Another week is drawing to a close and I am off at daycare work. Yesterday was a surprise *home day* because of Finnish Independence day, which is the day Finns are able to do whatever they want without worrying about what the culture forces them to do, like drink. 

*Most people were drinking.*

We weren't drinking here though, something about 'responsible parenting' or something *Mummy* was harping on about. Well, Daddy doesn't drink either, at least what I have seen. 

https://i.imgur.com/nHiDF6Z.jpg

The independence day is a bit of a funny idea really as what seems to happen is that people celebrate being free of their oppression from under some form of control from others by getting into a group and all doing the same thing as each other. 

*"Freeeeedom!"*
<sub>I haven't seen that movie yet ^</sub>

Of course, the independence might be that people aren't forced to act in a certain way but if someone is born into a culture that encourages or punishes various behaviors based on group practices, it is essentially conditioning from a young age and *forces* compliance. Breaking away is possible but also ostracizing which means that for a social animal, most will do exactly what they are told.

No wonder advertising works.

Buy this to feel pretty, buy this to be liked, buy this to feel superior, buy this to fit in better with the group. Hacked. But people keep buying. I like shopping too, but I don't have any moneys o Mummy and Daddy make the decisions about what I get. The best part about shopping though isn't the buying, it is the playing with everything in the store, who needs that junk at home? But, without all that junk, how can I be me??

Independence seems to me to depend on a lot of dependencies. 

<3
Smallsteps