And don’t leave early dear

I have always been troubled by subservience to authority generally shown by people all over the world.

This is the most perturbing single fact in our lives. Almost all of us are subject to this curious failing, even though we might deny it vehemently if asked about it.

Most of us think that we are free individuals operating in a free society and are capable of making decisions based on our conscience. There can not be any grosser misconception than this.

Strangely our educational levels seem to be inversely proportional to our obedience levels. We would normally assume that the more educated the individuals are the lesser inclined would they be towards obeying orders if those orders are against their beliefs. Yet unfortunately it works the other way round.

They are the most susceptible of all with regard to subservience to authority. In a way this could be guessed at too. The very conditioning they are subjected to during the years of their studies would determine their behavior in such situations. No one can acquire excellence in any field without compromising on principles. Once a person is termed as a rebel his career in that field would be over. So the “wise” always bend over backwards to obey their superiors. Most of us take some real shit before we graduate.

To those accustomed to order people about, this is a known fact. They would be sure that those they want to make use of would obey them implicitly even in situations where the moral and humanistic principles are grossly violated. This is the single most troubling fact of our existence. We are obedient animals, the more educated we are the more subservient we become.

In contrast those living closer to nature are often found unwilling to submit to authority without a fight if their conscience is affected in any manner. They have a freer spirit and would not be troubled by the contempt or disgust shown by other more knowledgeable (Submissive) people towards them because of their inability to obey “responsible” orders.

I can’t quote any studies in this regard as I have not looked into the available resources. Yet I have seen many such ‘country fellows’ in my village to doubt it. They would come up with the most direct and unanswerable arguments to the discomfiture of the know alls who are out to teach them and make them obey.

I have previously mentioned the studies of Dr. Stanley Milgram, a psychologist at Yale University in the later half of the last century, in my blog. The voluntarily chosen subjects of study were willing to electrocute some one just on the assurance of the examiner that he would bear responsibility for what ever happens in the experiment. (Those who want to know more about the study may look Milgrams name up on the net.)

The point is that our perception of our freedom is a myth. The subjects in the Milgrams experiment were chosen fro the general public by advertisement. They all came from different backgrounds. The payment proposed was minimal. But yet all partaking the experiment thought that once they have taken up a task they have to complete it. Any unscrupulous person can cheat us into a similar situation and make use of us to commit any number of heinous crimes on the humanity.
All the Nazi officers were pleading that they were only “obeying orders” and it had nothing to do with their personal feelings. As long as this flaw remains with us we are in the clutches of those who know about. Hitler knew about this human flaw. He was very explicit about it in his writings. He said that most of the people in the world are like women and would obey those who can give them assurance that their interests would be looked after. Most of the leaders know about this fact intuitively.

I feel that we need be aware of this flaw in our natures and consciously try to over come it by raising opposing thoughts to it. There is nothing sacred in this world other than our own freedom and our own inner most beliefs as to what is best for ourselves and others. Laws, regulations, codes and other such structures are not god given or inviolable. If they or the persons who handle them are going against the interests of humanity we need to question them and make it clear that we are against it.
It is also important to note that every law would contain provisions to safe guard the interests of the individuals coming under its purview. There can be no law against the individual as such. It is those who are in the interpreting business who hijack the law to suit their interests. You agree to abide by a set of law provided that it would protect your well being and your social commitments. If any laws or any interpretation of the law prevents this from happening you need to make a stand against it.

Actually those who misinterpret laws are conscious of their guilt themselves. If you make a strong and determined stand against them they would have to back down. If they have misinterpreted the law once they may have done it several times. This would be weighing down on their conscience all the time. If you take up a stand against them they will have to mend their actions to generate popular support. That in itself is a good thing.

Let us suppose that your boss regularly leaves the work place early and insists on the rest of the establishment on working after hours because that is how they propose to run their concern. Should you give in to this insistence? If you do you are setting a bad example for every one.

Question them on their behavior directly and don’t give in to their coercion. You would soon see that the poor idiot conforms to general code from then onwards even if seething inwards. I have seen it happen many times. In fact they are as gullible as the others; they have come up the way of compromises. If you think that you can’t order them about then you are in the error. Just state your point clearly while every one is listening. They would mend themselves in no time.

You see authority has only one opposition-authority itself. Say to your boss that you want to see them just before the shop closes for the day, in the instance that I stated above. There would be some commotion but stick to your demand. Say that you want to talk to them on something important. They will have to submit in one instance. Make it a daily event. You can see the poor slob squirming.

(I won’t advise it if you are too frightened. But actually after some time your boss would be so frightened of you that he/she would be willing to concede any of your demands if you let them live)

Anyway blind subservience to authority could be generally harmful. Let us be free from it.