There are many things to fight for. There are many ways to fight for what is “right”. Although subjective, fighting for a cause has been a long-standing trend among the youth populace. It has this sudden effect of belonging to something bigger than oneself. It would be inconvenient to be singled out and not belong to a gang or a posse, it is always good to have a group of people standing beside you for a cause.
Sociology and psychology have studied the atomic reasoning behind it. Psychology’s most basic case study, the murder of Kitty Genovese, describing the bystander effect and the diffusion of responsibility. 38 members of society watched the murder of Kitty, yet no one made a move. This was known as the diffusion of responsibility, whereby each member of society was cautious whether someone else would react first, and then they might follow. In that time frame of waiting to see who would do what, Kitty died a horrific death. The study deciphered that no one is willing to take the first step if there are more than one bystanders, the responsibility is diffused amongst them, and a delay in decision occurs.
Sociological studies indicate an even more basic form of human nature, that man is a social animal and requires a group to belong to. A mob effect will always surpass an individual effort, in a different analysis if we mix it with the case of Kitty, the blame is diffused amongst a larger group.
Thus, it can be concluded that psychologically and sociologically, in its most atomic form, human nature needs individuals to blame, to protect and to pass on responsibility. What about those that have gone the extra length to damage property and protest unknowingly.
The “more loyal than the King” effect. Each character within any organization will try and outshine his or her peers to perform better or more valiantly at a task. Gang culture has its ethos built within this. A don will always prefer his most extroverted and extreme soldier, they are usually more handy in carrying out extreme acts, diverting blame to the individual himself, rather than the man passing the command. Prison systems have seen this continuously, where going to prison is sold as an award of being part of a gang. Protesters who vandalize and damage property, face the same skeletal procedures. Each organization has its own foolish soldiers who carry out vandalism, and it would usually be the people with little to low exciting events in their personal life. These individuals then get the harsh end of the stick whilst the founders of the organization sit quietly back and delegate blame.
The problem continues as no one deciphers the aftermath of most actions. The law has been weak and lenient towards these protesters. A lot of people ignore that the “high life” that is being lived by many today came by with many sacrifices and hard work. It is unfair to say that life handed them more, when usually life is a fair game, tougher for some, but equally rewarding dependent on input of work. Of course intelligence and a bit of grit takes a person further, but to that the solution is to read more. Therefore it is unfair to say that the worlds problems should be bestowed upon the select few who made billions. The creation of these groups and protesters vandalizing and claiming themselves to be righteous, are no different from petty criminals. The cost of their actions is much more damaging to their cause than to amplify and spread it.
The problem is that these groups are atomically deciphered, responsibility is diffused amongst all who took action to vandalize and damage property. The sense of belonging has led these youngsters to do foolish acts with absolutely no gain in their later lives. Thus, one must be very careful in picking their battles, for some battles lead to great victories, while others lead to horrible slander.
