Living Together

Why do people feel the need to be part of a group? Sometimes so much so, that they’ll act completely stupid, inhuman and like an asshole, to remain a part of that group?

We have a little black dog named Sirius who came to us after he was abandoned by his first adoptive family. It takes a dog a long time to get used to being removed from it’s mother in the first place, maybe months. And then, about a year later, Sirius’ family dropped him back off at the shelter.

I am sure his mind was screwed up by this, and only in the past few months has he finally realized we’re not going anywhere and he’s part of a solid group again. His behavior, happiness and success in life is directly tied to being part of a group, a pack, of which we are a part.

Truth is, people work the same way. From families, to sports teams, to religions, to classrooms, to the stools at the local pub, people want to be around and interact with large groups of other people. Groups have collective influence, and without this power, people can’t really do much on their own. What’s the use in acting alone, today? Groups add meaning to our days.

Try to list out the groups you’re a part of. Family is usually the first. Then, you share an office with a group of people doing similar work, maybe. Religion is maybe the next one, and probably the largest and most powerful you’re a part of. Snowboarders. Golfers. Computer Geeks. Strong Women. Parents. Detroit Fan. Socom3 Nerd-out Crew. Indie Rock. Vegan. Writer. Blonde. Middle Class. Nascar. Fred Meyer Rewards.

All of these groups have an image. You help make up that image, as well as identify and assume a bit of this image every time you take part in group activities. Think about the collective mixture of the individual images of all of the groups of which you consider yourself a part. Where does that place you as a member of society? Does it match with your vision of yourself? Does it match with your vision of where you wanna be?

It’s a pretty powerful position you have. With some effort, you can both influence the future of the group and its own image, as well as reap the growing advantages of being a member. If you’re a successful member, you’ve not only had a positive impact on the group and it’s other members, but maybe you’ve increased the quantity and size of the benefits everyone inside receives, including yourself.

But, what if the group heads the wrong way? What happens when the popularity or success of any of the groups of which you are a part begins to decline? You had better watch your ass, and watch the people around you, because you don’t want to be part of a losing team! At the very least, you should be the first one to realize the warning signs of the decline, so you can be ready to make a move.

As a member of the human race, what can you do if you start to feel like the group is losing ground on the prospects of long-term success? (Really long term, not just until the sun burns out in 3,000,000 years.)

As one of over 300 million Americans, what can be done when you realize your group is having a hard time gaining consensus on basic issues that affect everyone, especially it’s most vulnerable members?

As a member of the middle class, what are you to think when there are people with a crapload more money than everyone you ever met, talked to or walked by in your whole life, combined, and one of them is the owner of your workplace?

As an Internet lover, what should you think when the freedom to search, view and download content is being commercialized and monetized behind closed doors to take maximum financial advantage of your attention?

As a fisherman, how can you deal when the logging, mining, power and other industries who constantly threaten to destroy what’s left of the viable trout and salmon habitat in the Northwest?

As a card-carrying Peet’s Coffee Club member, what recourse do you have when the price goes up on a medium mocha, and you’re short on change?

You can either walk out, or sit down and live with it. I pretty much do the latter, which drops me in the largest and weakest of all groups, the followers.