The Loss of Personality : The Rise of Groupthink

[Bryan James]

"Jersey Shore."

[PatInTheHat]

A parent says to its adorable little spawn (and most have at one time or another, in some fashion or another), So if Bobby jumped off a bridge, I guess that means you would have to jump too!
Very excellent advice on being an individual mommies & daddies, but usually these words of think for yourself wisdom come when things like jumping off bridges are involved...that and dressing like a member of the Sex Pistol or a relative of the Addam's family because their social cliques do (yes, I know that's rather dated..or is it?...really?).
Most all other parental directions intent, is to make sure little Johnny or Suzy fits into the collective, doesn't stand out too much unless it's in excelling in something society deems valuable and/or desirable...sports, academics, music etc..

Now I know most parents will say they will always encourage their precious kiddies to pursue whatever sparks their fancy, and challenges that sponge like mind.
I also know how the conversations usually goes, when sweet lil' Suzy announces she's going to start doing something like taxidermy, and begins picking up fresh roadkill.
Or if Johnny's interest in ancient languages, an electric ukulele he found on E-bay, and a fondness for vintage sequined jackets and white patent leather shoes (with matching belt..of course, duh), determines his self professed career path into starting a band with a new kind of music (perhaps a Greco-Hawaiian light jazz, but with a driving Salsa like beat).
I'm confident those parental conversation (for the most part) start leaning to being more conventional, more part of the collective and less of the individual.

So yes by all means, definitely give the jumping off of bridges speech, but then tell 'em to find their own unique things & places to jump off of, something hopefully with a softer landing.
'Cause they're going to jump off something anyway if so inclined, and just maybe others will follow them (let those other parents give that same speech, and thus a time honored tradition can continue).
Carry a plastic bag in the car and keep your eyes peeled for fresh, practically un-mangled, squirrels for Suzy, and by golly help Johnny find an kickin' amp for that psychedelic ukulele that'll wake Don Ho up from the dead.

And quit buying all the crappy corresponding merchandising/happy meals/big gulp cups/wearing apparel to all the latest big block busters.
Or whatever new things you actually pay them to help advertise.
I remember when they gave away virtually all advertising merchandise, practically shoved it in your paws actually, and now we mostly pay for the privilege, how very freakin' weird...wished I'da thought of it!
(what's wild is, some politicians even do it now...gotta pay for some of them t-shirts & campaign buttons like they're rock stars)
Though I do remember my Green Hornet (very popular) and most fondly, my Archie & Jughead (not so popular) lunchboxes, and I had to earn 'em.
(quick, Betty or Veronica?...Veronica?...what, are you nuts!)
If the media savvy progeny wants all the matching crappy crap, so they can be like everybody else, make them buy it with their own hard earned dough and see how bad they want it, & just gotta have it then.
If a kiddo doesn't have his own earned pocket coin to buy his/her own massed produced, probably made in China (but definitely not made here) crappy crap, then right there is part of the beginning of the problem.

[Pucker]

I suppose it would be pointless to point out the absurdity of railing against the insidious creep of groupthink (whatever that is) and the danger of media overload here . . . on an internet message board . . . dedicated to a specific collection of ideas . . . where a group of reasonably like-minded individuals would be expected to gather . . . to discuss a (sadly) finite collection of ideas . . . anonymously.

Be careful, kids. The media is coming to get you.

Pot? Have you met kettle?

[harry]

Thinking alike is an okay thing in my opinion. The problem is when everyone agrees on a really stupid idea.

[Lily Sawyer]

Keeping Up With the Kardashians.

Kill me now.

[omm poppa mow mow]

Christ Marx Wood and Wei, led us to this fateful day.... Sing your ode to the great O, the big zilch...