Evidence Over Obedience | Ellie Sun | TEDxYouth@YCYWShanghai
How far would you go when ordered to do something you know is wrong? Studies show that most people will obey—even when it conflicts with their conscience. From psychology labs to real-world tragedies, blind compliance has led to unthinkable harm. But here’s the truth: obedience isn’t inevitable. We always have a choice. This talk isn’t just about why we follow orders—it’s about when we must question them. Because the difference between justice and injustice isn’t just the rules we’re given… it’s whether we dare to challenge them. Ellie is a high student in Yantai, China, with a passion and interest for history, politics, and storytelling. An avid follower of British PMQs, she admires Keir Starmer’s sharp retorts and the power of evidence in debate - a theme that fuels her curiosity. When not analysing UN speeches or watching PMQs, she unwinds by listening to music, writing stories of a two-sided detective, watching movies or finding new books to read. Her favourite PMQs quote - “The public would like to see the receipts, Prime Minister” - reflects her belief in truth over blind obedience. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
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