Why do we act like sheep?

singist · 8 Feb 2007 at 12:19

Why do we accept things that we don't agree with or give details that are not necessary when dealing with commercial companies etc?

This post was originally propted by all the "The banks will charge for accounts now" comments in all the bank charge threads, but I've been wondering for some time.
In the bank charges scenario, we should exercise our freedom in the market and move accounts to banks who don't charge; if enough people did this, charges for running accounts would soon be forgotten. ( I don't want to get bogged down with that debate though )

I have also been noticing for a long time now that we are asked for loads of irrelevant information when filling in forms or ordering goods etc ...... many times I have been asked to "register" before I can purchase goods online, then, the registration process goes on asking all manner of irrelevant details; "am I married"? "do I have dependant children"? etc: I want to buy the goods, not tell them my life history! Some of the replies are "mandatory" and although one can fill in a load of lies, I resent being asked in the first place.

The same process applies when telephoning certain companies to make some sort of general enquiry; they want loads of information before they even ask what the enquiry is about ... We tend to give all this info away without questioning why it is required or, for that matter, refusing to supply it.

The original question stands: why do we seem to accept these things without question?

My guess at the answer is "for a quiet life"; your views?

Gilly · 8 Feb 2007 at 12:20

To get at whatever it is we want.

theleg · 8 Feb 2007 at 12:21

Thats exactly why...Its more hassle to make a fuss :dunno:

AJUK · 8 Feb 2007 at 12:22

Because some of us are sheep.

I refuse to give anyone any information unless they can explain to me why it is absolutely necessary. 9 times out of 10 their reason is just to use it for marketing purposes, ********! :mad:

cleanbluesky · 8 Feb 2007 at 12:24

Obedience - To obey the will of a single person or organisation. This is a behavioural measure only, and a person can be obedient without believing that they SHOULD be doing so.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milgram_experiment

Conformity - Herbert Kelman identified three subtypes of conformity. The first one is compliance which means conforming only publicly, but keeping one's own views in private. The second subtype, identification is conforming while a group member, publicly and privately, but not after leaving the group. Finally, internalization is conforming publicly and privately, during and after group membership.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conformity_(psychology)

rossyl · 8 Feb 2007 at 12:33

Gilly said:
To get at whatever it is we want.

How does acting like a sheep and accepting everything get at what we want?

Anyways...

I believe we don't moan as we are taught its rude. e.g. We rarely complain in restaurants. When the governement does something we don't like for a few months we will complain, maybe through the internet but then just give up.

Maybe its politenes coupled with the fact that we rarely win, so we see there as being no point.

Errol · 8 Feb 2007 at 12:39

Acting like a sheep would be getting what you want, but only because a greater power has allowed you to do so.