“Two roads diverged in a yellow wood….” one of the most famous lines from one of the most famous poems in the history of poems. While there is considerable debate about the poems true meaning, two things are certain. The choice was made to take the road less travelled and that choice “made all the difference”.
The debate used to be about why that choice was made. Was it heroic, rebellious, curiosity, individualism or simply chance?
Now the debate is about the meaning of the poem. The current accepted interpretation of the poem says the poem is about indecisiveness and regret.
It seems as if the meanings ascribed to the poem are parallel to the roads in the yellow wood? Wouldn’t you say? The older interpretation was very popular for a long time (the first road) but fell out of favor when the newer interpretation became popular (second road). Although both assumed meanings have equal value (though as for the passing there had worn them about the same), the newer one is seems more appealing (it was grassy and wanted wear). It really doesn’t matter (knowing how way leads on to way). He was happy with his choice even if it was not the preferred one at the time (and that has made all the difference).
The poem captures a common dilemma – do what everyone else does or do something different. Doesn’t seem that deep or involved. Doesn’t seem like a dilemma.
It isn’t a dilemma if you want to do what everyone else did. The thought of doing something different doesn’t occur to many people. Unless they see someone doing something in an a way that other people didn’t do. Then there is a problem.
Typically, people accept that things are done a certain way for reasons that don’t require deep thought. Things have always been done that way. That is how I learned to do it. Everyone does it that way.
Authority, Influence, Social Pressure and ultimately – Compliance and Conformity. I believe Sheeple is the term used to describe this mindset. I don’t know if this term quite captures the follower mentality. Sheep do not have cognition. At least none of the ones I know.
Most humans can think, reason, analyze, question and process information on some level or to some extent.
Those who can, often don’t. This would not be a problem if it didn’t cause panic when those that don’t think are around those of us who do think.
Not only do we think, probably don’t think in the same way that non-thinkers think when they are thinking.
We solve problems. Not because anyone asks us to or wants us to but because we are problem solvers.
The resistance to “different” is becoming more problematic than it has been in the better part of a century.
I don’t know why there is growing hostility towards people who ask questions, think for themselves or disagree with “everyone”.
I am not referring to race, class, gender, ability, orientation, identity, religion, ethnicity, class, political affiliation or hobby. This is simply about cognition – how a person perceives, processes and communicates information. This is the newest “other”. It was not enough to look the same and act the same as everybody else. Now, the expectation is that a person must think the same way that everybody else does or keep their thoughts to themselves. This is a dangerous precedent.
Those of us who naturally choose the road less travelled harbor no ill will towards those who don’t. There is no mad dash to silence, sabotage, take ideas, interfere with the ability to provide for one’s family or persuade others to do the same. This type of hate is not new. It has been hibernating.
The hysteria associated with differences in thinking has been well documented throughout history. Any advancement in science, religion, technology or humanity has been met with resistance, doubt, skepticism and eventually persecution.
No thinking person I know is trying to expose government secrets, disrupt corporate operations, take on pharmaceutical or energy companies.
We are mainly looking out for our kids and your kids, every kid who has to live in a world where it is popular to perceive different is an imminent threat.
To be continued…..