Is it a mistake to follow the herd

Is it a misake to follow the herd ?

First of all what means the expression « to follow the herd » ?

This methaphor refers to sheep: animals instinctively tending to mimic each other, the expression refers to people blindly immitating others. Besides we use the expression « herd mentality to describe how people are influenced by their peers to adopt certain behaviors.

Let's focus now on the topic: is following the herd a mistake?

On one hand, following other people is not necesseraly wrong. Have an example as an inspiration isn't bad. We can see role model as a source of motivation in our activities to quote an example, Camus inspire me in his way of writting and I wish I could also one day have my own style of writting as snappy as his.

On the other hand, follow the herd if it goes back to basicly mimic someone is'nt a good idea an especially for children. They need to constuct themselves and could take any example to without caring of values or consequences. They would for example do anything to integrate even go to harassement. An other example could be fashion : we often desire to fit to beauty standars showing skinny women whose diet shouldn't be allowed.

Everyone probably heard at least once from our mother or grandmother « if he did jump off a bridge would you jump too ? ». It sum my idea  up: following the herd can be dangerous without well-thought reasons, you must be careful not to be influenced.

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