Random Thoughts - 9 - Implicit Xenophobia of non-conformity

People are born into societies. Each society will have a dominant culture that would be embraced without a second thought. Now this might be necessary for the preservation of culture and for the social group self-esteem. This might be one of the things that make life colourful as it ensures that different cultures co-exist and thrive. But oftentimes there are individuals who would not be very comfortable in the culture they are born into. They might have different tastes and likes. This is implicitly looked down upon by large sections of society. Such individuals are shamed and many take it as their righteous duty to do this shaming. The reasoning is generally that the individual in question owes a lot to what culture he was raised in and that it is their legacy to embrace it. Thus there is a pressure to conform to it. Individualism does not get the freedom it deserves. A developed society should should strive to grow out of the aforementioned characteristics.

My Theories - 5 - The Dangers of Trusting Averages

Averages are great, but they are what they are: just averages. They are great indicators, but never accept them as anything more. Take the example of a rating system where every rating is given equal weight. There will be above average critics, average critics and below average critics for any piece of art [which is wholly relative. But say, fix some point]. The resultant rating is only an average and therefore not worthy of pointing out as the absolute proof of the greatness or incompetence of this art. It only shows the opinion of the majority which always tend to cluster nearer to the averages [as in a Normal Distribution]. Appreciation of art is not an exercise in democracy. In short, the better, as in more apt, rating of the greater critics are often swallowed up by the sea of averages.

Random Thoughts - 8 -Rationality of Secularism

Walk miles around in search of rationality. Its there in every nook and corner. One tends to believe. Are all intelligent people rational? Before all these hunky dory normal questions, does a rational person have to be secular? As a direct question, it should depend on morality more than rationality [without getting into theism/agnosticism/atheism]. According to my morality, yes. But morality is again relative. There are sections of people who do not accept secularism. It is not entirely fair to call all of them irrational, let alone foolish. Some of them know what they want and they know of its implications. They are just people who lack empathy for their fellow humans. They are just evil. [My views are aligned with my moral compass] There are others who are taken advantage of, who do not know of the full implications of their actions, who are sheep. They might be innocent,might be simpletons but they sure are dangerous too. For they often form the body of the great irrational tide that more often than not can be very destructive and/or regressive. History is a great teacher.