I don't know what to think

One of my rare serious posts…

Ok, I am well aware that I am a “non-standard” thinker but I think this one really takes the cake. Am I *that* different?

I was in the cafeteria at work this morning eating breakfast. The fire alarm goes off!

As well as a full kitchen they have an area in the cafeteria with several microwaves and a couple of toaster ovens for general use. One of the toaster ovens had too many bread crumbs built up in the bottom and the crumbs started to smoke setting off the fire alarm.

The person heating their English muffin was a bit flabbergasted at the smoke so we pulled the crumb tray out, poured some coffee on the smoldering crumbs and then opened a couple of windows to let the smoke out. Problem solved. Case closed.

That should be the end of the story.

Meanwhile the strobes lights are going off, the alarm is making that distinctive “whooooooop” noise and the whole 13 story building is evacuating. We called the front desk and let them know it was just smoking bread crumbs in the toaster oven. Then I sat back down to eat my eggs. Alone.

A few minutes later the “fire wardens” come in, asked me in absolute shock what I am doing here(!). Talking around my eggs and toast I told them, pointing, the toaster oven right there, bread crumbs, coffee, windows open, problem solved.

“You have to evacuate!”
“Why, I already put the ‘fire’ out.”
“The lights are flashing you have to leave!”
“I put the ‘fire’ out already. I opened the windows, the smoke is gone. I notified the front desk that the problem was solved, WHY would I run outside now?”
“Because the light is flashing!! Leave, now!”

I was flabbergasted at these people being so robotic and they thought I was utterly insane! How could you possibly see the flashing light and not run screaming for your very life?

Now I have people coming in to make fun of me for not leaving the building. You know, making cracks along the line of, ‘not smart enough to come in out of the rain or leave a burning building- ha ha’. I just sit and listen but on the inside I beside myself. Really?

Is this what we as a society have come too? We can not think, we can not reason. We are controlled by the flashing light? We must obey the commands of the light? Anyone who does not mindlessly obey the light is deserving of ridicule. (peer pressure, group think) Really?

Seriously, I find this all very, very disturbing. What has become of us?