Have you noticed how much people adore shackles?

Lisbon, 2017

Have you noticed how much people adore shackles? Repulsive as it may seem—especially for those who shiver alone in the cold—many find solace in the firmness of prison bars. Watch the behaviors: comfort and security and acceptance are what’s prized. Don’t rock the boat, don’t upset the applecart, keep your head down…

William Blake saw it in London:

I wander thro' each charter'd street,
Near where the charter'd Thames does flow,
And mark in every face I meet
Marks of weakness, marks of woe.

Here’s an internal prison that sure appears eternal:

In every cry of every man,
In every Infant's cry of fear,
In every voice, in every ban,
The mind-forg'd manacles I hear.

Although every cocktail party has its accepted subjects, and every group has its accepted narratives, you ought to feel a tug toward the necessary questions, and away from those “mind-forg'd manacles.” Why not speak about the unchallenged axioms, all those unstated justifications, or come closer to the conversational taboos? After the social chuckles and confused glances you’ll notice how quickly the crowd steps back. Never underestimate how far people will go to avoid controversy.

A crowd offers validation, there’s tranquility and safety, a buffer against the unknown, even instructions for protection—what positions to hold, what opinions are tolerable, clear boundaries to measure what’s inside and outside. The assurances are obviously false, but they offer a useful, if rather temporary, fiction. When you’re outside the crowd, you have the laborious task of doing all those jobs yourself. Without any guardrails, you must form your own opinions, decide what’s correct, learn what’s accurate.

For those in the crowd, the rules are rather simple. There are codes and principles and behaviors; a manner of dress, a method of speaking, guidelines for action, the words used and, perhaps more importantly, not used. Those inside the crowd have only one true job: track the haphazard and endless fluctuations of these standards. Be vigilant, observe those nearby, keep up with the changes. What’s permitted today may be objectionable tomorrow.

You should find these shackles oppressive, but don’t dismiss how many people, instead, take comfort in bonds. Don’t forget that acting exactly like your neighbor also forces your neighbor to act exactly like you. Holding your gaze low is easier than lifting your chin; staying indoors is easier than investigating a noise; remaining silent is easier than asking questions. Underneath warm covers, the dreams are always smooth, safe, and certain. How nice sleeping must be while believing—at your door, at least—they’ll never be a knock.

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