Cutting down successful people

[castille]

When I was a kid, and I saw a rich and successful guy (Li Ka Shing) on TV, my parents would say "If you work hard and work smart, you'll be successful too." So I aspired to do that.

Why do so many people cut down successful people? Successful politicians, businessmen, and even actors/singers are derided. An old Confucian quote goes "When finding oneself in envy of great men, aspire to be great".

Men who have achieved great power, wealth, or success in history are often hated by many. Ghandi (ask whoever shot him), Tony Robbins, Bill Gates, Richard Branson, Jeff Bezos, Bill Clinton, George Bush, and the local guy who wins a sports trophy.

Not everyone says they are bad. Some say things like "Why are people making a big fuss about some stupid Olympics medals?" or "He probably bashed up everyone to become successful". Some might resort to violence, like in Indonesia when hundreds of Chinese and Singaporeans were murdered in a riot. Or in Nazi Germany when successful Jewish stores were looted and ranksacked.


Do you think its jealousy? Obssessiveness? Or is it considered "cool" to cut down the successful?

[Gorgo]

People cut down unsuccessful people too. While we don't know what you mean by "cut down" or if you're including constructive criticism in your meaning, generally we cut others down in order to build ourselves up. It's a self-worth issue.

However, if you're talking about noticing that Adolf Hitler was a criminal, and not successful in any reasonable definition of the word, then something else might be going on.

Originally posted by castille,
When I was a kid,

[5010]

Check this out (clicky)

Consider the behavior of crabs in a bucket. Crab fishermen have long known that there is no need to bother putting a lid on the bucket you are using to catch crabs. Once you've tossed in a few crabs, they'll police themselves. Any ambitious crab that decides to make a run for freedom will find it all but impossible to scale the wall of the bucket and scramble over the top. It's not that the bucket is too deep or slippery. It's the seemingly odd behavior of the other crabs. As soon as one starts making a move to scramble over the others and out, its fellow crabs will reach out those long, sharp pincers and pull the errant crab back into the fray. Nobody escapes the crab bucket. That's because no crab will allow another crab to move up and out...even if they have once entertained the same notion themselves.

Interesting, no?

[VXerick]

Is that like if I can't do it better, I don't want you to do it at all?

[Mia]

They must be socialist. No one's allowed to get out since they all can't. The last few would not have anyone to climb on. It also represents that in capitalism someone has to get climbed on and left behind for the others to make it.

[Impenitent]

Originally posted by Mia,
They must be socialist. No one's allowed to get out since they all can't. The last few would not have anyone to climb on. It also represents that in capitalism someone has to get climbed on and left behind for the others to make it.

and this is key... in socialism, all are caught and boiled... with capitalism, the strongest will climb out and survive...

but back to the original question: it is obviously envy and coveteousness... longing for that which belongs to someone else so much that the only thing that matters is denying them having it...

the herd instinct at its finest

[PatrickHenry]

What defines "successful people?" Wealth measured in money? Little unidimensional, wouldn't you say, castille?

Maybe we should agree on the definition of success first.

I wish I was richer, but I have a sneakin' suspicion I wouldn't be much happier than I am right now.

Maybe success is subjective. I might define myself as successful, even if I am relatively poor by uniform standards...

[white rice]

Don't kid yourself. It takes other powerful people to cut down powerful people. If you want to rise to the top, you need connections to do it, whether to win a contract or a lucrative deal. This is no different than turf wars from rival gangs. With the rich it's legal, or you hire high powered attorneys to make it legal.

Just because some peons are jealous or bitter against the rich and powerful doesn't mean they have the capacity to do it. It's a big game of politics where some rich are thrown and grilled to keep the masses satisfied that the world works without corruption or collusion.

[Bob_Dobbs]

i think people 'cut down' successful people for a variety of reasons.
A] jealousy
B} projection of the flaws of all rich folk on the single successful person
C} actions the media personality made that were harmful or unpopular
D] things the successful person represents that are negative in the eyes of some

[Lava]

Originally posted by Bob_Dobbs,
i think people 'cut down' successful people for a variety of reasons.

and also E. crass stupidity

Regards, Lava!

[Pooeypants]

Originally posted by Impenitent,

and this is key... in socialism, all are caught and boiled... with capitalism, the strongest will climb out and survive...

but back to the original question: it is obviously envy and coveteousness... longing for that which belongs to someone else so much that the only thing that matters is denying them having it...

the herd instinct at its finest

Isn't that a bit like eugenics, only letting the most successful and "fittest" to live?

[Bob_Dobbs]

letting the most aggressive and brutal live. thats not the kind of world i am trying to see.