This podcast was, at it’s heart, enlightening. It highlights how simple social actions we do in everyday life are taken for granted. The podcast gives many examples of social experiments that the audience doesn’t normally stop to think about. It argued that the impact we as a bystander, or an audience is much greater then we take into account. There were many examples like getting rejected, and the charity for certain organizations that didn’t seem like it had as much influence as it does. That person that got rejected would feel less confident, according to the podcast. The peer pressure to “just ask her out” and get tragically rejected would cause that person to become more withdrawn, and less vocal about their feelings. That person was influenced by his friends to be disappointed, which resulted in future insecurities.
These types of scenarios happen daily. The podcast mentioned many situations where the crowd has power over someone. One line that stuck with me at the end of the podcast was the line where the “when we are apart of a mob, the effects could be monstrous.” This line made absolute sense by the end of the recording because of how it summed up the every example into one. The idea that people in a crowd just follow without thinking is terrifying. The awareness of the topic has changed how I see ordinary, and common situations. Simple things like giving away extra change and giving advice, or lending an ear to someone take on a bigger meaning.
One fear that sprouted from me listening to the podcast was what am I subconsciously doing that follows “the crowd.” The only thing that comes to mind are trends. Political, social and academic trends vary from time to time but so do my opinions as a result. This assignment definitely made me rethink my ideology.
Honestly I totally relate to being more self aware after listening to the podcast. And I agree with you on how we really take for granted all the small things in life. But what scares you about being apart of ” the crowd” because in my point of view many animals such as ourselves are apart of a crowd because in many situations it keeps us safe, what makes this any different?
I can relate to that fear. That deep down I follow the crowd and subconsciously do the wrong or right thing because of what society normalizes. However, I feel that by simply admitting and having that awareness helps us more than just simply denying ourselves of growth.Which not only feeds further into the idea that we don’t think of how we affect the world but how the world affects us.Which then helps us to combat that narcissism that we possess.