Love your articles and analysis Som. In reading I can see and agree with a number of points but can't help but think that they hold true if you take the extremes.

For example yes group think is dangerous if we abandoned ourselves for the sake of maintaining the social construct. But what if we critically think as you conclude while associated to a group.

For a long time I too have pondered and questioned if we have free will and understand the argument we are exposed and nudged by opinions and external factors. But I recently came across the argument that we do have level of freedom of thought and yes this can be shaped by beliefs and opinions. But at any point if we are open and able to critically think we would recognise we always have a choice, no matter what is going on externally.