Isolation is something that people have been trying to avoid for as long as we can remember. It's one of the bases of our civilization -- the one who wanders alone faces the greatest danger and highest risk of death. That's why we've spent so much time and energy grouping up. From families and tribes to villages and cities, humans find the greatest success when we stick together. As social creatures, the benefits of being part of a group go beyond physical into social and psychological benefits as well.
Technology has rapidly accelerated our ability to connect with people not only in our area, but all over the world instantly. This explosion of communication from social networking has also allowed us to speed up production of other technologies in ways we couldn't have imagined even a few years ago. Yet, in this day and age there are some people who refuse to participate, myself included. But why would anyone do this? Don't you want to be connected? Don't you want to be in touch with your friends? Don't you want to have instant access to talk to anyone at any time and anywhere at all?
In our desire to be part of a group, we will do just about anything to belong. High school, for most, is a perfect example of this. It's as if the mind has regressed to a sort of tribalism where similar people tend to be around each other. Like likes like, and the ones who aren't easily divided into a group tend to be alone. Seeing as how isolation in a school setting is akin to excommunication, some will do whatever it takes to be part of a group. Desperation to belong can really bring out the worst in some people.
These different groups all have their own identities, looks, and ways of acting. Usually, you can identify which group someone would fall in with a few minutes of meeting them. Everyone has the clothes, look, lingo, and knowledge to make them belong in the group they best identify with. We're so desperate to belong that we will trade who we really are for a label. This goes beyond social interactions as well, and sometimes it goes too far and ruins the point. Everyone and every ideology has been boxed in to groups ,or a one or the other style. You're either with us or against us, you can't be in the middle, and the other side will ostracize you for it.
Maybe you've heard of the four personality types table. Are we really expected to believe that there are only four personality types in the world? Of course, it's not that cut-and-dry, but the idea is that we want to be forced into a group so that we can identify with (supposedly) similar people. We put so much time and effort into avoiding being alone that we risk losing who we really are. Sometimes, it can be outright dangerous. The fear of isolation can make us stay in harmful relationships or help friends whom we know aren't good for us.
Instead of wanting to belong to a group that has already been established, you should want to make your own and be the type of person who best fits who you really are. Be unique. Be different. Stand out by being the person you want to be, not who society wants you to be.
