Recently my blogging friend wrote a post about reading that was featured on the Discover page of WordPress. I’m not jealous at all. Not one bit. Nope. Anyway, this is not about my jealousy. This is about what I thought about with that post. I responded that I didn’t think i was smarter or better than the people i nmy life who don’t read. I do think, though, that there are people who do think this about themselves. It seems to be a standard thing for people to look for ways to feel superior to other people. I wrote about that as it pertains to the pandemic here.
People who read think they are better and smarter than people who don’t read.
People who read “real books” think they are better and smarter than people who read graphic novels.
People who read literary fiction think they are better and smarter than people who read romance novels.
People who read non-fiction think they are better and smarter than people who read fiction.
People who don’t read think people who do read are wasting time and say things like “I don’t have time to read“
People who don’t watch TV think they are better and smarter than people like me who watch a lot of TV.
People who watch TV, but only “prestige TV” think they are better and smarter than people who watch reality shows and sitcoms.
People who have prestigious jobs and make a lot of money think they are better and smarter than people who don’t.
People in certain jobs think they are better than others because their jobs are more “important” than others.
People who are always busy think they are better than people who waste time relaxing with frivolous things.
People think they are better than others because they are more attractive than them.
The list goes on and on. It seems the world is completely invested in finding ways we are better than other people. We can’t feel good about ourselves without demeaning others. I don’t know how that ever changes. Especially when it generally plays out publically on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
I will admit that there is a very good chance you are better than me.
The World's Common Tater 
This is so good!!
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Thanks!
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It’s likely one of those good ones that no one will read
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Don’t you hate that?!
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I can only speak for myself and I want to say what kind of books appeal to you is such a personal matter and it should be beyond judgment. I do not like romances anymore but I took a training on romances, read some of the ones recommended and loved some of them. TV watching, similarly, is such a personal choice. I don’t think anyone is inferior or superior because they watch/ don’t watch TV. But that is just me.
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I agree but I know you have had the same parent at work that I’ve had that won’t take graphic novel suggestions for their kid because they want them to read “real books”
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Yep. And I have gotten into a ‘pleasant’ arguments with them. I introduced graphic novels in Global Reads and participants loved them. They did say they would not have picked up a graphic novel had it not been for a book club. I felt that was a win.
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Comparison is a dangerous game to play – you immediately put the other into a bracket that says better or worse. Which indulges your own sense of superiority (arrogance) or lowers your self esteem. Of course we all get sucked into it on social media with everyone broadcasting their perfect lives to one other. The truth is we all have very different levels of success in the many different areas of our lives. But one can’t compare because everyone’s life is very different and all are dealing with their own unique set of traumas/circumstances. For some people simply getting out of bed is an act of immense courage. I often think the only person we should compare ourselves to is the person we were yesterday. Just be a little better than him or her. If you fail, well, tomorrow is another day. Great post tater!
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Thanks! I sometimes have the problem of negatively comparing myself to others. I’ve had self esteem issues for years
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You’re not alone – I’ve been battling low self esteem most of my life.
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In some capacity but most likely not in all 😁
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This is a good post! I am bewildered by the need some people have (maybe many people have would be more accurate) to find ways that they’re superior to someone else. I find comfort in feeling that I provide that “lesser” person for those people by just being who I am and not caring whether anybody else approves. Okay, sometimes I worry about it, but it’s infrequent these days. Aging does provide a certain amount of perspective on things.
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I don’t care how people feel about what I read and watch and never have. It has not stopped people from telling me they don’t have to to read, don’t have a tv, or would never waste money on buying expensive coffee like I sometimes do. I’m glad I’m of service to their need to feel superior.
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