So the big
football player from a small town goes off to
college and is overwhelmed by the sheer number of people there. He's
depressed because he's no longer the "Big Shot on Campus". People look at him and say, "Well, that's what happens when the big
fish in a small pond becomes a big fish in a big pond." But I question the idea that life in a small pond is somehow better.
I'm what you would call an
expert on the subject. I grew up in a small pond with about 20,000 fish and went to college in another small pond with a
school of about 1,200 fish. I'm not what you would call a big fish, but I am a different fish. The thing with small ponds is that they tend to have only one
species of fish, and if you happen to be a striped
bass in a pond full of yellow bass, you're got some
problems:
1. Fish don't like different fish. You won't make many friends, and the other fish will spread nasty
rumors about you and make funny fish faces at you.
2. It really cuts down on your chances of finding a
mate.
3. The other fish won't listen to you. You can tell them that that
tasty-looking
worm is attached to a
hook from here to eternity, but they won't heed you. Actually, this is more of a problem for the other fish.
4. The other fish will
scrutinize your every move, and if you fall for that glowing-thing-on-the-
canivorous-fish's-head
trick even once, you'll hear about it for the rest of your life.
Of course, we
anti-socialites like to
brag all day long about how we don't need the
approval of the other fish; we're not supposed to be that
shallow (
pun intended). But there's a funny thing about some
animals: we need to fit into a group. Nobody really likes to be
alone. This goes for fish,
monkeys,
chickens,
humans, and even
cats (ever try to keep a single indoor cat? Don't do it. Trust me.)
Yes, it's
petty. We're supposed to
revel in
diversity, it's the
American dream. But it's tough to be different. It's not so much of a problem when you live in a big pond, but small ponds are notorious for encouraging
conformity.
Side note: this is part of what makes the
Internet so great. If you're in a small pond full of fish who're a differnt species, you can easily find a
stream through the Intenet to fish of your own kind.
I've taken the fish
analogy a bit too far, so I guess I should relate a
moral or something now. Here it is: Don't be too
harsh on people who give up a little bit of their
individuality to live a more comfortable life. Sure, it's a terrible thing to happen, but it's not easy being different. Your opinions are made an issue every day of your life when you happen to disagree with those around you, and it gets exhausting after a while.