Peer Pressures

2023-12-11 · Ho Chanh Nghia

Originally published on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/peer-pressures-khanh-pham-jo0fc/

Peer Pressures

When I was growing up, many or all of my teachers tried to explain that peer pressure is trash. To not cave into peer pressure, and to stand up for principles and good reasons.

James Sexton was holding a live stream today, to hang out with his fan, and was approached with the question of following tradition or not. He simply cited, tradition is just peer pressure by dead people.

I am not a dweller on traditions and marriage as much as truth and justice, so I turned it around or into something of my inclination. I would say, government pressure is peer pressure as well. Except these are not dead men.

These are old white men, out of touch, dangerous, and with money.

When I was growing up in the 1990s, when the gangs were still running protection rackets, building their brand as the tough man, and students were in fear of getting shot if they wore the wrong colored shoelaces. They had a lot of peer pressure on how we lived.

I cannot help comparing the modern American government, to the gang banger back in the 90s, dictating what is cool and in style. Or die. Wait, can we use the word die on LinkedIn or is it a banned word? Is canceled better? Like having no money, no livelihood, no opportunities is better?

Peer pressure at the geopolitical level between 300 million Americans vs the other 7 billion undeveloped humans is no joke. People die in these conflicts. Has the last Ukrainian died yet? I heard we’re going to fight Russia until the last Ukrainian. I had turned off the news since. It has been many months, and I am just wondering if we’re done cleansing Ukrainians using Russian’s hands.

Well if that does reduce the world population to the set standard, one can always move to the next densely populated area, and wack a few millions off the stats. Are we aiming for a really small number like 3 billions? or something moderate like 5 billions?

I mean, these sorts of peer pressures are hard to ignore. Your life sort of depends on following the pressures.