is it just me or are people, especially people in the US, apt to not think for themselves anymore? does anyone else out there still believe in forming your own opinion and being who you really are?

Well, I think much people don't dare to came out for their real opinions any more...
Even here in the netherlands... U ever heard of Pim Fortuyn? He came
up for many opinios for a lot of people, but another lot of people hated
his opinion...
His opinion was that we have to get less immigrants (spelling!?)
He was in the politics... he came out for his opinion.. and he got shot in his
head and in his back, and died...

Whenever you make a stand you are at risk of " not being popular". But if it is really in your heart and means alot to you and you are in a comfortable place to share, then say it. Chances are others have felt the same way, but needed to hear it from you first and then they say..cool..Im not the only one who thinks like this.....If you know that it is true....than it doesnt have to be anyone elses truth..

I speak my mind whenever I have the educational background to speak on it.

in the general public most people don't care enough to make opinions on their own because a lot of the time they only care about what directly affects them and things they can directly manipulate. so they just go directly off what the others around them think

however, the people who actually do care and pay attention (ie most of the people that post on raptor's topics) do know what's going on, and they do generally think for themselves, and form their own opinions, although of course there are going to have some influencers. Even though another person's opinion may not be the same as yours, it doesn't mean either side is wrong(usually they are both right(it's all a matter of opinion)). See things from all sides

debates between two of the latter group may become intense at times but if the people have a mutual respect, nothing but positives can come. I love debate, it's why democracy works.

Totally agree with u rustectrum03, with every word u said.
"I love debate, it's why democracy works". so true.

and: "see things from all sides" Thát is what have to happen here.... The politcis here in the netherlands, are only thinking of their own opinion.... There is much that must be done here...

i try to speak my mind in all situations, except i hold back sometimes because i don't want people to think i belong in the psychoward.

yes it has become rather dangerous to speak your mind but... if you strongly believe in a controversial subject and are in the situation to tell and be ridiculed or lie about your beliefes then of course you should speak if not... you have the right to remain silent

people don't form their own opinions anymore; people don't act like themselves. everyone hides behind a facade to try to fit in. i can't stand trying to be like someone else. I can't even stand to look similar to someone else. one of these days all girls are going to be your typical prototype: blond hair n blue eyes. I on the other hand will still have my beautiful black hair and green eyes.
-peace out

i totally agree, metallicnight. no one is who they are and insist on being each others' clones. pathetic. who wants to be someone else when you can be you?

though i have to admit i have blond (ok, gold really) hair and blue eyes. except i was born with them. ;-P i've been tempted to dye my hair or get colored contacts once in a while, but i always think, what color would i get? i like what i have!

black hair and green eyes sounds really pretty though. always wanted to meet someone with them! i really like that combo. : )

i still speak my mind ...bwhahwhahhahwhaaahahahhha

very funny.
seriously, though, i hope you really do. most are too stupid not to. a lot of them are too stupid to know what they really think in the first place. clones, clones, clones . . . and here i thought people were unique. guess that was breeded out (it's the fools who procreate the most) and those of us who are unique and speak our minds are some sort of weird mutants . . . (smirk, smirk. X-men, anyone?)

lol... i dont remember my original color but it wasnt blonde... haha and me eyes... lord knows. seems like the people here at caedes are unique enough in their own right... haha weird is normal! amen

weird isn't normal. but it is good. at least we're not clones. how boring can you get?

darkaliryn7_1: You always seem to have a problem with conformity. That’s ok. But I bet you bang your head sometime with others right? Look at being a clone sometime as being a form of trying to hang on to perfection. In the since that sometimes there’s beauty in every thing. It might make it easer for you. Negativity is the excuse for insecure people. The less negativity the more you can truly be you.

Negativity is very limiting. I agree. IT's saying why something won't work, before you even bother trying it. If it doesn't work, you are none the less for taking the chance and trying.

I once read a book where they tried to create the perfect humans, 7 of them. Didnt turn out to well as they were trying to take over the world so the thing went awall... so indeed if we were all clones folowing the theory in this book then yes it probably would be mass panimonium... okay but thats a bit off topic. I do think that if your for the most part indifferent on a matter you do have a clear field as to your view point. In the US we have just such a media that it has portrayed what perfect is and has set out to get everyone to have the perfect body and the way to think and act. yes other countries have their own films but in the US we're free to talk and try to promote and persuade people as to what they should be.

I did try conforming, and I didn't like being something I wasn't. And besides, I got bored. All conforming-type people do is hang around places and do slothful things and generally let their brain cells rot. No thanks. And I don't think I could do away with the negativity. And it does not mean that I am insecure. I used to be, but not now; I know better. However, that does NOT improve my opinion of everyone else.

darkaliryn7_1 HA"HA" At least your consistent.

that's me, prism. that's me.
and you don't need to keep typing the numbers in my name. i don't even know why i put them there. i think i'm just braindead. i don't really like them.

Dont worrie girl I just copy and paste your name Miss Elizabeth.

PAIN IS INEVITABLE......SUFFERING IS ALWAYS OPTIONAL!!!!

hmmm . . . i thought they stopped using "Miss" about like ten hundred years ago
very interesting. i think we should go back to that . . .

kim: "pain is inevitable . . . suffering is always optional"--i like that. just becuase you're in pain does not mean you must suffer. really cool. i hadn't thought of that.

Darkaliryn thanks it is so true. There are only three things that you have control over in life.....how you think, how you behave and how you react........the rest is " just out there."

unless you influence it. you can do that too.

metallicnight - There is a happy medium between speaking your mind and being considerate of other's feelings. You can be honest without hurting others. And being yourself physically as well as the inner self. Honesty is good indeed, but if you are going to choose to be honest all of the time, then its a good idea to do so all of the time. Some use it as it is convenient to hurt other people's feelings. I think the first step is being honest with yourself. Then you are more capable of being honest with others. Having opinions is definitely a great thing, but how one presents themselves is just as important. Doing so tactfully reflects one as a more mature individual. Doing so bluntly and rudely tends to reflect badly on one's self making them appear arrogant, closed minded, and unruley. You will tend to have more friends doing so tactfully.

I have learned that there are 2 subjects to stray from in mixed company...Politics and Religion. I have my beliefs in both and will follow my beliefs no matter what anyone else says...but I found that it is often not safe to discuss those subjects unless you are VERY comfortable with the company you are with. People have gotten to a point that instead of welcoming another persons ideas and just listening to them and that point of view, they would rather argue for their point in hopes of changing someones ideas. A very simple idea of that woulsd be if I were to say the sky is Indigo. Well someone else would say that Indigo is a dark blue and the sky is not dark blue, what the hell am I thinking. Well we agree that it is blue, but my blue is just a few shades darker...why not ask me why I see it that way and go hmmm, that's an interesting point you have and leave it at that...instead, I will be argued with to be proven wrong. Might not be the best of examples, but I hope you see the point. I wish it were not so difficult to be able to speak your mind. Something in todays society has been wired wrong, to me, people just aren't terribly open to others views anymore. Bring back the hippies and free love!!!

I don't think this is emotionally ingrained, but I've perceived somewhere that it must really suck to be the typical "conformist"... I really don't think anyone wants to be there... I think it's really just a social safe spot, and that the people there are only there out of fear.... fear of criticism... fear of cops... etc.... of course... like I said above, it's not really emotionally ingrained, since I see anyone who tries to oppose me working within myself (as I've done completely away with trying to influence others other than by working within myself) as evil, mean-spirited, cruel, heartless people.... erm... but I think the reality might lean towards them really just being afraid...

but I think I also must add, that a lot of things we speak out against are really still deeply rooted within ourselves... in other words just because we profess a creed with our mouths definitely doesn't prove its existance in our hearts.... I can say this most definitely about myself, too.... not going to name any examples, lol.... that might cause some turmoil in the thread... hehe... and I generally try to avoid criticising people... generally just brings them down....

I think that I never get enough red M&M's in the package.

Don't eat the green M&M's, they make ya preggers... :oP

*spits out green M&M's* ... whaaa? ... oh ... me, no worry bout that ... *gathers partially chewed M&M's back together* ... and .... yes, a collective 'ewwww' is heard round the site.