Do you consider yourself superior to all others?

[Sand Dancer]

You're very humble.

Aw, thanks! I'm very good at being humble. lol

 

[Kathryn]

The problem here is that the term superior specifically means that a person is of a better quality that another, no matter what they do.
You are speaking of actions.
Of course there are people who are better at a job than others. It's objective. Otherwise there would be no grading system at school.
For example, I had 8 and 9 at history and philosophy (A-B in US grading), but I had 4 in math, sometimes 5.
But I did deserve that 4-5 at math. Because I suck at math. I am more predisposed towards law and literature.
That's what humility is, I guess. To know one's own limits.

Superiority is when you believe you deserve more than others because, no matter what you do, you are a god, and the others are nothing.

Oh then never mind - I don't feel that way, though I do thank God that I was born as a white, 21st century American woman, and not, for instance, a native American woman in the 1800s or whatever. But I didn't do anything to earn those privileges and I know it.

 

[Eddi]

I am not "superior to all others", no

But I am superior to some

Yet others are superior to me!

 

[Quintessence]

Yes. I live at an elevation of about 1000 feet above sea level, which makes me superior to anyone living below that. Take that, costal dwellers!

 

[Quintessence]

Okay, okay, I know that's not what you mean. But getting into the specifics beyond that is... eh. Superior in what? Gotta be precise. Speaking broadly, everyone is superior to some others in some fashion, so everybody really should be voting yes. This also means that the answer to the question "do you consider yourself inferior to others" should also always be yes. Both are true.

 

[Regiomontanus]

The word superior comes from Latin and means higher, upper.
It's used in modern languages like English to indicate something which is better, or of higher status, higher quality.

Honestly I have never considered myself superior to others. Or better than others. I consider myself unique, in the sense of different.
But neither better nor worse. Neither superior nor inferior.
Because we have all different attitudes and capabilities. And that's the beauty of diversity.

Au contraire...I have remarked that so many people don't mind even admitting that they consider themselves better or superior to others.
Even if it deals with people who have clearly an oversized opinion of themselves.
And this creates so much antagonism, unfair treatment, dissing and bullying at the workplace.


So I want to study the psychological phenomenon according to which someone considers themselves superior or better than others.
Just answer the poll, and please, be honest! The poll is anonymous, so nobody will know how you voted .

Superior in what way? I know more mathematics, astronomy, and ancient history than the vast majority of people. So I am 'superior' in my knowledge. But a 'superior person,' of course not. We are all made in the image and likeness of God.

 

[Estro Felino]

Superior in what way? I know more mathematics, astronomy, and ancient history than the vast majority of people. So I am 'superior' in my knowledge. But a 'superior person,' of course not. We are all made in the image and likeness of God.

I didn't mean skills or capabilities, of course.
Superiority is when you claim to be a priori better than others, regardless of your merits or skills.
Of course some people have more knowledge or skills than others.

 

[Estro Felino]

Okay, okay, I know that's not what you mean. But getting into the specifics beyond that is... eh. Superior in what? Gotta be precise. Speaking broadly, everyone is superior to some others in some fashion, so everybody really should be voting yes. This also means that the answer to the question "do you consider yourself inferior to others" should also always be yes. Both are true.

People have all different capabilities, skills, attitudes.
It's undeniable that people are better at some jobs than others. This is not what superiority is. This is meritocracy. Example: a physician becomes hospital manager because of his merits. Because of his career, his successful operations, etc...

Superiority is when someone believes they deserve more than others, regardless of their merits. From birth. A priori.
Example: racial superiority. Or genetic superiority.

 

[Kathryn]

Here's what I think about when I am (often) receiving poor service. Why? I mean, there's a reason and it often has nothing to do with a lassaiz faire approach to service. Maybe that person's mother or significant other recently passed away. Or maybe he or she doesn't feel good. Or maybe he or she really doesn't know any better. Or maybe they are guilty of making assumptions about me and I am guilty of making assumptions about them! Anyway, it doesn't really matter because they were made in God's image in my belief system and God loves them as much as He loves me.

 

[McBell]

The word superior comes from Latin and means higher, upper.
It's used in modern languages like English to indicate something which is better, or of higher status, higher quality.

Honestly I have never considered myself superior to others. Or better than others. I consider myself unique, in the sense of different.
But neither better nor worse. Neither superior nor inferior.
Because we have all different attitudes and capabilities. And that's the beauty of diversity.

Au contraire...I have remarked that so many people don't mind even admitting that they consider themselves better or superior to others.
Even if it deals with people who have clearly an oversized opinion of themselves.
And this creates so much antagonism, unfair treatment, dissing and bullying at the workplace.


So I want to study the psychological phenomenon according to which someone considers themselves superior or better than others.
Just answer the poll, and please, be honest! The poll is anonymous, so nobody will know how you voted .

Yes, some people are superior than other people.
IMO, that is not the problem.
The problem is that some people who are not superior think and or act as though they are.

The whole work place thing reminds me of the Peter Principle.


As for the poll, it is a false dichotomy that does not offer up an option i am comfortable using.

 

[Quintessence]

People have all different capabilities, skills, attitudes.
It's undeniable that people are better at some jobs than others. This is not what superiority is. This is meritocracy. Example: a physician becomes hospital manager because of his merits. Because of his career, his successful operations, etc...

Superiority is when someone believes they deserve more than others, regardless of their merits. From birth. A priori.
Example: racial superiority. Or genetic superiority.

That's one way to look at it, sure. Not the only way, given the complexity of human cultures and by extension their values and languages. Some would say that your view on superiority is wrong because real superiority is based on merit. Others instead might say that superiority means positionally being higher up, which is what I referenced in my earlier joke about geographical elevation. Yet others would say superiority relates only to social standing or rank (e.g. some such person is your superior in a hierarchy). The word has lots of meanings as most tend to in a language.

 

[Viker]

Of course. I'm a high level witch in beast mode, soon to be in god mode.

 

[Estro Felino]

That's one way to look at it, sure. Not the only way, given the complexity of human cultures and by extension their values and languages. Some would say that your view on superiority is wrong because real superiority is based on merit. Others instead might say that superiority means positionally being higher up, which is what I referenced in my earlier joke about geographical elevation. Yet others would say superiority relates only to social standing or rank (e.g. some such person is your superior in a hierarchy). The word has lots of meanings as most tend to in a language.

Interesting.
In every single courtroom present in my country there is a motto written on the wall, big letters: "The law is equal for all".
In the US, in the same spot there "In God we trust", if I am not wrong.
How do you interpret the motto "the law is equal for all citizens", also in terms of superiority / inferiority.

Thanks in advance for your answer.

 

[Estro Felino]

View attachment 93389

Yes, some people are superior than other people.
IMO, that is not the problem.
The problem is that some people who are not superior think and or act as though they are.

I guess you are confusing superiority with competence, merits and skills.
Superiority is a term which is used in absolute terms. That is. As soon as a person is born, they are considered a priori superior to other people, no matter what they do. Because of their genes or race: racial superiority, that was horribly related to Nazi Germany.

For example, my boss tells me: okay, you have a degree, you have skills that I do not possess. But I am superior to you, because I was born in a very aristocratic family, that makes me superior to you.

The whole work place thing reminds me of the Peter Principle.

It's very rarely applied. In many countries promotions are established through exams that verify your skills and competence.
Maybe in Anglo-Saxon countries, it's the norm. But not in Europe.

As for the poll, it is a false dichotomy that does not offer up an option i am comfortable using.

Either you consider yourself superior to all others, or equal to the others.
I guess there's no third, as the Latins used to say: Tertium non datur.

 

[McBell]

I guess you are confusing superiority with competence, merits and skills.

I guess you did not read the definitions of the word "superior"
Perhaps after educating yourself on the matter, you can try again?

Superiority is a term which is used in absolute terms. That is. As soon as a person is born, they are considered a priori superior to other people, no matter what they do. Because of their genes or race: racial superiority, that was horribly related to Nazi Germany.

This is only one of many definitions of the word.
If all you want to talk about is this one definition, you should just flat out state as such so that those who are not interested in your agenda do not mistake your thread for an honest discussion about superiority.

For example, my boss tells me: okay, you have a degree, you have skills that I do not possess. But I am superior to you, because I was born in a very aristocratic family, that makes me superior to you.

People with superiority complexes will behave like people with superiority complexes.
What is the big surprise here?

It's very rarely applied. In many countries promotions are established through exams that verify your skills and competence.
Maybe in Anglo-Saxon countries, it's the norm. But not in Europe.

If you say so.

Either you consider yourself superior to all others, or equal to the others.
I guess there's no third, as the Latins used to say: Tertium non datur.

This is demonstrably flat out wrong.
You do know that inferiority complex actually is a thing that exists, right?

 

[Estro Felino]

I guess you did not read the definitions of the word "superior"
Perhaps after educating yourself on the matter, you can try again?

In your opinion, why did the English use a Latin word, and not a Germanic word to define the notion of supeiority?
Because in Germanic vocabulary there is also the term "better at" which means being more skilled than others.
It has nothing to do with superiority which is exclusively used in contexts like dictatorships, as it happened in Nazi Germany.

For instance, a teacher can say: this student is better than you guys at math. She will not say "this student is superior to you all guys".

This is only one of many definitions of the word.
If all you want to talk about is this one definition, you should just flat out state as such so that those who are not interested in your agenda do not mistake your thread for an honest discussion about superiority.

Well...I did specify in the OP that I meant that specific meaning of the word "superiority".

People with superiority complexes will behave like people with superiority complexes.
What is the big surprise here?

My point is that so many people at the workplace have a God complex, or superiority complex.
Especially managers.

This is demonstrably flat out wrong.
You do know that inferiority complex actually is a thing that exists, right?

Yes, I meant, that people who do not consider themselves superior might consider themselves inferior to others.

The world would be a much better place if all the people considered themselves equal to others.
There would be no wars, no abuses of power, no usury, no injustices.

 

[McBell]

In your opinion, why did the English use a Latin word, and not a Germanic word to define the notion of supeiority?
Because in Germanic vocabulary there is also the term "better at" which means being more skilled than others.
It has nothing to do with superiority which is exclusively used in contexts like dictatorships, as it happened in Nazi Germany.

For instance, a teacher can say: this student is better than you guys at math. She will not say "this student is superior to you all guys".





Well...I did specify in the OP that I meant that specific meaning of the word "superiority".

My point is that so many people at the workplace have a God complex, or superiority complex.
Especially managers.


Yes, I meant, that people who do not consider themselves superior might consider themselves inferior to others.

The world would be a much better place if all the people consider themselves equal to others.
There would be no wars, no abuses of power, no usury, no injustices.

Sorry.
I am not interested in playing semantics games.

You take from that fact whatever floats your fancy.

 

[Estro Felino]

Sorry.
I am not interested in playing semantics games.

You take from that fact whatever floats your fancy.

From your link about the definition of superior:
having or showing an overly high opinion of onself.

I am not playing any semantic game.

 

[Heyo]

Superiority is when you believe you deserve more than others because, no matter what you do, you are a god, and the others are nothing.

That's entitlement.
Superiority is when you are better at something or if you are higher ranked.
When you see it that way, there is no entitlement involved. In fact, nobless oblige, as the French say, or, in the immortal words of uncle Ben: "with great power comes great responsibility".
That's how I was raised. "You're smarter than other kids of your age, we expect you to act smarter and more responsible."

So, yes, I have a superior intellect and that makes me more responsible for my actions.

 

[Estro Felino]

That's entitlement.
Superiority is when you are better at something or if you are higher ranked.

One question: the racial superiority of the Aryan race, described and defined in the Nuremberg Laws, how would you say that in German?
Please answer.
It's not entitlement, I can promise you that.

When you see it that way, there is no entitlement involved. In fact, noblesse oblige, as the French say, or, in the immortal words of uncle Ben: "with great power comes great responsibility".

I prefer the movie "Il marchese Del Grillo" which is about a marquis in the Rome capital of the Papal State, 19th century who tells to a group of farmers:
"I m sorry, but I am me, and you guys aren't sh...beeeep"

He means that even if aristocrats misbehave, they will always be superior to the populace, because they are genetically and racially superior to them.

That's how I was raised. "You're smarter than other kids of your age, we expect you to act smarter and more responsible."

I am more populist...I mean, I was raised Catholic.
And humility is what the catechist taught me. Which means: even if you are more skilled than others, you should treat them as your own equal.
Because God doesn't love you more than He loves others.

So, yes, I have a superior intellect and that makes me more responsible for my actions.

This doesn't mean that other people with a lower IQ deserve to be treated as inferiors.