Norms... it can be a scary thing!

Norms are a part of everyday life... almost comforting... mostly comforting we might even be able to say. But I want you, the reader to quickly look at this youtube clip that was done back in the day by the Candid Camera crew. http//www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTOwE3hnEWk&feature=related

Have you ever thought of facing a wall versus the open door? It doesn't make sense does it? And the factor that these unknowing participants just tried to sneakily do what the others were was kind of crazy. I would probably have done a lot of awkward laughter because of the confusion about what was going on but who knows. I could see if it was the persons' first time riding an elevator then they would just do what everyone else was doing because they don't know the proper protocol but this wasn't something new. I remember my first day going to the bus stop, everyone else put their bag down in a line, so mine added to the line. They were standing randomly around, mostly on the lawn which was kind of rude, but that is what they were doing, so that was what I was doing, I didn't know what to do.

Is that not quite scary that we would abandon what we assumed to be correct because people around us are doing it differently? This is scary!!! It doesn't have to be scary to be quite honest, fashion trends and all of those things are based on norms as well, in my opinion, most people see stuff around them and therefore they do the same things. This can be scary if a good portion of society starts losing the virtues and morals that are important (I believe to be important, we may not agree on all of them, David ;) ). For example, if a kid is being bullied and no one around him/her is doing anything, could this be just trying to fit into the norm?

Candid Camera, although it was just for laughs, raises a really great point or issue with this segment.
:)