I agree, it was a part of culture, and kids were raised to respect or even to bend to the wishes of the majority.Originally Posted by Ramil
"Я" is the last letter of the alphabet" ("Я" - последняя буква в алфавите) was a common saying, used to berated young (or not so young) children for being too focused on their own persona.
A person who insisted on his own desires that went against the wishes of people who surrounded him was not percieved in a positive light (individualistic, initiative, etc.), he was considered stuck up and selfish.