Why should I read Crowds and power?
Crowds and power, This is an interesting read, considering how old t is for one, and the other fascinating point is how relevant it is today.
I will open up my book review, with the following statement.
Why is it that people who seek individuality also, pride themselves on being a member of some exclusive group?
The Paradoxical experience of being human
It has been this way since the dawn of time, we lose ourselves in crowds, and hope to find ourselves in the same crowd.
We join churches and organizations hoping to belong, or to get a piece of the pie, but to what ends?
Crowds and power, highlights how easy it is for most of us to be pushed or pulled in any given direction, and any point and time.
All while claiming to be an individual even though we seek to belong.
5 different types of crowds
Baiting crowds
Flight crowds
Prohibition crowds
Reversal crowds
Feast crowds
Baiting crowds
This crowd, has a clear objective to kill its target, think of witch hunting mobs, The KKK, the mob the crucified Jesus, etc.
Flight crowds
This crowd is filled with people who unite to fight against a common threat, and the crowd dissolves once the threat is gone.
Prohibition crowds
The purpose of this crowd, is refusal or a denial of service, and example, would be people who protest and go on strike.
Reversal crowds
This crowds, aim is to overturn existing, power structures, think of the Cambridge analytica team, or the trolls online, who memed trump into the office. Another example would be slave revolts, or forcing an incompetent ceo out of office.
Feast crowds
This last one, will require more of an explanation later, but this crowd seeks equal indulgence, usually gathers around food festivals.
Four attributes that define all crowds
Growth
Equality
Typically dense
Has a goal
Growth
Crowds tend to expand, and are constantly looking for more people to join it.
Equality
When crowds are formed all members are usually equal.
Typically dense
Crowds usually are tight and sardine packed events where, there is little to no proximity between members, or standing room.
Has a goal
All crowds have goals in mind, without goals the crowds would disperse as quickly as they were formed.
The origin of crowds, stared with pack and there are four types
Hunting pack
War pack
Lamenting pack
Increase the pack
Hunting pack
Formed to help take down prey to big for one individual to tackle alone.
War pack
Similar to the hunting pack, although here the aim is to fight and kill other humans, not animals.
Lamenting pack
A pack that gathers to mourn the loss of a member of their group.
Increase the pack
This pack is the root or where crowds begin, this pack wants to expand, and wants others to join, where as the other packs do not.
Nationalism
Nationalism, can inspire a fanatical and delusional belief in one person, or group being superior to another. As we saw in the past election.
This ideology has contributed to some of the greatest atrocities, in modern times,
Acts include racism, acts of injustices towards people based off age, and gender, the holocaust etc.
Power exceeds space and time
Physical force, can only do damage in the immediate moment, however power allows for your presence to be felt, for eternity.
The powerful are always in the position to kill.
The powerful are always in the position to suck the resources and substance out of its prey.
Power is about survival
To be powerful is to survive no matter the outcome.
A warrior may view himself as superior after slaying a foe, just for the simple fact that he is still alive.
The Game of cat and mouse
If you’ve seen a cat catch a mouse, you know the cat likes to play with the mouse, before eating it.
This is a display of power.
The mouse will think its getting away from the cat, only because the cat is toying with it.
Silence can be a form of power as well it doesn’t always have to come from, force, it can come from other elements as well.
This is why certain symbols are used by different nations and groups to symbolize there power.
Power love secrecy and secrecy is vital to power.
Commands must be obeyed
The slave must obey his master, children their parents, employees their bosses, and soldiers there commanding officer.
Without commands, there would be no organization and only chaos.
In some cases bribery can trump the chain of command.
Human Transformation
Animals will try to escape its pursuers, and will even play dead if need be.
Humans go through the same type of transformative expression of energy when trying to gain the upper hand.
Humans will learn to be more empathetic in order appeal to their foes emotions.
Humans will use emotions in order to gain the upper hand.
Humans will weaponize crowds and packs, to further their goals.
Rank and the regulation of time are connected to power
Body language lets, you know who is the most powerful in the room, 9/10 you can tell who is in charge.
If you don’t have confidence, and your body language shows it, people around you will abdicate your power to whoever, appears willing, able and confident in themselves.
Crowds and power summary
To be such dated material this book is just as relevant today as it was back then, not much has changed in the way or power, and how crowds are controlled, this is definitely a good read.
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