The great American individualist Ralph Waldo Emerson once observed how humanity treats those who don’t conform to the collective. But the writers of the show are also revealing a dark side of human nature that is very real. Watching Kramer get beaten up in an alley for not wearing a ribbon is funny because it’s Seinfeld. The scene ends with the ribbon-wearing walkers beating Kramer up in an alley. The ribbon bullies don’t care Kramer is walking in support of the same cause they are all they can see is he’s not wearing the ribbon. Kramer, who is walking in support of AIDS awareness, is browbeaten by his peers despite his support of the cause. The scene is a great example of mob mentality. I’m walking, aren’t I? I just don’t wear the ribbon. WALKER 2: You don’t wear the ribbon? Aren’t you against AIDS? The writers explore just how intense the impulse to make others conform can be as Kramer begins his charity walk in a scene that is simultaneously dark and hilarious. You don’t have to be a hard-nosed libertarian immersed in Rothbard and Mises to see there is a human tendency to fanatically push conformity, even in matters of symbolism (perhaps especially so). The peer pressure Kramer receives is funny because it’s strange but also relatable. VOLUNTEER: Hey! Hey you! Come back here! Come back here and put this on! KRAMER: You know what you are? You’re a ribbon bully (walks away). VOLUNTEER: But everyone wears the ribbon. KRAMER: Yeah, see, that’s why I don’t want to. VOLUNTEER: But you have to wear an AIDS ribbon. VOLUNTEER: You don’t want to wear an AIDS ribbon? Things take a turn, however, when he declines to wear an AIDS ribbon. Like a good Samaritan, Kramer shows up to walk to support the cause: AIDS awareness.
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