What does it really mean to conform?
True conforming would mean wholeheartedly accepting the majority position of a group. In fact, while appearing to conform, you may privately disagree strongly with a stance taken by society, but remain silent because it is convenient.
Ursula Nixon, Bodalla, NSW, Australia
• It depends on the ethics of what you’re conforming to.
Lawrie Bradly, Surrey Hills, Victoria, Australia
• In human terms, to give up all free will in relation to the issue at hand.
Terence Rowell, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada
• Where there is injustice, to conform is to acquiesce but to empathise obliges you to act.
David Isaacs, Sydney, Australia
• I don’t know, but I’ll agree with what everyone else says.
Michael Davis, Sydney, Australia
• To follow the beaten path, rather than to beat your own.
David Tucker, Halle, Germany
• To conform means adjusting your behaviour to the last fashion, which, amusingly, often presents itself as rebellious.
Marc Jachym, Les Ulis, France
• Bertrand Russell taught that we should respect public opinion to keep out of prison but anything more is cowardice.
Edward Black, Sydney, Australia
If it’s retweeted, then it’s legit
How does one convert a myth to reality?
By frequent and regular repetition: a method that has served the religions of the world well.
Dick Hedges, Nairobi, Kenya
• Increase the converts.
Andrew Muguku, Nairobi, Kenya
• When it is tweeted.
Peter Vaughan, St Senoch, France
• Tell it to a child ... and wait a generation or two.
Andrew Sheeran, Lennoxville, Quebec, Canada
• It happens all the time: it’s called history.
Noel Bird, Boreen Point, Queensland, Australia
• Walt Disney would be the person best placed to answer this one, I think.
R de Braganza, Kilifi, Kenya
• When the western media repeat over and over again. Weapons of mass destruction!
Duncan Cross, Altrincham, UK
• Win a referendum.
Philip Stigger, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
The dental is transcendental
Is there any point to toothache?
Toothache offers transcendence: “Of all our pains, since man was curst,/ I mean of body, not the mental,/ To name the worst among the worst,/ The dental sure is transcendental” (Thomas Hood).
David Kunzle, Los Angeles, California, US
• Yes, especially if it’s in one of the first or second bicuspids.
Diana F Crumpler, Ballarat, Victoria, Australia
• The sufferer certainly cares!
Terence Rowell, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada
The difference is the art
What is the difference between a sculpture and a statue?
In my discipline, it’s clear. A sculpture is any three-dimensional artwork. A statue is a free-standing image of a person. So all statues are sculptures, but not all sculptures are statues. Slow Passage is a sculpture by Anthony Caro; in Parliament Square, London, there is a statue of Sir Winston Churchill.
Andrew Stewart, Berkeley, California, US
• A sculpture has a life; a statue just stands there.
Peter Powning, Markhamville, New Brunswick, Canada
• Art.
Nicholas Houghton, Folkestone, UK
Any answers?
Why do some of us enjoy trying exotic foods, while others will avoid the unusual at any cost?
Terence Rowell, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada
What is a terrorist?
Art Campbell, Ottawa, Canada
• Please send more answers, and questions, to weekly.nandq@theguardian.com or write to Guardian Weekly, Kings Place, 90 York Way, London N1 9GU, UK
