injunctions

saw a documentary about Slovanian sociologist philosopher Slavoj Zizek

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavoj_Zizek

one point he grappled with/posited

is that society slaps an injunction on us to be joyful

eyebrows rise if smile not plastered on face in the workplace

I'd add that there exists an unspoken injunction to conform to conventionality

eyebrows rise if not fall in line w/ American mores - of way it's been i.e.

school, college, job, house, marriage, kids, retire

"If one does not understand a person, one tends to regard him as a fool."
Carl Jung

"What man does not understand, he fears; and what he fears, he tends to destroy."
Unknown

Looking on bright side - in big cities there's more freedom

Freedomlovers Unite!