An Ego Epidemic: What Happened to Humility?

Posted on February 10, 2016 Updated on February 17, 2016

Some might categorize me as an activist, while others might call me passionate. But those who know me best understand I am a decent and caring individual, one who abhors injustice of any kind. Some people become flaccid when they’re treated unfairly; however, I believe that if you’re disrespected, regardless of who the bully is and no matter how stacked the scales are against you, it is your right to stand up for yourself. But no one owes you anything because people have a right to behave however they want no matter how catty, rude, or downright disrespectful and self-centered or just plain wrong their behavior might be.

People have a right to play favorites, when you aren’t one, and to sift you with their internal filter and spit you out into their “acquaintance” bucket, or even throw you into their “you’re a nobody” mental trash can. Who am I? I am a humanitarian. I am a registered Independent who has voted for Democrats as well as Republicans. I am an animal lover. I have a real love for nature. I dislike the superficial, but not as much as I loathe snobs who are in our communities, infecting our children and creating more division in this world.

I am a straight shooter. I am unapologetic about my directness, and therefore I personally hate fake, superficial, politically correct people whose “kindness” is all an act. I’m least offended by someone who can just talk to me straight, rather than someone who puts on a façade only to truly dislike me yet never admit to it (tell me to my face.) They are conflict avoiders who tend to be passive aggressive and subtle gossipers. They’d rather talk behind your back, even with carefully chosen, “politically correct” words than to be direct with you. This goes for presidential candidates as well as everyday humans. This is why nothing Donald J. Trump has said or will say offends me and why Trump and Sanders both won New Hampshire by a landslide (I’ll pontificate later in my next article on this subject.)

In my book, there’s nothing worse than a snob. Nothing. You might be thinking of a whole host of things that are much worse. But, let me explain. There is an inherent lack of empathy, and there’s absolutely zero humility at the core of these people. I believe nearly all injustices in our history books are tied to snobs.

The Merriam-Webster[1] definition of a snob is the following:

• : one who blatantly imitates, fawningly admires, or vulgarly seeks association with those regarded as social superiors
• a : one who tends to rebuff, avoid, or ignore those regarded as inferior
• b : one who has an offensive air of superiority in matters of knowledge or taste

Though, I much prefer the Urban Dictionary’s[2] definitions because they’re simply more real:

• Anyone who thinks they are better than someone else based upon superficial factors.
• One who thinks their shit don’t stink, but whose farts give them away.

In other words, snobs believe that some, not all, people are inferior. And of course, those who are welcomed in their minds fall in the “good enough” category. Snobbery has evolved over time, but if you look at slavery[3], the holocaust[4] or the women’s rights movement[5], just to name a few, this world had been infected by toxic thinking birthed from egos polluted with thoughts that there is such a thing as “better than.” Snobs can not only turn a nose down to specific groups of humans deemed inferior, but, in extreme cases, go as far as to commit murder and genocide.

The snob mentality has led to a surge in youth-on-youth bullying. Snobbery has also been a catalyst to mass shootings, as the perpetrators felt like rejected outsiders and finally snapped due to being repeatedly excluded. Our current generation has exploded with narcissistic personality disorder, exaggerated emphasis on self-esteem and individualism, which praises competitiveness only to lead to an increase in social exclusion. In other words, those that “don’t make the cut” are just “not good enough” and this isn’t just measuring college applicants but those who do or do not qualify as friend material. There are further qualifications to being accepted, not only in personal social circles but also in professional networking groups.

I don’t like to judge people, but I will scrutinize a snob and I will call them out to their face as I refuse to associate myself with them, especially now that I have a daughter and I know how cruel other girls can be. I will not allow her to be infected by snobby people and their snobby little kids. Because snobs breed more snobs. My daughter will be down to Earth. She will have empathy and compassion for everyone. Above assuring that she receives the best education, she’s going to volunteer at soup kitchens feeding the homeless and, no, she won’t be above helping the less fortunate. She will have a heart for all social circles, gender, sex, race, class – whether they come from money or don’t. Whether they’re a Christian, atheist, gay or straight. She will learn to welcome everyone rather than feel the need to parade in an ugly social clique tainted by disgusting arrogant and superior-thinking snobs.

The Bottom Line:

Who am I? I am someone who emphatically refuses to belong to any sort of social group that is status oriented. I will not constantly wonder if I’m “good enough” or if others will “put up” with me. When, in reality, I don’t belong and everyone knows it.

I quickly extract snobs from my life, be they friends, family, strangers, or acquaintances. It doesn’t matter. This is where I think it’s perfectly fine and healthy to be a little angry and tired of the high school games. I’ve learned over the years to be aware of the ego, but I’ve also come to respect something called time because you can’t get it back. I’m too old and too exhausted to deal with snobs. It’s sad when there seems to be a growth like a cancer infecting our youth and this self-centered “me” generation. There’s a huge difference between confidence and arrogance. It’s better to surround yourself with people who accept you than people who think they’re somehow above you.

Ego is weakness. Humility is strength.

[1] http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/snob

[2] http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Snob

[3] http://www.history.com/topics/black-history/slavery

[4] http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/the-holocaust

[5] http://www.nwhp.org/resources/womens-rights-movement/history-of-the-womens-rights-movement/