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Thread: When did people start hating high quality Americans?

  1. #1
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    When did people start hating high quality Americans?

    A few conservations with some colleagues went over the familiar ground of dumb people not knowing they are stupid, and shifted into people thinking they are hot shit because they are above average, but not exceptional.

    Like, we understand people being too dumb to not know they are dumb.
    But smart people should be smart enough to know they are not awesome.

    I used to be in a very, very high quality density environment.

    We all used examples of things.
    Like, people saying “my IQ based on ... always over 98th percentile, on one test 99.5th percentile, but I have been around people I am in awe of”,
    Or “around 35 years old, I could get up to 350 on the bench, but that is nothing for a mediocre power lifter smaller than me”,
    Or, “yeah, I was starting quarterback, but at a service academy, I would never have made it to summer camp in the pros”

    Basically, everyone was very cognizant of not letting things go to there head. And there was no jealously of the guys that stood out among super stars.

    A decade later, there seems to be more resentment and even hatred.
    I was telling a current colleague, “some guys are just super high quality. I went to a dive course with a guy, he graduated West Point, medical school, Ranger School, SFAS, and is now an astronaut”
    They said “oh, ones of those guys great on paper”
    After saying they were very good and high quality, not just on paper, they did not believe it.

    I was telling some other colleagues about a naval academy grad, SEAL, that became a trauma surgeon. They were like “I bet he was a real asshole”
    I was like, no, he’s a great dude,
    And they brainstormed all the reasons he was not.

    It’s almost like,
    People like that are no longer role models.
    There is something wrong with them.

  2. #2
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    That goes right along with the "trophy for everyone" mentality. We're all supposedly equal in every way, and pointing out that some people are all around better just isn't acceptable.

  3. #3
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    You show me an accomplished man and I'll show you someone who has lost sleep, lost friends (in more ways than one), heave wept into his hands, bled, been screwed over, made hard decisions, and suffered.

    None of these other people can handle it, thus they hate. Lowering the bar is a lot easier than putting in the effort

    It seems cliche but:


    Rudyard Kipling--If

    If you can keep your head when all about you***

    *** Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,***

    If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,

    *** But make allowance for their doubting too;***

    If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,

    *** Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,

    Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,

    *** And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:


    If you can dream—and not make dreams your master;***

    *** If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim;***

    If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster

    *** And treat those two impostors just the same;***

    If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken

    *** Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,

    Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,

    *** And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools:


    If you can make one heap of all your winnings

    *** And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,

    And lose, and start again at your beginnings

    *** And never breathe a word about your loss;

    If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew

    *** To serve your turn long after they are gone,***

    And so hold on when there is nothing in you

    *** Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!’


    If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,***

    *** Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch,

    If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,

    *** If all men count with you, but none too much;

    If you can fill the unforgiving minute

    *** With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,***

    Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,***

    *** And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!




    That is no longer taught in schools.

    It's up there with the "fair share" crap.

    Screw 'em.

  4. #4
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    Jealousy, plain and simple. People regret that they were not able to accomplish all they wanted to in life, or that they do not have the intelligence or physical ability to ever do it even if they tried. It sucks feeling inferior, especially in America where everyone wants to be bigger and better.
    Last edited by BoringGuy45; 01-16-18 at 22:13.
    Those who beat their swords into plowshares will plow for those who do not.-Ben Franklin

    there’s some good in this world, Mr. Frodo. And it’s worth fighting for.-Samwise Gamgee

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    Kurt Vonnegut was clued in to this since the 60s:

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harrison_Bergeron

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    Could it be that they are trying to shut down the conversation because they aren't interested?

    If so, they aren't very adept, as there are a lot less offensive ways to change subjects or end conversations.

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    double tap

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    Someone asked me if I like Kipling.

    I said, "I don't know. I've never kippled."

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    Long story short Ramairthree the simplistic answer to your question is:

    Because most people are assholes.

    Sorry man, but there it is.

    I’m just a regular every day normal guy, maybe slightly above average intelligence (or better according to tests). I used to be an everyday normal USMC grunt, nothing special just an infantry Marine. No hatred towards the guys who had the drive, genetics, intellect to go further than I did, in fact pretty grateful we have people of that quality. If you hang around them and want to learn, or improve they’ll make you better too.

    But most people are assholes. They want to disparage high achievers because instead of admiring the dedication, luck, determination, and sacrifices of high achievement, they know they lack the ability or will to do the same. Rather than acknowledging this honestly, they make excuses for their own poor comparative performance by imagining flaws in the person they are comparing themselves to. Unfortunately this means they won’t improve themselves.

    I try not to fall into that trap, but will admit to that kind of poor attitude and mental masturbation at times. I’m human after all. Just have to cut that shit out and try to figure out how to be more like the high achiever instead. Seems more productive.

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by 26 Inf View Post
    Could it be that they are trying to shut down the conversation because they aren't interested?

    If so, they aren't very adept, as there are a lot less offensive ways to change subjects or end conversations.
    Nope.
    These recent conversations about poorly functioning humans and the massive gap of individual capability were initiated by them.

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