Discussion»Statements»Rosie's Corner» I know nothing about sheep but if you leave them alone will they come home wagging their tails behind them? People too?
No, they get lost. (I'm assuming you're referring to domesticated sheep.) Sheep are rather dumb. If you leave them alone odds, are they'll get lost, fall into a river, or be killed by predators. Sheep are dumb. They can sit in a pen staring at water beyond the fence, but if you open the pen to let them drink, they'll just stand there looking longingly at the water on the other side of the fence. Sheep are easily startled. When that happens, they run willy-nilly. Doing so they can trip, get lost, or fall over a ledge. Sheep are single minded. If they think they see a better tuft of grass elsewhere, they will go for it... even if it's not in a safe location. If waters are not calm, an unsheared sheep can easily fall in and drown (never let sheep drink from deep or moving water).
People are more akin to sheep than one might think. While we may think we're more intelligent, we share a lot of their "traits".
Thank you for your very thoughtful and helpful analysis in response to my question Shuhak. I'm always looking for connections between superficially disparate things. Always. A harmless nursery rhyme caught my attention for whatever reason and I wondered if it were true. Just leave things alone and they will sort themselves out? Leave people alone and they will "do the right thing"? Not likely. For years we've heard homo saps referred to as SHEEPLE. Obviously it's true. And sadly I guess most people are as "dumb" as sheep and will follow anyone anywhere even to their own deaths. They will follow a "leader" whose every action is harmful to them but they do not see it or if they do they simply don't care. That's being very dumb isn't it? SIGH. I appreciate the analysis. I suspected as much vis a vis the clinging together of mindless living beings for no purpose other than that they don't know any better. Is that a good excuse? I shall ask.
Shuhak 