MERGED: All about Crab Mentality

[giddyboy]

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As defined by wikipedia, Crab mentality describes a way of thinking best described by the phrase "if I can't have it, neither can you." The metaphor refers to a pot of crabs in which one tries to escape over the side, but is relentlessly pulled down by the others in the pot.

This term is broadly associated with short-sighted, non-constructive thinking rather than a unified, long-term, constructive mentality. It is also often used colloqially in reference to individuals or communities attempting to "escape" a so-called "underprivileged life", but kept from doing so by those others of the same community or nation attempting to ride upon their coat-tails or who simply resent their success.

For Filipinos, crab mentality is the tendency to "outdo another at the other's expense" or to "pull down those who strive to be better." An overzealous leader becomes morally shamed. It "became a call for community leaders to acknowledge indebtedness to others and to work for the good of the entire community and not just for themselves."

HERE ARE SOME FEW CURRENT & POLITICAL CASES:

Fil-Ams:

"Unfortunately, there are some among us, even some so-called “community leaders," who continue to practice the “politics of personal destruction" and engage in that almost uniquely Filipino art of divisive, “crab mentality” type behavior which continually feeds those stereotypical disputes between Filipino organizations. It is precisely this type of parochialism between various Fil-Am organizations, as well as the actions of certain “behind-the-scenes” individuals that ultimately harms the general public’s perception of our national Fil-Am “community” as a whole. When these folks left the Philippines back when, they forgot to leave certain types of negative Filipino behavior behind.

Our community loses credibility whenever we Fil-Ams are seen as bickering, backstabbing socialites more concerned with competing to put on lavish, status-seeking social events with the usual “good food and pretty dancing women" fare than we are with those much more substantive issues such as immigration, health care, war, the environment, poverty and discrimination - those factors that most effect the daily lives of our kababayans here."---a letter to the editor/The Manila Mail

Post EDSA Politics:

When Corazon C. Aquino became President, almost everyone said that if a housewife could be President of the Republic, then anybody could assume any government posts. And every Tom, Dick and Harry – Moros and Indios alike — vied for the various government posts. Most of the OICs (officers-in-charge) had nothing to show for a résumé. The Bulong brigade, the Kamaganak, Inc. and the cordon sanitaire protected her from the mob who suddenly thought that they were capable of leadership. The crab mentality was at its height.

The pre-Martial Law oligarchs were back, Marcos cronies still retained their wealth, and everyone was trying to climb out of the basket while pushing and pulling everyone else down.

source: blogsome.com/

OTHER CASES:

The Network Wars (ABS-CBN vs GMA)

Gawad Kalinga and Couples for Christ

Bb Pilipinas 2008 Pageant

[SPRINGFIELD_XD_40]

Even when I was serving in the US Navy , FILIPINOS still carried that disease outside the country !!

I am also guilty to that in some cases and points but we have to accept the fact that we as FILIPINOS are infected with it . We may not know about it but by definition and its circumstance , it is .

[b|tcH_g0dd3sS]

@giddyboy: 3. When posting or creating new topics, make sure that they are in the correct forum.

[giddyboy]

@giddyboy: 3. When posting or creating new topics, make sure that they are in the correct forum.

i will try to make it politics & current events as can be, sorry.

[brownprose]

Dunno if i should agree ENTIRELY with the definition provided by wiki. Crab mentality has to be taken in the context of how it is actually practiced today.

As I see it, crab mentality is when one has personal/vested interest or driven by envy over the other's success where the former tries to pull the latter down ACTIVELY both by deeds AND by words. to sum up, the elements of a crab must have: 1) malice (vested interest/envy) 2) and active participation. This is how crab mentality has been here and elsewhere.

Mere opinions against persons are not sufficient to conclude the crab in her/him. A good example would be Conrado De Quieros. For the longest time he has invented so many pejorative titles against GMA The Squatter in Malacañang, Idiot, Impostor, Treasonist . And oh that "Lucky Bitch" how could we ever forget that. But that/those still does/do not qualify that definition of a crab mentality.

Point is some people just don't agree with her (GMA) or just don't like her at all. The problem lang gyud is they don't say it the way we want to hear it coz some people prefer "crude expressions."

What makes those crude expressions a crab is when for example guys like Joey De Venecia say the same thing for vested reasons (like a failed contract that he didnt get or what I call personal interest)...and now he's moving heaven and earth too to pull Gloria down (active participation) or the "outdo another at the other's expense" which you just presented. Looks like that's real crab to me.

On the same token, and if i may connect this to the recent BB Pilipinas brouhaha, I wouldn't say of these people whose crude expressions like Bogo, Tuga-Tuga and all...essentially or necessarily a crab. Primarily, they are just plainly voicing out their two cents only in a manner that's acrid to some people. Second, wala man silay interest sa crown; third, I don't think they would really go too far to challenge or steal her crown in any way possible.

Senysa na taas kaayo...I just feel its best to put the definition properly para dili masilo ang uban.

Good thread bro

[giddyboy]

nice input bro. pang columnist...hehe

[brownprose]

nice input bro. pang columnist...hehe

salamat bro...

...forgot to mention that crab mentality is also very common in the corporate environment.

[b|tcH_g0dd3sS]

Thank you Brownie.

I hope others are enlightened?

♥♥♥

[giddyboy]

@giddyboy: 3. When posting or creating new topics, make sure that they are in the correct forum.

i've already constructed the thread title & entry fitted for Politics & current events...

[b|tcH_g0dd3sS]

i've already constructed the thread title & entry fitted for Politics & current events...

I've already moved it. General Discussions lang ni.