Sheeple vs Heretics

March 4th, 2010

The world is filled with Sheeple. People who blindly follow. People who don’t question. People who believe things ‘are the way they are’ and can’t change. Most people don’t even realize that they are ‘sheepwalking’ through live. They have been raised to be obedient, to play by the rules, get a stable job, go to church on Sundays and be happy with what they have.

Then there are the rest of us. Those of us who challenge authority. Who ask ‘why?’ when we encounter something that doesn’t make sense. Who present alternatives to the status quo. Chances are that if you’re reading this blog, I’m talking about you.  In his book, Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us, Seth Godin describes people such as us as heretics. People who are willing to step outside the mainstream and lead.

As with most of what Seth writes, there isn’t much in this book that we don’t already know, at least on a subconscious level. We all have at one time or another felt restrained by the status quo and had a desire to change things. In fact many of us already lead tribes, even if we don’t always recognize ourselves as leaders.

Seth is a master at turning conventional concepts on their heads and presenting ideas in enlightening and refreshing new ways. The values of Tribes, therefore isn’t to tell us anything new, per se. Rather it is to package together things that people are already feeling and thinking and bring it to the forefront. It is meant to spur us to  action.

Like his thinking, Seth doesn’t write in a conventional way either. The book is broken into a series of brief discussions about ideas, almost like a series of blog posts. it is perfect for those of us lacking the time or attention span to delve deep into a text heavy tome. It’s perfect for reading before bed, or while waiting for a friend.

Tribes won’t change the world, but it may inspire you to change your small part of it.

Final Verdict: ****1/2. I highly recommended for anybody who thinks.

This is day 23 in my 28 Day Blogging Challenge. 5 days to go.

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9 thoughts on “Sheeple vs Heretics

  1. One of the biggest issues I see today is the divisiveness in this country between Heretics on both the Left and the Right (for lack of a better term). Tea Partiers mocking Community Organizers, urbanists and leftists vs objectivists and libertarians, et al, ad naseum…all based on stereotypes.

    I like Seth's book and blog. I'm not sure how heretics see beyond their own views to gain common ground to overcome problems Sheeple are blindly still following.

  2. One of the biggest issues I see today is the divisiveness in this country between Heretics on both the Left and the Right (for lack of a better term). Tea Partiers mocking Community Organizers, urbanists and leftists vs objectivists and libertarians, et al, ad naseum…all based on stereotypes.

    I like Seth’s book and blog. I’m not sure how heretics see beyond their own views to gain common ground to overcome problems Sheeple are blindly still following.

    1. JR, good point, and a good question. I’m not sure either but it’s something i’ll give some more thought.

      One problem I see though is that a lot of so called ‘community organizer’ and ‘tea partiers’ aren’t really heretics, but ‘true believers’ of one sect or another, who blindly following their lead Sheep. It’s had to find common ground when dogma gets in the way. After all, even if you are following a ‘black’ sheep, you are still sheep walking.

      I find it interesting being a Canadian living in AZ. In Canada I was considered a staunch conservative. Here, I’m a liberal. So I’ve seen the view from both sides, and they are equally litter with sheeple.

      On the lighter side, I find it funny that tea partiers are so dismissive of ‘community organizers, after all thats what they are themselves!

  3. JR, good point, and a good question. I'm not sure either but it's something i'll give some more thought.

    One problem I see though is that a lot of so called 'community organizer' and 'tea partiers' aren't really heretics, but 'true believers' of one sect or another, who blindly following their lead Sheep. It's had to find common ground when dogma gets in the way. After all, even if you are following a 'black' sheep, you are still sheep walking.

    I find it interesting being a Canadian living in AZ. In Canada I was considered a staunch conservative. Here, I'm a liberal. So I've seen the view from both sides, and they are equally litter with sheeple.

    On the lighter side, I find it funny that tea partiers are so dismissive of 'community organizers, after all thats what they are themselves!

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