[deanhills]

I'll share an little story from my time on the farm. It's 100% true and relates to the idea I'm trying to convey: how genetic characteristics can indirectly influence personality development.

We have an expression in my country: "black sheep" - this means one who is ostracized or cast out from a group. (You can view the definition in oxford dictionary) I never really understood that phrase until I had a herd of sheep. Of the 30 sheep, 1 was black.

Sheep generally stay with the group, and when herding them it isn't too difficult to keep them in a line and heading where you want once you get used to them and they get used to you. Except for... the black sheep. She was always jumping the line, veering off, refusing to stay with the herd. She was loud and talkative, bleating and expressing herself all the time.  The other sheep didn't usually make noise unless there was something noteworthy going on. Her behavior was not normal for a sheep. She would occasionally headbutt the other sheep if they started eating near her. She had a unique personality.

In spite of her unusual coloring, she was a strong, healthy ewe, and eventually came to have 2 ram lambs. One day she was being as headstrong as ever and refusing to be coaxed back home.  Thinking  could lure her, I grabbed up one of her lambs. She had 2: one was black like her, the other was white like the majority. The lamb I picked up first was the white one. I headed off, expecting her to follow. She bleated a few times but didn't budge. I went back and dropped the white lamb and picked up the black lamb. She instantly started bellowing and got on my heels.

People are a lot like sheep.

Great story @fitkoh. Great thinking on your part too to coax the mom with her lamb. I agree people are a lot like sheep. Hence also why large organisations like Microsoft, Google etc are so very successful. Due to the herd mentality we grow up with. Seem as though the moment we're born we're taught to follow great leaders, instead of just being our own unique selves.

I still can't get past the over population of the world though, and how nature is definitely not being nurtured at the moment. More like exploited, ruined, and who knows, Covid 19 could be a result of that too.