is it ever ok to feel that you're superior to some people?

Robsweezie · 02-08-2015 08:29PM #1

I'm not saying go around like kanye west, but acknowledge that in terms of intelligence, non academic education, and general morality, that you are better than some?

keith16 · 02-08-2015 08:35PM

Why, what difference would it make if it's ok or not?

Mr_Muffin · 02-08-2015 08:36PM

Of course it is.

I walk around all the time thinking i am superior to virtually everyone. When i really think about it though i am just the same just slightly better.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1 · 02-08-2015 08:36PM

If you patently are, then so be it.

02-08-2015 08:39PM

Have you ever seen an episode of Jeremy Kyle? That'll boost your ego tenfold.

Junkyard Tom · 02-08-2015 08:41PM

Better at what?

SCOOP 64 · 02-08-2015 08:43PM

Yes ,but try not to sound like a right W....ker.

Robsweezie · 02-08-2015 08:44PM

Junkyard Tom wrote:

Better at what?

Just a better person, as a whole.

kneemos · 02-08-2015 08:46PM

Malik Wrong Geisha wrote: »

If you patently are, then so be it.

Your not . We're all a product of chance and have flaws and assets.
Logically you can't be inferior or superior.

02-08-2015 08:46PM

People are better or worse or equal in different aspects. It's human to feel you're succeeding where someone else might be obviously failing, but it's not okay to point it out or to behave as though you're more worthy because of it.

RaRaRasputin · 02-08-2015 08:48PM

I can't see how it wouldn't be ok. I feel like this on a daily basis, so I consider it a normality.

RayM · 02-08-2015 08:50PM

If I see someone spitting on the ground, I immediately know I'm superior to them.

Liam McPoyle · 02-08-2015 08:51PM

Robsweezie wrote: »

Just a better person, as a whole.

Heh, If you read that in an Italian accent it sounds like you are calling Rob an asshole.

One eyed Jack · 02-08-2015 08:52PM

Candie wrote: »

People are better or worse or equal in different aspects. It's human to feel you're succeeding where someone else might be obviously failing, but it's not okay to point it out or to behave as though you're more worthy because of it.

Nail on the head as always

It's only acceptable to acknowledge your superiority in an area if you're willing to acknowledge that there are others above you who you should aspire to, and those beneath you who you should try to help.

Don't be an ass about it and don't try to humiliate people for it and you'll be fine

Medusa22 · 02-08-2015 08:53PM

I'm not sure if it's ok as such, but I certainly think it is very difficult to avoid feeling that way at some point or another. I think people often need to feel better or superior to others, especially if they lack self-esteem but not necessarily. Sometimes I feel superior to other people and sometimes I feel inferior, and I think most people feel that way.

Samaris · 02-08-2015 08:54PM

It's probably something that most of us generally can't help. Feelings or thoughts are difficult to NOT have, albeit we can probably train ourselves out of it if we want by feeling bad about it

I don't think it's a bad thing, depending on what it is you're feeling superior about. Some reasons might seem nonsensical to the vast majority, some are probably shared. And of course it goes both ways - while you're feeling superior to Bob down the road due to your education and job, he might be busy feeling superior to you about his marriage and your awful fashion sense :P

Basically, the usual rule of not being a dick about it applies.

eternal · 02-08-2015 08:57PM

Nobody's life is perfect. What some people have, others don't. You might think they are better off but they could be very unhappy inside. All you can do is live your life to the best of your ability doing what you think is positive without hurting other people and getting by. It's never going to be easy but I've seen people laugh at others and ending up on the scrap heap. No one knows where they will be in ten years time so you won't get anywhere lording it over whom you deem to be lower than you when in that much time they could be the ones looking at you differently.

Smidge · 02-08-2015 09:01PM

For the life of me, I have never understood people with attitudes like Srameen has posted.
You may be more successful, more intelligent or better educated. You may be better looking or have a better body or even a shed load of money. And good luck to you(genuinely mean that, it's not said in a begrudging way at all )
You may have all of the above but it most certainly NOT make you better than anyone else.

You are flesh and bone just the same as everyone else.
However, if you do have that attitude, the same cannot be said about your soul and mind.

OreaM · 02-08-2015 09:04PM

I saw a female version of Jabba the Hutt playing with a one-meter long inflatable penis in the LUAS today, and I felt exactly like that (i mean the superior thing OP mentioned, not the 1m long penis part).

As pointed out in previous comments, I think it's ok to acknowledge it sometimes (for your own ego and because some comparisons are just not debatable). Just bear in mind that this is might be a reality just at one specific point in time.

To link this back with the LUAS situation above, Jabbette the Hutta may lose weight and become a model with a Law degree within 3 years and make me feel miserable next time I see her. Probability is low but you never know

And that's the kind of thought better kept inside your head whenever it comes up, or it's likely to backfire xD

kneemos · 02-08-2015 09:05PM

Feeling superior is in itself a flaw,and a pretty unendearing one.

02-08-2015 09:06PM

Having had better opportunities to make good choices or having had greater advantages in life doesn't make anyone better. It makes their life easier in some aspects, but the person inside isn't better - or worse - because of them. Material things are no reflection of their owners worth.

People are always equal at the start, their opportunities and how they use them, rarely are.

Ave Sodalis · 02-08-2015 09:08PM

No, it's never okay. You may have your talents but they only out weigh where people lack those particular talents. You lack something else which another has a talent for. As the saying goes "it takes all sorts to make the world go round". Nobody is any better than anyone else as a whole and it's a concept that has been the anchor on humanity for a very long time.

You can get rid of the feeling of superiority. Same way you can get rid of feelings of inferiority. Not by making yourself feel bad or visa versa but by recognising that those feelings are just ego. It's your ego telling you that you're better and your ego telling you you're not good enough. It doesn't make it true. Your ego is merely a mask that can, with a bit of practice, be shaken off. The sooner we get rid of this superior/inferior nonsense, the better humanity will become.

downwesht · 02-08-2015 09:10PM

No matter who you are,what you are or what you think you are....6 x 3 will hold you in the end!You are no better or worse than the next person......it takes some people all their lives to figure this out,I wonder do some ever realise it!

justchecked · 02-08-2015 09:15PM

Robsweezie wrote: »

I'm not saying go around like kanye west, but acknowledge that in terms of intelligence, non academic education, and general morality, that you are better than some?

In one sense yes, in my humble superior opinion.

But be prepared to feel inferior too if you go down this route.

Also, it gets interesting and deep if you want to consider how circumstance controls us.

Lets say Im walking down a dark alley with a female doctor, and some potential aggressor is getting too close, in that situation I am superior to her as I have better chance at kicking said aggressors ass and preventing injury to either of us.
But say I get injured and the attacker runs off leaving me with a serious wound, then Im in her care and she is superior to me at stopping me dying.

So context.

Also if Stephen Hawking was to roll up to you today, you might have reason to feel inferior in this context of high technology where he can change the world, change the time context - you both are in the year 1512 and he's now a mere cripple or some such word, you however are a highly respected candle stick maker.

I think Einstein said something to the effect of 'if the world was all water then fishes would be number 1 ... or was it if climbing ability was most important then monkeys would be laughing at you and calling you a tard...yeah that was it, I would google it but Im wearing a towel.

Smidge · 02-08-2015 09:15PM

Candie wrote: »

Having had better opportunities to make good choices or having had greater advantages in life doesn't make anyone better. It makes their life easier in some aspects, but the person inside isn't better - or worse - because of them. Material things are no reflection of their owners worth.

People are always equal at the start, their opportunities and how they use them, rarely are.

And how people act having achieved these things. Be it in your career, the stock market or wherever.
Humility is in danger of becoming extinct in some quaters.

Yurt2 · 02-08-2015 09:15PM

When you look at artistic geniuses, scientific polymaths or freak athletes its startlingly obvious that people aren't created equal. It's the great lie of the current epoch that people are all created equal, and differences are down to 'socialization' or 'privilege' when it's patently not true. Some people luck out with the genetic lottery and will enjoy a greater bounty in life. I've reconciled myself to that and the morass of mediocrity I paddle along in.

justchecked · 02-08-2015 09:24PM

Yurt! wrote: »

When you look at artistic geniuses, scientific polymaths or freak athletes its startlingly obvious that people aren't created equal. It's the great lie of the current epoch that people are all created equal, and differences are down to 'socialization' or 'privilege' when it's patently not true. Some people luck out with the genetic lottery and will enjoy a greater bounty in life. I've reconciled myself to that and the morass of mediocrity I paddle along in.

Yes but context, many polymath types would have been considered mere oddballs at one time.
The stars of the show would be those people who could bale the most hay, survive winter or who possessed genes resistant to plague.

Fox_In_Socks · 02-08-2015 09:28PM

Those that you meet and use and walk on, on the way up, will meet you again when you're on the way down.

freshpopcorn · 02-08-2015 09:33PM

I never think I'm better than people who I achieved better than nor do I think people who have excellent degrees/job's are better than me.
However I do think I'm better than people who burglar people homes/businesses, drink drivers, people who constantly cheat/scheme to get what they want/basically bad people.

The YOPPA · 02-08-2015 09:34PM

Robsweezie, I now feel superior to you, as I can see four grammatical errors in your opening post. So I guess the answer to your question is Yes. But then, we are all probably superior to one another, in different fields. You are probably superior to me in a lot of other ways!!

hatrickpatrick · 02-08-2015 09:36PM

It's ok, but you're incredibly likely to be wrong about it.

is it ever ok to feel that you're superior to some people?

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