Have you read The Lottery?

@JaggedLittlePill What do you think its purpose was?

@madmax83 to highlight a few things:

Mob mentality: no matter someone's ability to reason and think logically if everyone around them believes differently and is doing something they will do it too.

Scapegoat: someone needs to pay for our sins so we can all be absolved.

The scene set up suggests that this type of thing can happen anywhere..even nice little quiet towns filled with lovely people.

@JaggedLittlePill Why would their village keep at it when they no others aren't anymore?

@madmax83 fear

@JaggedLittlePill Fear from an external force?

2. Hypersensitivity to Threat

Science has unequivocally shown that the conservative brain has an exaggerated fear response when faced with stimuli that may be perceived as threatening. A 2008 study in the journal Science found that conservatives have a stronger physiological reaction to startling noises and graphic images compared to liberals. A brain-imaging study published in Current Biology revealed that those who lean right politically tend to have a larger amygdala — a structure that is electrically active during states of fear and anxiety. And a 2014 fMRI study found that it is possible to predict whether someone is a liberal or conservative simply by looking at their brain activity while they view threatening or disgusting images, such as mutilated bodies. Specifically, the brains of self-identified conservatives generated more activity overall in response to the disturbing images.

So how does this help explain the unbridled loyalty of Trump supporters? These brain responses are automatic, and not influenced by logic or reason. As long as Trump continues his fear mongering by constantly portraying Muslims and Mexican immigrants as imminent dangers, many conservative brains will involuntarily light up like light bulbs being controlled by a switch. Fear keeps his followers energized and focused on safety. And when you think you’ve found your protector, you become less concerned with remarks that would normally be seen as highly offensive.

This is about Trump supporters but the same applies. Their fear response is triggered by the lead of the town who pushes for them to continue the tradition regardless.

As long as that fear response is triggered . That threat is triggered they can't control it. It is an automatic response

@JaggedLittlePill Very very interesting. So you believe the villagers really may have no choice but to obey as their brains are wired to?

Yes. That response has been triggered ..I believe if more than one person began to question, then that might trigger them to think twice ..I would have to dig further to find what would change their minds.

@JaggedLittlePill What do you suppose would happen if a leader in the village had suggested they skip a year to see what happens?

@madmax83 I think that some would fight it and some would be glad.

@JaggedLittlePill I don't have kids, but if you do, how would feel about allowing your kids to participate?