantly, constantly questioned. Turn the tables.

Anarchy now.

A