Well there's n-number of things to speak of for this topic. Just including some observations I'd thought about in last few days, I guess.
On bribes.
Thought about this recently while filing paperwork for driving license. It almost seemed like, along with euphemism, another sort of mentality drove the bribing. It almost seemed like, to some people, the ability to pay the bribe, as in showing some sort of "superiority" over the other was essential, in terms of normalizing the status. Because minus that, they were at a lower status as in asking another person to do something for them, but when they gave this bribe, they finally had that air of treating the worker as just someone serving them either as an equal or lower. But even here, they try to veil it under gratuitousness.
In fact, if you extend this mentality to other situations, it's not hard to make out that it's pretty rampant. One of the best visible examples is lavish celebrations people have. Weddings, Birthdays, Anniversaries. Even in some pretty impoverished communities, if you're not throwing a gala celebration, you're frowned upon.
It's not hard to see the connection between this behavior and outright superiority complex if you actually have an abundance of resources. But I thought about another peculiar aspect of this while driving back today. It was one of those peddlers on streets, who sell something cheap, like toys, handicrafts, cloths for cleaning, tissues on the street. I try to buy it from them, rather than giving beggars money, because well, they're doing something a little more commendable. Yes of course, there's much more complexity to the situation, I know. For example, it's not clear how they obtained the material they sell. It's not clear how they use the funds and if they use it better than the beggars. But still, overall, the means seem just a tad more satisfactory, if you make some assumptions on both ends. Anyways, to come back to the point;
Chandler : Gee, Monica, what’s in the bag?
Monica : I don’t know, Chandler. Let’s take a look.
Phoebe : Oh, it’s like a skit.
Monica : Why, it’s dinner for six. 5 steaks, and an eggplant for Phoebe.
Ross : Whoo!
Phoebe : Cool.
Monica : Yeah, we switched meat suppliers at work, and the new guys gave me the steaks as sort of a thank-you.
Ross : But wait, there’s more. Hey, Chandler, what is in the envelope?
Chandler : By the way, this didn’t seem so dorky in the hall.
Ross : Come on.
Chandler : Why, it’s six tickets to Hootie and the Blowfish! The Blowfish!
Monica : It’s on us, all right, so don’t worry. It’s our treat.
Phoebe : So...Thank you.
Ross : Could you be less enthused?
Joey : Look, it’s a nice gesture, it is. But it just feels like--
Monica : Like?
Joey : Charity.
Monica : Charity?
Ross : We’re just tryin’ to do a nice thing here.
Rachel : Ross, you have to understand that your nice thing makes us feel this big.
Phoebe : Actually, it makes us feel that big.
Charity may not always be or feel as innocent as it is supposed to.
It's really mind boggling trying to think about it from all the possible points of view. The same aspect may be construed in totally opposite ways depending upon how you think.
This mouse is wireless, no wires to meddle with.
This mouse is wired, for no battery requirement.
On bribes.
Thought about this recently while filing paperwork for driving license. It almost seemed like, along with euphemism, another sort of mentality drove the bribing. It almost seemed like, to some people, the ability to pay the bribe, as in showing some sort of "superiority" over the other was essential, in terms of normalizing the status. Because minus that, they were at a lower status as in asking another person to do something for them, but when they gave this bribe, they finally had that air of treating the worker as just someone serving them either as an equal or lower. But even here, they try to veil it under gratuitousness.
In fact, if you extend this mentality to other situations, it's not hard to make out that it's pretty rampant. One of the best visible examples is lavish celebrations people have. Weddings, Birthdays, Anniversaries. Even in some pretty impoverished communities, if you're not throwing a gala celebration, you're frowned upon.
It's not hard to see the connection between this behavior and outright superiority complex if you actually have an abundance of resources. But I thought about another peculiar aspect of this while driving back today. It was one of those peddlers on streets, who sell something cheap, like toys, handicrafts, cloths for cleaning, tissues on the street. I try to buy it from them, rather than giving beggars money, because well, they're doing something a little more commendable. Yes of course, there's much more complexity to the situation, I know. For example, it's not clear how they obtained the material they sell. It's not clear how they use the funds and if they use it better than the beggars. But still, overall, the means seem just a tad more satisfactory, if you make some assumptions on both ends. Anyways, to come back to the point;
Chandler : Gee, Monica, what’s in the bag?
Monica : I don’t know, Chandler. Let’s take a look.
Phoebe : Oh, it’s like a skit.
Monica : Why, it’s dinner for six. 5 steaks, and an eggplant for Phoebe.
Ross : Whoo!
Phoebe : Cool.
Monica : Yeah, we switched meat suppliers at work, and the new guys gave me the steaks as sort of a thank-you.
Ross : But wait, there’s more. Hey, Chandler, what is in the envelope?
Chandler : By the way, this didn’t seem so dorky in the hall.
Ross : Come on.
Chandler : Why, it’s six tickets to Hootie and the Blowfish! The Blowfish!
Monica : It’s on us, all right, so don’t worry. It’s our treat.
Phoebe : So...Thank you.
Ross : Could you be less enthused?
Joey : Look, it’s a nice gesture, it is. But it just feels like--
Monica : Like?
Joey : Charity.
Monica : Charity?
Ross : We’re just tryin’ to do a nice thing here.
Rachel : Ross, you have to understand that your nice thing makes us feel this big.
Phoebe : Actually, it makes us feel that big.
Charity may not always be or feel as innocent as it is supposed to.
It's really mind boggling trying to think about it from all the possible points of view. The same aspect may be construed in totally opposite ways depending upon how you think.
This mouse is wireless, no wires to meddle with.
This mouse is wired, for no battery requirement.
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