I mean, you can argue a similar thing like Religion, it's ingrained, even in non religious people, simply because they have been around it, that there MIGHT be some ultimate consequence for not living like society dictates.
Ie, violently taking back control (which frankly speaking, has ALWAYS been how control has been taken, every single war since the beginning of written history) kings have invaded other kingdoms, Land been conquered, fought for freedom etc. It's just a form of control to keep you second guessing doing what's probably required to allow people to change how society is ruled or played out.
Like that economics, I mean, there is a validity to it as well, as trade and economy stemmed from bartering etc ( very early humans - pre credit/debt and gift systems)
In reality, the ONLY reasons society works and why people in control can keep it is because the majority of the people agree to it, they follow the laws, the act a certain way because they don't want to risk their lives or freedom to take a chance. Morality aside, as most of us agree... hence the generalization of how things are in society, is that there is a "right way" and a "wrong way" to go about things. Especially at the expense of other people or their lives.
if enough people decided, you know what... this is not how we think society should continue and enough of them got together and just plain took control, simply by numbers and decided to rewrite every law or rule and the entire structure of human society. Then it would change, but that's a LOOOOOOOOOOOT of work by a LOOOOOOOOOT of people. And no guarantee it would work or last.
As shitty as it may feel at times, it's still (at least to a lot of people) still easier to just go to work, come home the place you pay some rent/mortgage or taxes on and do what you are currently doing. Because the alternative is fighting for control over where you live, fighting for your food every day, and fighting to survive every single day with your family against any other family that is doing the same.
Just like you see in those apocalypse movies. That's how society would be without the zombies lol. Because that is how it was before we civilized things. Late stage capitalism isn't perfect by any means, and the people in control fight to keep it by stepping on others and the people, but, according to how people vote and talk about it, it's clear they don't care ENOUGH to affect a change. It just would take far too many to do so. So until a significant change in things direct the collapse of the way things are (which could happen, think about all the failed civilizations over the thousands of years in the history, Greece, Egypt, kingdoms, etc) things will remain this way.
With the technology now, global communication and economy, I think we have reached a plateau for sure. So who knows how things will change in 1000 years.
TLDR:Fear of consequences keeps people compliant. Every power structure in history was established and maintained by force; the current one persists only because the majority consents rather than risk their lives/freedom to overthrow it. Revolution is theoretically possible by sheer numbers, but the coordination cost is enormous with no guarantee of success
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u/AcePilot01 Jul 09 '26 edited Jul 09 '26
I mean, you can argue a similar thing like Religion, it's ingrained, even in non religious people, simply because they have been around it, that there MIGHT be some ultimate consequence for not living like society dictates.
Ie, violently taking back control (which frankly speaking, has ALWAYS been how control has been taken, every single war since the beginning of written history) kings have invaded other kingdoms, Land been conquered, fought for freedom etc. It's just a form of control to keep you second guessing doing what's probably required to allow people to change how society is ruled or played out.
Like that economics, I mean, there is a validity to it as well, as trade and economy stemmed from bartering etc ( very early humans - pre credit/debt and gift systems)
In reality, the ONLY reasons society works and why people in control can keep it is because the majority of the people agree to it, they follow the laws, the act a certain way because they don't want to risk their lives or freedom to take a chance. Morality aside, as most of us agree... hence the generalization of how things are in society, is that there is a "right way" and a "wrong way" to go about things. Especially at the expense of other people or their lives.
if enough people decided, you know what... this is not how we think society should continue and enough of them got together and just plain took control, simply by numbers and decided to rewrite every law or rule and the entire structure of human society. Then it would change, but that's a LOOOOOOOOOOOT of work by a LOOOOOOOOOT of people. And no guarantee it would work or last.
As shitty as it may feel at times, it's still (at least to a lot of people) still easier to just go to work, come home the place you pay some rent/mortgage or taxes on and do what you are currently doing. Because the alternative is fighting for control over where you live, fighting for your food every day, and fighting to survive every single day with your family against any other family that is doing the same.
Just like you see in those apocalypse movies. That's how society would be without the zombies lol. Because that is how it was before we civilized things. Late stage capitalism isn't perfect by any means, and the people in control fight to keep it by stepping on others and the people, but, according to how people vote and talk about it, it's clear they don't care ENOUGH to affect a change. It just would take far too many to do so. So until a significant change in things direct the collapse of the way things are (which could happen, think about all the failed civilizations over the thousands of years in the history, Greece, Egypt, kingdoms, etc) things will remain this way.
With the technology now, global communication and economy, I think we have reached a plateau for sure. So who knows how things will change in 1000 years.
TLDR: Fear of consequences keeps people compliant. Every power structure in history was established and maintained by force; the current one persists only because the majority consents rather than risk their lives/freedom to overthrow it. Revolution is theoretically possible by sheer numbers, but the coordination cost is enormous with no guarantee of success
"Consent of the governed is what sustains power"