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Cycling Reaction

Human being out of social anxiety have the tendency to step on those below and bow to those above.

In the Spirit Level by R.Wilkinson and K.Picket, this is described as a 'bicycling reaction'.
In this context, we displace our own prejudice and anger on those who we regard as inferior to us.
A terrible example is a man having difficulties at work with work colleagues or bosses and relieving his nerves on his wife when getting home. Another one, not as terrible, is feeling sensitive when encountering people from higher social classes than us and teasing those below for not having what we have.

In the UK, a number of derogatory TV programmes exist portraying vulnerable individuals who are supported by our welfare system as scroungers and lazy individuals. I do accept that some profit of the system and why would not they when the world promote status through stuff and money. It remains that the proportion of those is very small in comparison to our middle class dwellers.

Strengthening humility is key.

Poor used to be called unfortunate, they are now called losers. Rich used to be described as fortunate, they are now called winners.

Accepting that our achievement is at the result of others' support is the start of humility and tolerance towards others. If you are born in a family who have the means, financial or non financial, to provide all the necessary support for you to study and give you the best chance to succeed, deem yourself lucky and grateful.
if you are born in a family who is 'poor' and still managed to get a degree too, remember that it is still not you who manufactured your shoes, clothes etc., or even produced your food. Another person, maybe a child did...

With humility come tolerance, with tolerance come love with love come peace.

Let's not step on those below, they are the ones supporting our sense of identity today and for that, there is nothing to be proud of.


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