Little Thing 269 : The Sheep-Shepherd Analogy

 

Have you heard about the analogy between the shepherd, the flock of sheep, the sheepdog, and the wolf?

• The shepherd is the caregiver, the guide, the ruler, and the observant who can see the whole picture, their task is to train the dog, tend the sheep, and they are responsible for everything that happens; to the sheepdog and the sheep. They need to provide a safe place to live in, and basic necessities for everyone. 
• The wolf is the threat who preys on the sheep, the scary monster that lurks when you are not watching, the ones that can do harm without mercy, the predator, they are stronger and smarter.
• The sheepdog's responsibility is to protect the sheep, direct the movement, ensure every sheep is in the group, alert and defend when there are possible threats or any attack from outside. In society, people like this are usually in law enforcement, their task is to protect and defend. 
• The flock of sheep is the majority of society, they are calm, gentle, and peaceful beings, and they follow the path that is shown to them, they have value, and they would never harm others. They are vulnerable, and they can't protect themselves from the wolves.

Issues with the analogy:

• Leadersheep exists. In real life, based on research, sheep do take turns while moving in a flock, they alternate between the role of leader and follower and ultimately achieve some form of "collective intelligence" ie the team's capacity and capability to perform a task in solving a problem. They don't only have "one leader" to guide them, they take a turn temporarily, it is teamwork. Sheep are much smarter than we assume they are, sure every once in a while there are lost sheep, or the collective motion is interrupted probably by a single sheep that wanted a rest and stop, but it is unavoidable to do mistakes. It is not a perfect system, but it exists nonetheless. This was not known to us, we assumed they were all lost and needed guidance and protection, all the time. 
• The analogy is by comparing us to animals, but in a way, animals follow their natural instinct, it is what they are, but we are human with 'akal', we are complicated beings capable to think. Sheep follow their flocks because it is how they are wired, sheepdog protects because they are trained to do so. But we are capable to reach beyond that simple analogy. For example, wolves do not simply terrorize or bully sheep because they are capable to do so or because they are stronger, they only hunt to eat, and it is not personal. But when humans do malicious things or choose to manipulate others, it is always for their own personal gain. It is not instinct, but a choice. This analogy is too simple and broad to compare with us.
• What if you don't feel like you are the shepherd, wolf, sheepdog, or sheep? What if you are naturally a loner who chooses not to participate that much in society? Loners are often considered an outcast, and most of the time they are highly observant. They are capable to move into the system, and participating when needed, being self-reliant, not picking one label to define their 'status'. Not exactly the shepherd, the wolf, the sheepdog, or the sheep.  
• If you went on an interview and the person asked you whether you are a shepherd, a wolf, a sheepdog, or a sheep, what should you answer? You should answer depending on what you want to offer to the company. If it is leadership (like director/team leader/manager), go for an obvious answer, the shepherd. If it is in sales and marketing, go for the wolf, you need to be able to know your strength and use it for the best, you need to be hungry for success and hunt for opportunities, the ability to manipulate is a bonus strength in pursuing something (if not used for personal gain). A sheepdog is a great answer as well, able to listen to commands, to be trained to guide the team, a small leader, and an important member of a company. Don't try to be philosophical during an interview, it might backfire.

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There is a negative perception of being a sheep: 

Don't be a sheep is a way of saying that each individual of a group shouldn't blindly be thinking, or acting, the same way.

In this, we assume sheep are too stupid to defend themselves and they are the lowest ones in the circle. But in nature, sheep are physically weak and vulnerable compared to their predators, so they protect themselves by being in a large flock instead of being singled out to explore on their own. It is their own survival mechanism, they need to be together to protect one another. They need to be able to work on a system to move together. It is their own way to adapt. So it is not completely bad, isn't it? Their ability to pass the leadership to whichever sheep to lead temporarily is amusing. 

Do you think we, humans can simply pass our power to lead like passing a baton to someone else by trust? Do you think we are capable to do that? I don't think so. Humans tend to hold on to their power like it is a precious thing not to be shared. We don't trust one another.

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I always heard this analogy since I was small, and I often wonder where I am in this? 

So, if I were to choose who I am in this circle, I think I would be the random traveler, a vagabond writer stopping by at a random farm observing the simple small circle, creating the analogy in her mind, writing in her own notebook to reflect on later and, off to another slow-burn adventure.

Baaaa.