Talk:Sheeple

POV

This article perhaps deserves to exist for the purpose of defining a common term, but the content itself is atrocious. Rarely have I seen an article so far from a neutral POV, or so poorly written. It looks like some kid wrote a joke page on geocities and pasted it here.

Obvious issues:

a) As a political term it is not specific to Republicans. Just to insert a counterargument for why this is so, I would suggest that the anti-Bush crowd qualifies as sheeple if anyone does, as they endlessly repeat the same tired jokes, the same tired arguments, and essentially "do what everyone else is doing" while imagining themselves to be unique. That's my POV of course, and I don't suggest it belongs in the article, but it stands to reason that as that doesn't belong in the article, neither does a specifically anti-Republican POV. If either POV is expressed, it should be in context of "popular usage denotes it this way" and not as a statement of fact.

b) It is in fact used as a common derogatory term for religionists, especially Christians, a fact missing from the article. That's entirely neutral POV, since it is a common way the term is used. However, it should be stated that this is popular usage, not fact, i.e. "Popularly used to describe Christians" instead of "Christians are sheeple." See the first point above.

c) Content is far out of line with Wikipedia standards. "Sheeple are more hardcore sheople" is absurb phrasing and has no place in Wikipedia, just to use one example. Also the personal definition of "Shadow Walker" has no relevance to the definition by popular usage, and in fact it is entirely unclear why this person is named since they are not a notable figure and clearly did not coin the term.

I might personally work on this article after I get done with some of my other projects because I'd like it to remain, but in its present form it would be better off deleted entirely. This is an embarassment to Wikipedia. --Lvthn13 22:25, 24 July 2006 (UTC)

I couldn't stand to look at this anymore so I cleaned it up. Feel free to add to it, but refrain from making POV statements or adding content not acceptable to Wikipedia standards. --Lvthn13 22:39, 24 July 2006 (UTC)

This is a derogatory term, but an encyclopedia needs to document derogatory terms. I came here looking to see if this word only came from a few websites. Apparently, it is in wider use. Bostoner (talk) 02:37, 3 February 2011 (UTC)

=

"It also rhymes with "steeple," and can be used as an attack against Christians, who often refer to themselves as "flocks." Jesus himself said 'I am the good shepherd'."

^ This is absolute hateful bigotry akin to "achtung Juden",please correct it.This kind of crap has no place in an encyclopedia or anywhere else.Come on people.

That particular sentence, or the entire entry? Jesus also referred to himself as a "fisher of men", also giving the possible impression that his followers were easily reeled in. It's not hateful bigotry as so much as a tap on the shoulder to encourage people to think for themselves. How can you compare what is effectively calling a group of people closed-minded to a hateful threat of violence?

^ Well,encyclopedias should define and explain a word or topic without being biased to the point where the definition is singling out a specific group and calling for people to attack that group.I don't care what your views of Christianity are or how that is colored by your political views.If you disagreed politically say with Israel in the Israeli/Palestinian conflict does that mean that you would include the sentence:"Achtung Juden can be used as an attack against the Jews" in your definition of Judaism? Gosh,I hope not! Geez,be cool people.

I don't think the idea of Jesus reeling in his followers would hold much water. Jesus was a carpenter, and it's unlikely that a carpenter living in Palestine during the first century A.D. would know how to make use of advanced fishing equipment that hadn't been invented yet. :-D

-Firestorm

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I've come across a reference - in a salon.com article, http://www.salon.com/tech/feature/2000/06/28/kakutani/ - to the word having been coined by HL Mencken. It would be wonderful if this were true, but I've not found anything to back it up as yet. Anyone else? (Dougald, 2/10/05)

Bob Marley uses the term in his song, "Jah Live". It does not appear to be a disparaging term in the context of his song.

I thought the term was used to define everyone, not just Christians, who was not illuminati

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Over-usage

On the internet I usually come across sheeple being used by conspiracy theorists (political or otherwise) or by those whose political activism seems to begin & end with casting that insult. The first usage is irritating but it is the correct usage within the minds of the theorists. With the latter the term is often used incorrectly (they're actually reflecting public opinion) and hence with some irony; I think it would be accurate to say that they expect other people to speak out in public. I don't know the best way to add this into the existing page - should I extend or add to the existing "The term is also...conformist" line or form a new paragraph - nor do I trust myself to wholly rein in the sarcasm to a neutral POV. Any suggestions? (Flookie, 15/Jul/11) — Preceding unsigned comment added by Flookie (talk • contribs) 15:02, 14 July 2011 (UTC)

Articles for Deletion debate

This article survived an Articles for Deletion debate. The discussion can be found here. Owen× ☎ 19:07, 26 December 2005 (UTC)

Cleaned up a bit

• I removed an external link to wordspy (why lik to an external article defining the term from an article defining the term?)
• I removed the link to a blog, as we don't normally link blogs unless there is a compelling reason directly related to the article content
• I alphasorted the "see also" links
• I added links to "herd mentality", which specifically mentions "sheeple"
• I removed the image and ref to Faux News], as it was POV (however strongly I might agree!)

Just zis  Guy, you know? ^[T]/_[C] AfD? 20:49, 26 December 2005 (UTC)

Does this word really exsist?

I mean, who would use it? And who would name their Wiki username after it? Weird! Glen 09:18, 18 October 2006 (UTC)

I reckon! People? You mean, "Sheeple" 09:19, 18 October 2006 (UTC)

I searched for this article in order to understand its meaning as used on this page --> http://www.boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/17062 so yes, it is used. Wrongfooting 09:54, 25 March 2007 (UTC) 75.181.106.90 05:05, 30 August 2007 (UTC)

Here's another reference to usage: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Set1KKd6HKM Saw this one on TV and as a movie trailer in theaters, went and found a copy on YouTube. 75.181.106.90 05:05, 30 August 2007 (UTC)

No, not "really". Relating to this, I wanted to ask why my word "public consciousness" borrowed from this very website wasnt allowed its own page, while this word is? Perhaps it's the "sheeple" that run this?.....--I AM JOHN SMITH (talk) 02:56, 29 December 2007 (UTC)

It's frequently used among Mac users, Ubuntu users and open source activists. Now, I call this irony.

Hoplophobes

I found that article talking about fear of guns, and to a lesser extent authorities, but err, I never saw anything saying it can be construed to a fear of minorities. The word itself etymologically relates to a fear of weapons. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.20.146.223 (talk) 07:14, 19 January 2008 (UTC)

Christians.

I've heard this quite often, christians are often branded as sheeple and accused of self-knowing sheeplehood beacuse of the whole Shepard/flock analogy. I dunno if there is any sourse that could back up a sensible referance to this, I think it's relevant to note, its kind of a positive view of being sheeple on thier part. 88.107.193.193 (talk) 15:20, 31 March 2008 (UTC)

I don't understand what you're asking. If you're asking for a source to assert that Christians are sheeple, then I doubt you'd find one that would be considered a reliable source. In any case, whether or not being sheeple is a good thing, that kind of content does not belong in an encyclopedia article as it is opinion and unverifiable.Elle (talk) 23:53, 31 March 2008 (UTC)

I heard the same, that the word sheeple (meaning people blindly following) evolved from Christianity's use of the word sheep to describe practitioners, and their emphasis of faith over reason. --151.201.148.142 (talk) 15:27, 9 June 2010 (UTC)

Dr. Horrible

I removed the Popular Culture reference to Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog. Contrary to what the page said, the lyric is "... amazing how sheep'll (sheep will) line up for the slaughter". —Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.177.19.226 (talk) 16:10, 21 July 2008 (UTC)

Michael Savage Claims Coinage

Michael Savage claimed that he coined the word "sheeple", as heard on 10/23/2008. Is it notable when famous people claim, falsely if the entry is correct, to be originators? Perhaps, he helped popularize the word to some degree? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.159.45.29 (talk) 06:14, 24 October 2008 (UTC)

Academic paper of possible relevance

Pronin, Emily (2007). "Alone in a Crowd of Sheep: Asymmetric Perceptions of Conformity and Their Roots in an Introspection Illusion". Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 92 (4). American Psychological Association: 585–595. doi:10.1037/022-3514.92.4.585. ISSN 022-3514. {{cite journal}}: Check |issn= value (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help) online at http://www.people.hbs.edu/esweeny/Pronin_2007Conformity.pdf MartinPoulter (talk) 13:01, 3 June 2009 (UTC)

We should spell it “Sheople”.

The proper spelling is “Sheople”.

Kanguruo (talk) 22:04, 7 June 2009 (UTC)

"Sheeple" is by far the more common spelling, at least according to Google hits.[1][2] —LOL ^T/_C 06:24, 5 March 2010 (UTC)

So we'll take the common spelling over the correct arguing...of sheople. That's a rather amusing coincidence. 130.68.86.90 ([[User talk:###.##.##.##|talk]]) 18:18, 10 April 2010 (UTC)

panurge

you may read (and link) "moutons de Panurge", in french wikipedia, or "Panurge" in english. you'll see that sheeple's notion can be traced back to french Renaissance.

a.sorel —Preceding unsigned comment added by 83.206.162.141 (talk) 17:44, 12 October 2009 (UTC)

Yes, clearly the idea of likening people to sheep occurred only once in human history, during the French Renaissance. It would be impossible to conceive of any Good Shepherd. --Saforrest (talk) 03:28, 18 November 2009 (UTC)

Umm. . .the shepard is the person who takes care of the sheep. Calling someone a Good Shepard is likening them to Christ (not sheep) who is the Good Shepard of all mankind. But I do get what you're saying, people have been referred to as sheep on more than one occasion both before and after the French Renaissance. But I think the point the guy was trying to make was that George Orwell's Animal Farm is not the antecedent of humans being likened to sheep.Malke 2010 (talk) 02:31, 13 December 2009 (UTC)

Well maybe not in the Bible, but in that famous Easter song about Christ, Händel's Messiah, it does say "Are we like sheep?" Also, if Christ is a shepherd, doesn't that make his followers sheep? Bostoner (talk) 02:37, 3 February 2011 (UTC)

Bad Quote from Walter E. Williams

The quote from Walter E. Williams is a poor example, because it does not actually contain the word "sheeple." It uses the word "sheepishly," but that is a different word. Bostoner (talk) 02:37, 3 February 2011 (UTC)

The quote is from an article entitled "A Nation of Sheeple" so it illustrates the meaning of the word. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 12.8.194.30 (talk) 16:29, 6 March 2012 (UTC)