Why do most people care so much about what others think? Are they afraid of society norms?

As I walked into the college, every pair of eyes seemed glued to me. Some admiring, some smirking, and a few whispering. My palms were sweating, and my steps faltered as my mind spiraled into a series of anxious thoughts.

Because, trust me, the world moves on a lot faster than we think.

The problem with caring too much about what others think is that we hand over our control to people who might not even notice us the way we think they do.

How would you spank me if I had been sent home from a school camp because of my poor behavior?

I was ready to bolt when my friend walked up to me, grinning ear to ear. “You look like a dream,” she said, loud enough for everyone to hear.

Ah, society and its norms—always looming, always judging, isn't it? Let me take you back to an incident that forever changed how I view this question.

It was the first time I wore a saree in college. Excited yet nervous, I draped myself in my mother’s teal-blue saree, which she had lovingly ironed and handed over with that proud twinkle in her eye.

Why do some men want to remain single despite the fact that many women want to have a romantic relationship with them?

That moment, I realized something profound—most of the people staring weren’t even judging; they were just... looking. And the ones who judged? Well, they went on with their day just as I went on with mine.

Are we afraid of society's norms? Maybe. But more often than not, we fear the stories we write in our heads about those norms.

Take care!

From an axiology/value theory point of view, how can one say that a diverse society is better than a uniform one, especially given the negative effects of diversity (racism, sectarian conflict, problems arising from extreme cultural relativism)?

“Did I drape it wrong? Does it look too plain? Do I even look good?”

So the next time society glares your way, ask yourself: is it really worth giving your peace to their fleeting thoughts?

And so should we.

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