Sinking Just To Keep The Score

Bilal Bin Saqib
Sep 1, 2018 · 3 min read

The world is in such a sorry state at the moment if we think about it. Blaming each other for the violence and hate we incite ourselves. Pointing fingers at each other for the things we had a part in. Yes!, whether its states buffing themselves up to keep others down or us ourselves being cruel and harsh to each other to keep the score. Driven by revenge and feeding off of the failures of others.

I came across this intriguing concept the other day that completes a great portion at portraying the present attitude of our society and that numerous individuals face in their daily lives, in their work, business, politics and relationships. Its known as the “crab mentality”. It takes a gander at the world, a world where there is no such thing as a two way commonly useful trade. Each circumstance has champs and failures with this world view, and everybody is out to make another person a washout. You know, there are arrangements that individuals can come to without getting unfriendly with each other, that prompts a result where everybody included is in an ideal situation than they were previously.

Crab mentality: “Crab mentality is a phrase popular among Filipinos, and was first coined by writer Ninotchka Rosca, in reference to the phrase crabs in a bucket. It describes a way of thinking best described by the phrase “if I can’t have it, neither can you.” The metaphor refers to a pot of crabs. Individually, the crabs could easily escape from the pot, but instead, they grab at each other in a useless “king of the hill” competition which prevents any from escaping and ensures their collective demise. The analogy in human behavior is that members of a group will attempt to “pull down” any member who achieves success beyond the others, out of envy, conspiracy or competitive feelings. The concept figures prominently in Terry Pratchett’s novel “Unseen Academicals.” A fishmonger does not bother to keep a lid on the crab bucket because “any that tries to get out gets pulled back.” The protagonist comes to realize that her social status results not from external repression, but from her own low expectations of herself: “The worst of it is, the crab that mostly keeps you down is you.” This term is broadly associated with short-sighted, non-constructive thinking rather than a unified, long-term, constructive mentality. It is also often used colloquially in reference to individuals or communities attempting to improve their socio-economic situations, but kept from doing so by others attempting to ride upon their coat-tails or those who simply resent their success.”

Is it accurate to say that it isn’t feasible for everybody to simply do their own particular thing, and utilize their logic to work things out when they get in each other’s way? This appears like a far more secure and more beneficial method for working together than we see today, where numerous individuals believe that the best way to excel and succeed is to chop others down. The standard culture still can’t seem to get onto this idea, however that doesn’t imply that we need to stagnate with them. In our regular experiences, business connections and particularly our contentions, we can take the more ethical route by utilizing our insightfulness to address our issues without abusing the privileges of others.

Indeed, even in this day and age, with apparently restricted assets we can in any case all get by without butchering each other and blending up inconvenience.

Bilal Bin Saqib

Written by

An entrepreneur in the making with a passion to help & uplift others whilst leading an impactful and meaningful life. Founder of www.tayaba.org.

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