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

24

Comments

  • #32
    Stheno
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 51,685 Mod ✭✭✭✭Stheno


    I'm better than people I teach stuff to, as I'm more qualified, they are often better than me in terms of the insight they bring to my classes

    Now if I get some jumped up little upstart who feels they know it all because they've read the book/are older than me/have more years work experience ..............................

    An I better than my mechanic because I've more education? no
    Or the staff in my local shop who make my day recognising me and saying hey, hows it's going?

    No

    An awful lot of strangers make my life a nicer experience.
    A few years ago, I was off work sick as I had a bad knee injury, and when I went back on crutches, I went into my regular coffee shop.

    The staff there knew me, and were very curious about my injury, and very solicitous towards me for the few weeks I needed help.

    I made an effort in the few years I'd been going there to say hello and build up a little relationship, and not treat them like serfs.

    Paid off, they felt I valued them, which I did, and they took care of me when I was hurt.

    No one is above anyone else.


  • #33
    Ave Sodalis
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,555 ✭✭✭Ave Sodalis


    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 and no. Take the great athlete for example, maybe Bolt. Now there's no denying his talent. Now take someone who's been in a wheel chair all their lives. They aren't equal. Let's say the person in the wheelchair learns to walk the length if a hallway. That, to me, is a far greater achievement than any gold medal. Now let's say (touch wood!) Bolt has a serious accident that leaves him in a wheelchair. Who's to say he has the same drive to learn to walk again if it means never competing? Who's to say he would even have an injury that's curable? You can't say a great athlete is a superior human when there are those with severed spinal cords.


  • #34
    Schwiiing
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,840 ✭✭✭Schwiiing


    Stheno wrote: »
    I'm better than people I teach stuff to, as I'm more qualified, they are often better than me in terms of the insight they bring to my classes

    Now if I get some jumped up little upstart who feels they know it all because they've read the book/are older than me/have more years work experience ..............................

    An I better than my mechanic because I've more education? no
    Or the staff in my local shop who make my day recognising me and saying hey, hows it's going?

    No

    An awful lot of strangers make my life a nicer experience.
    A few years ago, I was off work sick as I had a bad knee injury, and when I went back on crutches, I went into my regular coffee shop.

    The staff there knew me, and were very curious about my injury, and very solicitous towards me for the few weeks I needed help.

    I made an effort in the few years I'd been going there to say hello and build up a little relationship, and not treat them like serfs.

    Paid off, they felt I valued them, which I did, and they took care of me when I was hurt.

    No one is above anyone else.

    So a brain surgeon and a junkie are on the same level?


  • #35
    Ave Sodalis
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,555 ✭✭✭Ave Sodalis


    Schwiiing wrote:
    So a brain surgeon and a junkie are on the same level?


    Yes.


  • #36
    Into The Blue
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,356 ✭✭✭Into The Blue


    Robsweezie wrote: »
    Just a better person, as a whole.

    Starting a thread like this/having this subject on your mind should tell you more about yourself than comparing yourself to others from a distance.


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  • #37
    justchecked
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 367 ✭✭justchecked


    Schwiiing wrote: »
    So a brain surgeon and a junkie are on the same level?

    Fair point.

    Gonna take a whole lot of context to even that one out.


  • #38
    Into The Blue
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,356 ✭✭✭Into The Blue


    Schwiiing wrote: »
    So a brain surgeon and a junkie are on the same level?

    You say that as if they are from two different species. A brain surgeon who rapes his kids, versus a junkie, who, despite his habit, gets up for work every day to put dinner on his kids table...


  • #39
    One eyed Jack
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25,439 ✭✭✭✭One eyed Jack


    Schwiiing wrote: »
    So a brain surgeon and a junkie are on the same level?


    It's not like the two are necessarily mutually exclusive... :pac:


  • #40
    JustTheOne
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,681 ✭✭✭JustTheOne


    The people we are we have no control over.

    It's in our chemical make up and that goes for murderers teachers rapists Etc.

    There is nothing you can do to change it so just accept what you are.

    Remember free will is an illusion.


  • #41
    simdan
    Closed Accounts Posts: 503 ✭✭✭simdan


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

    You're, not your


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  • #42
    IamtheWalrus
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,075 ✭✭✭IamtheWalrus


    I think folk who feel superior to others probably have low self-esteem. I'm speaking from experience. I used to judge others for not living the life I thought people should. When I looked at it, it was my own lack of self-worth that was causing me to think I was superior, I was trying to convince myself I was.

    Since I've worked on my self-esteem, I'm less judgemental. I don't feel jealous, etc, if I hear other people being successful because I'm more comfortable in my own skin.


  • #43
    IamtheWalrus
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,075 ✭✭✭IamtheWalrus


    simdan wrote: »
    You're, not your

    Oh dear.


  • #44
    One eyed Jack
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25,439 ✭✭✭✭One eyed Jack


    JustTheOne wrote: »
    The people we are we have no control over.

    It's in our chemical make up and that goes for murderers teachers rapists Etc.

    There is nothing you can do to change it so just accept what you are.


    That is absolutely and categorically untrue. We grow, develop and change all the time, and our experiences have an influence on who we become and who we are.

    Remember free will is an illusion.


    That's only a ridiculous soundbite, parroted by people who lack imagination and ambition.


  • #45
    JustTheOne
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,681 ✭✭✭JustTheOne


    One eyed Jack wrote: »
    That is absolutely and categorically untrue. We grow, develop and change all the time, and our experiences have an influence on who we become and who we are.





    That's only a ridiculous soundbite, parroted by people who lack imagination and ambition.

    Of course experiences have an influence but whatever way an experience changes you you have no control over.

    The same experience could have different consequences on two different people.

    Why would that be the case?


  • #46
    IamtheWalrus
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,075 ✭✭✭IamtheWalrus


    I feel sorry for every who has been born and will be born. No one asks to get involved in this. Life is a struggle and people's lives are influenced by their upbringing and environments. Hence why I never judge people for doing bad things. Every one is capable of making mistakes, doing bad things. It's impossible to escape this life without doing things wrong.


  • #47
    One eyed Jack
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25,439 ✭✭✭✭One eyed Jack


    JustTheOne wrote: »
    Of course experiences have an influence but whatever way an experience changes you you have no control over.

    The same experience could have different consequences on two different people.

    Why would that be the case?


    For a number of different reasons really, one of the most important factors being their perspective, based upon previous experiences. There's another thread ongoing at the moment that talks about pseudomature adolescence and how the subjects circumstances a decade later were influenced by their behaviour in adolescence.

    You sort of had a point with brain chemistry as another influence, and I've just come from a thread in tGC where they were discussing methods to delay the aging process. I think we're all aware of the benefits a change in our diet can have on our physical and mental health.

    There are many other ways in which a person can control their experiences and learn to cope with both positive and negative outcomes from those experiences, in order to become a more mature, secure and well-rounded person as they transition through all stages of human development from childhood, through adolescence and into adulthood.


  • #48
    evo2000
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 1,728 ✭✭✭evo2000


    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?

    Why would you want to do that? whats the point of it? do your own thing and stop comparing urself to everyone else,


  • #49
    Fratton Fred
    Closed Accounts Posts: 26,566 ✭✭✭✭Fratton Fred


    I've felt superior to people, not because I have a better job or a bigger house, but because they are an round total ****.

    They could be a total **** giving a Big Issue seller a hard time, or a total **** who is a big time lawyer or surgeon who talks down to people like they are dirt, it makes no odds.

    People that treat other people with respect and empathy, no matter who they are or where they are from, no, I'd never consider myself superior to them.


  • #50
    Sunnyisland
    Closed Accounts Posts: 10,562 ✭✭✭✭Sunnyisland


    We are all in the gutter but some of us are looking at the stars.


  • #51
    wakka12
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,786 ✭✭✭wakka12


    Well who cares if its okay? Im sure plenty of tall people feel theyre better than short people, but society considers greater height a desirable trait so how would they not feel like theyre better than shorter people? Theres lots of other examples like this, no traits make somebody 'better' , we just consider some traits better due to societal standards and expectations.

    Personally I think its not okay to think you're better than somebody else due to genetic traits such as height, race, intelligence, looks etc(though many people still do, obviously ) But if its something you earned and worked hard for then you can consider yourself better than somebody else due to your achievements.
    But again, you may have earned those achievements due to genetic advantages you didnt work for such as looks or intelligence , so its a tough one..


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  • #52
    Massimo Cassagrande
    Closed Accounts Posts: 626 ✭✭✭Massimo Cassagrande


    There are billionaires out there. Accept that and still feel superior?. Personally, I don't feel too superior.


  • #53
    ComfortKid
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 2,169 ✭✭✭ComfortKid


    Feeling superior to someone else would actually make that someone else superior to you! Horrible attitude!
    We are all humans, we are all going to die and rot in the ground with nothing in the end.


  • #54
    johnny osbourne
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,017 ✭✭✭johnny osbourne


    ComfortKid wrote: »
    Feeling superior to someone else would actually make that someone else superior to you! Horrible attitude!
    We are all humans, we are all going to die and rot in the ground with nothing in the end.


    oh no we aren't


  • #55
    ToddyDoody
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,419 ✭✭✭ToddyDoody


    There's a lot of people I wouldn't shag, is that out of superiority? If so, then yes.


  • #56
    Wibbs
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 60,387 Mod ✭✭✭✭Wibbs


    Only on Adverts.ie. That's allowed. If a windowlicker tax could be properly implemented and collected this country would be IMF and debt free with five years.

    Many worry about Artificial Intelligence. I worry far more about Organic Idiocy.



  • #57
    Peregrine
    Moderators, Education Moderators Posts: 26,424 Mod ✭✭✭✭Peregrine


    simdan wrote: »
    You're, not your

    Mod: Don't correct other people's spelling or grammar. It's against the forum charter.


  • #58
    ComfortKid
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 2,169 ✭✭✭ComfortKid


    johnny osbourne wrote:
    oh no we aren't


    Right, the vast majority of us are! Some may be cremated or whatever but no one gets out of life alive.

    The attitude of feeling superior to people is possibly the worst treat a human can have.


  • #59
    fergiesfolly
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,674 ✭✭✭fergiesfolly


    Peregrine wrote: »
    Mod: Don't correct other people's spelling or grammar. It's against the forum charter.

    And people might think, that you think, you're superior.


  • #60
    ComfortKid
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 2,169 ✭✭✭ComfortKid


    johnny osbourne wrote:
    oh no we aren't


    Unless your remains get blasted into outer space, you are going to end up in the ground!!


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  • #61
    Sam Kade
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,297 ✭✭✭✭Sam Kade


    I know a few people that believe they are superior and only have certain friends and look down their noses at everyone else :rolleyes: In reality they are no better than anyone else, what sad b@stards they are.


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