so if someone feels like eating kosher is the only way of life for himself and would never entertain not eating kosher that's a result of brainwashing as opposed to education? How about smoking?
So this back and forth started with women shaving their heads and CM/Dan referring to this as forced and I agreed with that. As Dan mentioned, if a school won't accept your kids unless you do x, that is basically forcing them to do X. Likewise, if you will ostracize someone for not doing something from the community, you are forcing them to live a certain lifestyle.
I'm not talking about someone shaving their head because it's what they want to do for themselves. Or eat kosher or smoke. In that case they are making a lifestyle choice without considering the opinions of others.
I'm saying there are societal influences you can't ignore. Once other people's opinions affect your choices, you aren't operating at 100% free will.
Maybe brainwash is the wrong word.
If we label and ostracize people who don't act a certain way, we are collectively influencing them to act how we want.