The Big Bad Wolf

by Sarah Walton

  Once upon a time belonging to a group meant humans had less likelihood of being eaten by wolves.  These days wolves are better known for the role they play in The Three Little Pigs, yet we still find ourselves innately programmed to seek “safety in numbers”.  Whether we are amongst family, work colleagues or friends, we are constantly comparing ourselves to others as a means of making sure we’re fitting in.  It is difficult to stand alone in our opinion if it differs from the majority.  In a day where the Big Bad Wolf is very unlikely to eat us, we have to stop for a moment and wonder how much do we allow the fear of having a different opinion rule us? 

Our opinion is, after all, just that.  Our opinion.  It doesn’t affect anything except for our own reality.  Sometimes we're like: "I'll huff and I'll puff and I'll blow your house down if you don't agree with me!".  What a waste of energy.  When I stop trying to prove I’m right and genuinely listen to someone else’s opinion, regardless of whether I agree, I always learn something.  How many times have we said “I told you so!” (or wanted to say it).  Every time we choose being right we lose a little love in our relationships.  As we all know, chipping away at love means it will eventually run out.  We have to ask ourselves: what’s more important?  Being right… or love?

I believe that there is no such thing as wright or rong.  There is only perspective.  It goes back to the age old example of two people looking at one card.  One person swears the card is blue and the other swears it is white.  It turns out the card is blue on one side and white on the other.  The two people are just looking at it from different angles (or perspectives).  Cultural influences including (but not limited to) our education, family, environment, life experience and language fundamentally alter our perception of what is right or wrong.  Therefore, we should never be so ignorant to assume that what we know is fact.  We argue “I read it in a book”… “it’s common knowledge!”…  is it?  Or are we just agreeing with the majority and believing everything we read? 

These days we are bombarded with information.  Whether it be on the television, radio, internet or in the newspaper.  This information is created by other human beings from their perspective.  Just like I’m writing this now and you’re reading it.  I’m transferring information to you from my perspective.  You're questioning it and making up your own mind.  And if you decide you agree, and then you find the majority also agree, that still won’t make it “right”.

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