Mob Mentality - what do you think?

[pce]

i have recently been thinking about the issue of mob mentality. what do you guys think about it?

does it exist? is democracy mob mentality? does it exist in the u.s.? what can be done about it? can anything be done about it? should anything be done about it? etc. (basically, what do you think...:) )

personally, i think it does exist (in fact this bb can be used as a microcosm of how it evolves) but i also think that the virtues of democracy outweigh the faults of mob mentality - when the 'mob' makes a dicission, it is hurt, then it has to learn and not make that choice again...

i hope people see this thread in the pile of pointless threads that have cluttered this forum.

[filimarxist]

no pce, mob mentality is basically conforming to the thoughts to the strongest or most feared member of you communityor you surroundings, kinda like these flag waving arabs who do it out of fear of being labeled as terrorists

[pce]

well, i think there is more to it, much more...

[Chief Rebel Angel]

i think that it should be the majority which is the strongest and therefore be "feared", in a true democracy... now this depends on what kind of majority it is... if it was a majority of, say, racist ppl, then the mob mentality will be a negative thing... if it was, however, a majority of "good" (i leave the choice of a "good" ppl to u) people, then the mob mentality would be a positive thing...
yes, it probably is basically conforming to the influence of the majority... and then that depends on the kind of majority, as i have said... and conforming to something is not always bad...
in short, if it was a negative mob mentality then u would see uprisals against it eventually... so things will be done about it when they need to...

[CommieBastard]

if there is a prevalent 'negative' (as you term it) mob mentality, then if there is uprisings, they would not be able to stand against the majority.

I would say even a morally conscious majority isn't 'good' if it supports conformity.
Rather, i think one of the most valuable virtues is that of independant thought, and the ability to reach upon your own opinion of that which is morally correct.
Democracy is mob mentality. Democracy is a dictatorship of the majority over the minority, and in my opinion, disgusting. But, then again, I am an Anarchist.

(Edited by CommieBastard at 6:42 pm on Oct. 30, 2001)