From: maedhros@yabbs
To: JasonLee@yabbs
Subject: re: herd mentality
Date: Fri Apr 15 20:26:48 1994

> Is that a herd behavior, though?  Gazelles generally don't take revenge on
> the lions, and they don't really try to stay away from the danger.  Herds of
> animals will graze somewhere, then run away when attacked.  That's kind of a
> big difference from gang society.
> Also, since the links between gang members seem so ephermeral (we live on
> the same block, so lets be in the same gang) that the herd has no
> consciousness of its situation.  There's just a knee-jerk reaction to any
> perceived threat to the group.  It doesn't sound like some roaming herd to
> me, I guess.
> 
> JasonLee
> 
I think part of the lack of communication is a misnomer caused by the term
"herd mentality".  Herd mentality is something possessed by herbivores
(which we are not).  I think human reactions equate more closely to "pack
mentality".  An analogy would be that my girlfriend has this thing about
wanting a pig.  I personally interacted with a pig and found it to be a
rather pathetic animal.  It ran away, so I backed it in a corner.  The
damned thing just started to squeel  and roll its eyes.  Any carnivore
worth its weight would've torn my arm off for scaring the shit out of it
like that (yes I know wild boars are an exception, but it's just a $%#@ing
analogy :-)  

At any rate, while I still believe that there would be one genious
"technocrat" loony who would end it for us really quick, I don't believe
we'll fall prey to gangs kamikaziing.  Gangs are formed to make life
better for themselves in a world, they perceive, will not let them do it
legally.  They understand their survival rates, they're realist, but they
join toghether to lessen that rate.

Damn, I make a lot of claims.  Keep in mind (to be fair) that this is
personal conjecture, not fact.  However, I feel there is strong evidence
in support of this view.

Adios

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Raven  /\
      /--\                         "If there's a new way, I'll be
     /    \narchists Inc.            the first in line.  But it better
                                      work this time."  -Megadeth
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hehe...finally got my .sig up and running since I switched to a pico editor.