May 24, 2021

Are you running with the herd?

Deer bolting from perceived danger

I have been fascinated at how ideas take hold in a community, especially if they are wrong.

“If 50 million people say something foolish, it is still foolish.” W Somerset Maugham

The more people who follow an idea, behaviour, or trend, the more we tend to believe in its validity.

This inclination is based on evolutionary survival; in prehistoric times if everybody bolted, the one who stopped to wonder if the predator was dangerous would sooner or later exit the gene pool.

Some are more susceptible than others to this herd instinct. What about you?

When you read something online, do you stop and consider its validity and the credibility of the source; or do you automatically accept it or reject it based on whether it fits with the view of your community, your herd?

My best wishes, Paul

Paul Matthews

CEO and Founder of People Alchemy

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