machievelli

That's a very valid point. I've come to believe that it's much easier for someone to think for you (i.e., your friends' opinions, parents', and any other form of influence) than for you to think for yourself.

Having studied Chinese for about a year or so, it was a rather funny moment when I was taught that the Chinese word for "America" has a radical (rather like a stem in English) that means "sheep" in it. I found it rather fitting, but that could be said for most people.