Do we as individuals need a standard to compare ourselves to for the benefit of self improvement? Y or Y not?

Answer 1

Why? Each of us is an individual and has a general idea of where we want to go and what our interests are. If we were to adhere to a standard then we become part of a "Big Brother" society that lets someone else guide our thinking and development. I would personally refuse to let anyone tell me how I should look, think, mature, comprehend, or digest any content. I will choose to make my own path and decisions and consequent mistakes. If you know what you want, go for it. Don't let someone else tell you what you want. When you become an adult, you become responsible for you. Do what is right for you. Only you know.

Answer 2

I beg to differ.

Yes we do, this goes beyond a social need, its a primitive need, usually by following our own nature our instinctional animal side well take over, we would be an amoral animal, just trying to surive. BUT as you bring the animal into a "society" POOF he becomes human BECAUSE of the social conditioning, this is extremely important towards the development of "empathy" an extremely important phonemna based on interpeted feelings and emotions, brought forth by past experiences. BUT without comparing yourself to the other individuals in that society, you can never reach the point of "empathization" because you'd feel yourself to different then the individual your trying to relate to. So its extremely important towards the ability to communicate that you with the individual your communicating or relating with to see EYE2EYE about some sort of "rule of engagement". Short of this is anarchy, its the nature of the human heart, its the nature of being human..... So there is an unspoken standard were all taught that some of us who what to believe are non-conformist, MOST conform to just for the sack of conversation. This doesn't deterate individuality!!!!!!!!! I can't stress this enough, this is what MAKES individuality, becuase the how we follow those lines is our own individual choice.....