What is it that makes people feel in control? Is it physical strength or power over another person? Is it being smarter than the person next to you? Is it the feeling of being needed by other people? Why do people feel the need to control certain or all aspects of other peoples' lives? These questions have been swimming around in my head with the drama on facebook about football games and the "popular people".
At this time in our lives, I feel that it is most important to be in control of your own life. Making your own decisions based on what you believe is right and moral. The need to be a part of a group exists for everyone but why would a person ever want to be a part of a group where their voice is not heard and recognized? Leading a group of people is one thing but what is it that drives an individual to become so involved in others' lives? On a large scale this is how dictatorship is formed but on a small scale, this exists in every high school. There is a group of people who elect themselves to make decisions that affect everyone else. And for the most part, at least at Champlin Park, a significant part of the senior class goes along with it while quietly mumbling under their breath about their concerns with the decisions being made for them.
As to what knowledge issue this concerns, I am not entirely sure but I do know that at some point this issue has affected every single persons thought process even if only in a small way. My big concern is why do people go along with these decisions and just do what they feel is right? I feel the need to be in control of my own life and my own decisions because at some point, I'm going to need to make these decisions by myself and I won't have someone there to tell me how things are going to be run. Being in control of my life is very important to me and I think we all could do a better job of making that message clear.
A deep philosophical question would be, "How much control do we really have over our lives?" or "How much control do we need?" At some level we must admit there are things out of our hands. However, we must first admit that other people's lives are also mostly out of our hands. Simultaneously, however, we can have the power through the choices we make to change the lives of millions. This abstract concept of control is very touchy and philosophically debatable.
ReplyDeleteInsecurity is also one determining factor in the quest for control. Too many people strive to be the leader, even though almost all of them are unfit to do so. A sage once observed, "Insecure people in a position of power become dictators".
I hate it when others try to control my life, but I bet that I have been guilty of trying to control others as well. There is some guilty satisfaction of making others go your way, or at least making people listen.
I would like to know of some examples of some people trying to control others in our school. There are probably many but at this late hour I cannot recall them. This may not be the best commentary ever but I found this post very thought-provoking. Thank you much!
PS: Cute puppy!
Cody, I can throw a couple cases out there.
ReplyDelete-As you may know, we have 'themes' for our football games. For instance, blue out. Somebody must decide them and in most cases, it is the 'popular group.'
-There are many unhappy people with how the 'popular group' controlled Superfans for football players. Many of the girls in this group wanted to be Superfans but weren't friends with football players. In many cases, a player was assigned a Superfan (whether they knew this person or not).
I think these are two instances that Ally is talking about.
Might I mention my opinion on this which is that we should all have control of our lives. However, we almost set up a social hierarchy in sixth grade and it continues to 12th grade. When that higher up group makes a decision, you follow because you don't want to be seen as a loser (or whatever our form of that is). Since nobody in that group knows about our little blogging world, I can freely say that I think they need a reality check. I'm not going to mention them by name but there are many instances where they throw a temper tantrum because things don't go exactly as they wanted them to (a.k.a Senior shirts).
My 2 cents.
Really? People get upset because the senior shirts (a stupid custom in my opinion, simply meant to initiate a reaction and intimidate the newbies) are not the way they wanted? I believe it, and that's the sad part.
DeleteWhat a subpost.
ReplyDeleteI don't have much more to add on to Ally, Christian and Cody, because I agree with you all. I just wanted to let it be known that I share in the frusteration. Really ties in to my Superfan post! The social heirarchy within our class/grade is something that could be TOK'd for days.