Our Kitty Genovese Moment
By Dennis Loo
And then there is this:
Social proof also known as informational social influence,
is a psychological phenomenon that occurs in ambiguous social situations
when people are unable to determine the appropriate mode of behavior.
Making the assumption that surrounding people possess more knowledge
about the situation, they will deem the behavior of others as appropriate
or better informed." Importantly, a new social proof is established
when someone steps in and acts, in so doing, creates new terms for others.
Group dynamics are thereby realigned.
Most of America has been puzzled at the
failure of most of America (or enough of America) to speak out effectively
against the crimes against humanity and tyranny being carried out by
our government. "Why isn't someone doing something?" you hear
again and again in social gatherings and in classrooms. "Why don't
the Democrats show some spine?" millions of people say. "What's
wrong with Americans?" people decry.
The whole world is wondering the same.
The absence of any real and determined
opposition from the Democratic Party and the mass media to the Bush
regime's tyranny has put most Americans in a state of social proof.
The people that the public thinks should have the expertise and greater
knowledge and should therefore be acting on that knowledge aren't,
so many people have so far concluded that the problem must not be all
that bad, even if their own sense of it is that it is.
The situation we confront today
- while significantly attributable to complacency among all too many
Americans, and significantly attributable to extremely narrow notions
of what political action and engagement are (that the people's role
is restricted to supporting and voting for candidates and that voting
decides public policy and that's it) - is principally due to
the abdication of leadership by the existing, customary leadership class
and a resultant condition called pluralistic ignorance.
"[S]ocial
proof kicks in when one or more of the crowd steps in to assist."
Many years ago my significant other and
I were standing on a city sidewalk while a fire was blazing in a storefront,
brightening up the night sky. A crowd of several dozen other people
was standing next to us. I said to my partner that I was going to move
a little closer for a better look since we were all standing behind
the unblocked driveway entrance. She said: "No, don't do it. Nobody
else is." I said, "Why not?" As soon as I stepped over the invisible
barrier everyone else did.
"[S]ocial proof kicks in when one
or more of the crowd steps in to assist."
"Honestly it was one
of the most frightening things I've done in a long time. I was praying
for a familiar face, but I just dove in and started asking students
as they walked by if they wanted to pick up a[n orange] ribbon to support
our anti-war movement, at first many of them just kept walking and said
no thanks (a little discouraging...). However, as more students began
to come out of class I was able to grab the attention of a few who came
up to the table and wanted to know what the orange and the ribbons were
all about "
"I was so pleased to
see many people taking the ribbons and putting them on their backpacks
and on their shirts. As time passed and more students came out, I begin
to get people to pledge to get three other people to wear the orange
ribbons. I got about 10 pledges from people who said that they had friends
that would wear the ribbon in support. I remember this one guy who came
back and asked me if he could have one for his girlfriend :) It was
great! "
"Another young woman
from the CGU [Claremont Graduate University] mentioned that 'people
in this generation haven't had their "1960s" yet and need
to' and that she would try to spread this out in Claremont... Another
gentlemen " had friends that would wear the ribbons too and that he
was interested in how this turned out. My most memorable one was the
professor that took a ribbon and thanked me for doing what I was doing
:) Another professor said that he wanted to see us in front of the school
picketing just like they did in the 60's.
"Overall, even though
my palms were clammy and I was nervous each time I spoke to someone
it was very rewarding and I think I passed out about 150 ribbons, if
not more, out [over the course of an hour and three-quarters], especially
to classmates and even to a gentlemen at an Empire conference."
"[S]ocial proof kicks in when one
or more of the crowd steps in to assist."
"Until one is committed,
there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffective. Concerning
all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth
the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: the
moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All
sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred.
A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's
favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material which
no man or woman could have dreamed would have come his or her way. Whatever
you can do or dream that you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius,
power, and magic in it. Begin it now." - Goethe
"[S]ocial proof
kicks in when one or more of the crowd steps in to assist."
When one person in the
crowd steps in to help and breaks the spell of inaction, others realize
that they are not alone in their sentiments and they will move as well.
Social proof has been established. New terms have been set by your actions. The ramifications of the
actions of individuals - and organizations
- who step forward to create new conditions by their actions cannot
be overestimated in times such as these.
Some of us need to be brave and this
will help others to be brave as well. Stop wondering why others aren't
doing what you yourself need to do and do it.
The task ahead of us is historic and extraordinary. It won't be accomplished
without courage, boldness, initiative, persistence in the face of difficulty,
and sacrifice. No great things have ever been accomplished without these.
As I have written elsewhere, how can reversing the terrible wrongs committed
by this government be so easy and so simple as voting for someone
to take care of all of this? How could we really expect rectification
to result from the presidential elections when the two major party presidential
candidates have ruled out impeachment? Moreover, Obama and McCain have
both personally colluded in the tyrannies and war crimes of this White
House by failing to stand up and condemn and filibuster the bills permitting
this government's outrageous behavior.
How can individuals so cowardly as to
fail to combat barbarities such as torture - when it has been their
moral and legal responsibility to do this as Senators - be expected
to be legitimate leaders of our country?
Doesn't a government that is daily committing atrocities - and planning more - need to be taken on by the collective actions of the people, taking the political stage as an independent force? How could it be otherwise?
