The concept of herd mentality

[*Deidre*]

Honestly, I've done my level best to shake the herd. But damned if they don't follow me everywhere. I hate that.

I'd follow you.

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I manage to always follow the 'right' herd.

I think that's actually an accurate assessment. We are social creatures, and our minds are wired for both that social instinct and a very strong survival instinct. Stand outside of the herd, and we are at risk. We also want to be liked or admired, even by people we happen to dislike. And then there is also our desire to stand out from the herd, yet be welcomed by it.

I think that we wage a constant inner battle between the part of us that wants to belong, and the part that wants to stand out from the crowd, and the part that values our identity as an individual. We will readily accept certain people and certain groups, and just as readily reject others, and we will tell ourselves that we are doing this deliberately and for specific reasons that we enumerate. And we're mostly very, very wrong.

True and great points but I would rather be alone than stand with a herd that I don't respect. "Being liked" isn't enough for me like it once was, even just a few years ago. Yes, we as humans want to be accepted but not if I have to pretend to be someone I'm not. Most herds have core leaders and the rest are their groupies. Lol No thanks.
Like I said, if you agree with the herd on a genuine level, great but if you don't, its best to just fly solo. My opinion. :-)