The Tyranny of Social ‘Fashions’: It’s Worse Than You Think

This morning I was contemplating ‘fashion’ and realized just how dangerous it can be. We usually think of ‘fashion’ as being merely the latest fad or trend in pricy clothing, but it goes far, far beyond that. In truth, almost everything people do is largely dictated by the latest fashions in clothing, social memes, intellectual trends, ideological pursuits, and political movements and activism.

It occurred to me that whole societies often rise or fall based on the types of ideas and pursuits that become prominent and ‘fashionable.’ For example, after WWII it became fashionable to focus on ‘bringing democracy to the world’ and forging a new, more peaceful world order. The post-WWII Marshall Plan was created for that express purpose — and it helped usher in a long period of relative peace and economic prosperity.

But the opposite can also easily occur — as we are seeing today. Now, it’s become quite fashionable, especially on the political right, to express contempt for science, education, ‘experts,’ immigrants, LGBTQ+ folks, democratic ideals, and anything supporting ‘diversity, equity, and inclusion’ (DEI programs).

Fashions rise and fall, and while they can be positive, they frequently become twisted and perverse. ‘Negative’ fashions can destroy and kill.

How mindless ‘sheeple’ are born

Why is the issue of ‘fashion’ so crucial? Well, if most human beings are heavily influenced by current fashions and trends, it stands to reason that understanding and learning how to deal with this potent social reality is — or should be — paramount. Demagogues and tyrants know this, and have figured out numerous ways to grab the attention of the masses, become ‘fashionable’ — and then entrap folks in their wily snares.

Also, the ‘fashion’ issue leads directly to the so-called ‘sheeple’ problem. I’ve heard the pejorative term ‘sheeple’ bandied about by both the left and the right — invariably directed at their political opponents’ supporters — but the truth is that human ‘sheeple’ constitute the vast majority of both sides and both parties. Such ‘sheeple’ are willing followers of the latest social and political fashions.

However, the social direction of influential fashions is crucial. I’ve got to say that, in general, left-leaning ‘fashions’ are far more democratic, fair, and compassionate than most right-leaning trends. We’ve seen this pattern playing out in the U.S. over the past decade, as Trump, MAGA, and ‘Trumpism’ gained power and gradually took over the right, ‘conservatism,’ and the GOP.

The bizarre thing about such social fashions and trends is that they come to appropriate reality, or rather ‘convert’ our ideas about reality. We can easily get brainwashed into terrible, hateful ways of thinking and acting. And the main reason this happens is that most people are exquisitely attuned to others’ judgments and hate, hate, hate being ostracized or heavily judged. Most of us will do anything to avoid such a fate.

Thus… we get masses of compliant ‘sheeple.’ Thus, we get masses of people enslaved to the latest fashions and trends within their dominant ‘in-group.’ Plus, as we all know by now, the ubiquitous, chaotic rise of social media and their divisive ‘siloing’ tendencies have made all our ‘fashion/sheeple problems’ infinitely worse.

Right-wing ‘fashions’ have become horribly destructive

Again, I must point out that the overall direction and impact of major social fashions/trends are often a crucial factor in the rise and fall of civilizations. Sadly, it’s clear to me that the vast majority of right-wing ‘fashions’ these days are incredibly dangerous and destructive.

Over the past 30 years, right-wing talk radio, Fox ‘News,’ right-wing cable networks, and, more recently, far-right social media influencers have made hateful far-right ideas and oppressive beliefs and aims both tolerable and fashionable. By now, most right-leaning Americans wouldn’t be caught dead directly criticizing or opposing anything that Trump and Fox ‘News’ claim is true or ‘real.’ (Thanks for nothing, Rupert Murdoch.)

Instead, most right-leaning Americans now take anything that Trump (a perpetual pathological liar), MAGA, and Fox ‘News’ say as gospel truth. Every single thing. That’s the power of long-term social fashions: they often corrupt and take over people’s minds and thinking processes. And when the ideas and potential actions promoted by these fashion trends support hateful racist, homophobic, or misogynist beliefs… well, civilization is in big trouble.

Of course, that’s exactly where we are in the U.S. today. As a nation, we’re in big, BIG trouble.

How to stop being a slave to social fashions

Are we all doomed to destruction and social collapse because of the social-fashion-addled, mindless sheeple surrounding us? Quite possibly. Yet, each of us has the innate inner power, awareness, and capability to see through the idiotic ideas and destructive beliefs circulating all around us. We don’t have to succumb to the dangerous enslavement of such social ‘fashions’ — nor should we.

I think it’s amusingly bizarre (in a very dark way) that most right-leaning Americans constantly yell about ‘liberty,’ free speech, and ‘freedom’, yet are consistently among the least free, least free-thinking, and most oppressive citizens. Similar issues show up in folks on the far left, the so-called ‘radical progressives’ (though not to the same extent). Both sides — at the extremes, anyway — are guilty of pitiless, rigid, ultimately mindless political correctness. And neither promotes true freedom, awareness, and individual responsibility.

. . .

Ah, yes — responsibility. That’s another human reality that many folks run from in terror. But responsibility doesn’t have to be an awful burden weighing us down. I’ve gone through many iterations and understandings of responsibility in my life, and after decades of waffling irresponsibility I’ve finally arrived at a place where taking responsibility for my own ideas and actions is an empowering delight. It’s become something that was once unimaginable: a deeply enjoyable aspect of life.

It’s not always easy, of course, nor is it always ‘comfortable.’ But the empowerment and self-affirmation that accompany increasing self-responsibility make it all totally worth it. It’s one of the most worthwhile, inspiring, and even beautiful aspects of adult human life.

Or… it can be. For it takes strong desire and ongoing inner work.

Growing a strong ‘bullshit detector’ and inner core

To make this a shift a reality in our lives, we must learn how to see through and move beyond all the dominant social memes and fashions that surround us. To ‘wake up’ and free ourselves from detrimental social influences (and influencers), we must learn to trust our gut, our intuition, and our reasoning abilities. We need to consistently research articles and information, look for sources, and actively search for the truth.

And a crucial aspect of this learning and ‘winnowing’ process is developing strong internal ‘bullshit detectors’ that can smell lies, manipulations, and calculated deceptions a mile away — whether in the media, online, in group settings, or spouting from the mouths of politicians.

Friends, we don’t have to be mindless ‘sheeple.’ We don’t have to give in to the stupid, harmful fashion trends that surround us and seek to enslave us. In fact, we don’t have to be subject to the whims of fashion at all — unless we consciously choose to, for some reason.

These days, it’s vital to free ourselves and our minds from the tentacles of numerous mistaken or dangerous fashion trends. If we wish to maintain any sort of viable society and civilization, finding this essential inner freedom is the unavoidable prerequisite.

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This post was previously published on The Left Is Right.

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