Self-dazzlement

People seek the acknowledgement of the image they choose to use in their appearance both physically and mentally. If they succeed in doing so to som degree others will cling to them as herd animals to their leader in hope of getting a slice of the pie. They want to be recognized as part of the overly enthusiastic hysteria surrounding such individuals and the ones being admired will have their ego boosted to new heights and the symbiosis between the admirer and the admiree will strengthen the effect of the intoxication. Everybody is applauding them and standing in line to shake their hand, especially if others witness them doing so. Everyone is suddenly projecting the image of being the best friend of the one admired.

When an unfortunate incident inevitably occurs everyone is in a great hurry to put distance between themselves and the catastrophe and the hands previously supporting the admired are suddenly no longer there and though it might have hurt to hit the ground a more sinister fate awaits them. Where the ground was a trapdoor into infamy has opened. People are at least critisizing those who previously appeared to be their best friend if not outright being aggressive in the nature of their communication. Appalled, shocked or indignified, the outpouring of emotions knows no bounds. In this way they get associated with something positive from the admired's image in the beginning and dissociate themselves from something negative in competition pushing the event fast forward to its conclusion without risking anything.

Most people have an opinion on a day to day basis. The tempo in which opinions are made or gathered in itself should rise the question if any actual thoughts on the matter in its essence have been made or if it is purely a political decision, a formal stance. The common citizen will often be persuaded through the quantity of opinions or believed direction of opinion facilitating such trends as enacted by the pseudo elite. This group of individuals have a silent agreement not to step on each others toes and not to ruin a good or bad (therefore good) story.

Quantifying the real opinions of people amounts to virtually nothing because the only true existing value is an image of the value itself, the diversity of the truth in the matter being less interesting. What draws peoples attention are the opportunities to climb the social ladder and get to the top themselves.

All of this is only truly sad for people having something real to offer.

Written 7th January 2009