Does Tough Talk Work?
SGHolland Jan 2018
“Sticks and stones will break my bones
but words will never hurt me.” (?)see: LINK to CSM book review on this and other ethical puzzles.
Two nations’ leaders have huge nuclear attack buttons on their desks!
One is bigger than the other. Both of them say they have the finest button of all.
I have heard discussions like this from the back of the car while driving elementary school car-pool. Really! Some kids don’t grow out of it even when they are all physically tall and robust and of a mature chronological age. They still have to do the comparison game to feel important and worthy.
Cars with “Mags”. Biggest Matchbox Toy collections. Bigger biceps. More lunch money. Fame for sneaking erotic magazines into the back woods hideout.
Does all this talk work?
I think it may work, but only if everyone knows and loves the game quite well, and no one has to prove what they are saying.Even so it often turns into a donnybrook, especially if it is played over alcohol libations.
Girls do it, not just boys. Longer pony tails. Cooler clothes. Fancier bedrooms. More boyfriends. Allowed to wear makeup. Competition for the class hunk.
Is this tendency a purposely installed part of the design of human beings? Is it part of survival equipment, and does it work? What does it do?
It does work with animals. Cats swell up when they want to impress other animals (including people). And I do stand back rather than try to pat a puffed up cat. So it does work for animals, at least part of the time.
Bragging can scare away the peace-loving person. At least for a while. Even the most mild-mannered person can eventually be broken down to a place where he will fight for his life, so to speak.
OR
The hissing and posing and tough-talk can result in a decision to retreat by one or the other without a fight. The potential loser goes away and avoids further contact. He doesn’t tempt fate. And the braggart is left with only companions who like and admire the game, and who will play it gladly.
Tough-talkers LIKE TO tempt fate. What is it about tempting fate that is so irresistible?
One of my old classmates (now he’s pushing 80) is definitely still missing at least one front tooth that came out very early in his life. Haven’t seen him since high school, but all us kids knew about that tooth. He always had his dukes up, and did a boxing-like caper to prove his superiority — and happily authenticated his brute reputation by clicking his denture in and out while smiling so we would be well-impressed by his past accomplishments.
Our own neighborhood had its bully, the son of an attorney who felt untouchable. “My father will take you to court.” (See Richie’s Tar Bubbles )
Richie came from our elementary school to the combined high school as did the tooth-missing guy. They fought. Richie lost. He became a baseball statistics expert instead — a loud one, but not a bully any more. He definitely was into WINNING.
Is that the way countries’ top-politicians skirt around each other to stoke their need to be the biggest and best country of them all?
How does that help us citizens?
Does it make us safer? Does it improve world Co-operation? Does it last?
Or is there always another bully around the corner, waiting to throw down a gauntlet and pick up a sword? Bullies come a dime a dozen. They SEEM exceptional because they are so LOUD. Some succeed — for a time.
Can self-image doubts have anything to do with this strange need to overcome others?
Is there hope for grown-ups who have self-image problems and a history of bullying?
Just asking.
SGHolland ©2018
