To not take seriously anyone who uses the word 'sheeple'?

[BinkyBoinky]

Usually uttered by people who think they're "independent-minded free thinkers", but in reality they're just regurgitating whatever (usually right-wing) crap they've read on the internet and think they're more intelligent than everyone else. AIBU?

"You sheeple! How dare you think like the majority of people and copy their opinions?

"You should be thinking like ME and copying MY opinions instead!"

They’ve obviously never watched one man and his dog! Unless they are referring to a group of people running blindly in all directions, refusing to pass a tasty looking piece of grass and shitting all over a field.

@thepeopleversuswork

As a general rule I've observed that anyone who calls themself an "independent-minded free thinker" or follower of the "alternative media" who scoffs at "sheeple" is invariably actually a person of limited intellect who reads conspiracy theory feeds and then congratulates themself for not following the "mainstream media".

They're usually too thick to grasp the fact that just because it isn't the Daily Mail doesn't mean its automatically right.

This, definately

YANBU; it’s just a lame insult.

@JunkCrumpet

As someone who is fairly central in my beliefs. I see this regularly from both extremes of the spectrum. As I posted on your other thread, this word is used to discredit evidence. It's to create the idea that most people are ignorant and so, therefore, all evidence is tainted. Then, once they've removed your ability to provide evidence to discredit their assertion, they win on the basis of shouting louder and persisting longer. As a number of people have rather comedically pointed out on the internet, the best way to deal with these people is to "out-conspiracy theory them". For example, they say "Covid-19 doesn't exist" and you should respond "no, it does, but it's not a virus. The government created it in a lab and it's spreading between people to track our thoughts. But it was too successful and now they're getting too much data and don't have space for it until the new computers arrive - that's why they want to slow it down". Or, if they say, "vaccines cause autism", you say "I know! And they WANT people to get autism too, it's not just covering up a side effect - it's a whole plot. They think that if more children have autism, then they can stop them getting a proper education and stop them becoming politicians. When we don't have enough politicians, then the government won't have any opposition". Basically, just say whatever random crap pops into your head to overwhelm them.

grin]grin]

The virus has been sent by robots from the future to kill off the human race! That's why Boris wanted herd immunity because he's really a cyborg! Lol

[quote TheNanny23]It is the Dunning-Kruger effect in action!

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning–Kruger_effect[/quote]
Absolutely!

@Frunkle

"You sheeple! How dare you think like the majority of people and copy their opinions?

"You should be thinking like ME and copying MY opinions instead!"

The Dunning-Kruger thing is true but it doesn't account for the large number of otherwise reasonably intelligent people who have signed up for this "COVID is a hoax perpetuated by the government to restrict us" shit.

I have one old friend who is by no means thick, has degrees and has worked in high pressure professional jobs, who has suddenly out of the blue bought into all this.

Social media is part of it but there's more to it than that. I wish I knew what it was but there's something in the water...

I agree OP. It's mostly used by people who are incapable of a halfway decent debate so they harp on about 'sheeple' as though using that term automatically makes them right. I literally switch off/stop reading if.i see it.

Sheeple. Beloved phrase of the UsforThem bampots.

And agree with pp. usually accompanied by "educate yourself"

If someone says "Sheeple" in a derogatory way I sometimes reply "Sheeple? you're one of them for using that term!" I smacks of smugness to me!

And I started reading this to find out what 'sheeple' meant. I have been enlightened as I originally thought it short for 'she people' i.e. women.

@BinkyBoinky

Usually uttered by people who think they're "independent-minded free thinkers", but in reality they're just regurgitating whatever (usually right-wing) crap they've read on the internet and think they're more intelligent than everyone else. AIBU?

Not necessarily right-wing.

@Bouncycastle12

My 18 month old toddler loves the sheep in our field and is desperate - from what I can make out - to actually be a sheep. I think word is ok in this specific scenario. Otherwise Only used by internet know it alls.

Your toddler would make a marvellous Sheeple! 😊

Yes, you rarely hear the term without 'Wake up!' and 'Educate yourself!'...

And believe the shite I do!

As a general rule I've observed that anyone who calls themself an "independent-minded free thinker" or follower of the "alternative media" who scoffs at "sheeple" is invariably actually a person of limited intellect who reads conspiracy theory feeds and then congratulates themself for not following the "mainstream media".
That's true in my experience too.

They're the type of person who thinks Sandra on Facebook and Dave down the pub are equally credible on any, and every, topic as experts who have devoted their lives to a specific area.

Covid - must be a hoax made up by Bill Gates to try and microchip everyone. Experts disagree? Of course they would they're on it, but Sandra/Dave with 3 GCSEs between them said otherwise.

Sandra and Dave are also experts in legal matters too, which is why there's stupid copy and paste letters doing the rounds on Facebook to send to your child's headteacher about how it's illegal to expect children to wash their hands and use hand sanitizer because there's hidden dangers to the chemicals.

Idiots, the lot of them.

Perfect example of this on a recent thread where someone posted their batshit Covid theories and ended with 'I have a science degree'. Oh, well, stand back Chris Whitty, the Oxford vaccine team and all the virologists!

That doesn't mean you should never question authority. But some of the grounds from which people do so are laughable. And the ones with the flimsiest evidence are often 'wake up, sheeple!' types.

I would put people who use Snowflake and Remoaner in the same category - yawn; haven't you anything more constructive to say?