To think out of the box is often to not follow the crowd.

This is tricky, of course, because the crowd is often correct.

The difference, I believe, is that although this is true, the leanings of the crowd should not be the deciding factor.

(Good luck seeing this tendency in yourself though.)

Here Jacobs points to the example of the puritans.

For we exhibit “puritanism” itself when we speak of the puritans.

And why?

It seems that the answer is because that everyone else does too.

Contrarians may naturally find this endeavor easier.

Remember here too – as depressing as it is – that people are not influenced by facts.

Facts matter, but facts do not change people’s minds.

Other factors play a larger role, unfortunately.

“it is a great example of our collective eagerness to disparage without knowledge or information about the thing disparaged, when the reward is the pleasure of sharing an attitude one knows is socially approved.” -Marilynne Robinson

-Alan Jacobs, How To Think