On Friday 27 Jun 2008 10:43:00 pm Deepa Mohan wrote: > who else > is, like me, from Swarna (south-Indian-in-south-Calcutta middle-class > school) and Gokhale Memorial (solid middle-class Bengali girls' > college) and Calcutta University, not a mention of any Poison Ivy > League....
Deepa one of the methods of indoctrination that is used to make people feel better about themselves (or indeed to convince themselves of any damn thing) is to virtually (or actually) whip oneself into a frenzy repeating that one belongs to an elite group that has some special characteristics. Obviously you don't need that yourself - your self image keeps you content as yourself, and not by virtue of your membership to any elite group. This is done in schools, colleges, army regiments, religious groups and almost any group you can imagine. For example an army regiment will lay emphasis on the history of valor and medals won by former members of that regiment and schools or colleges will similarly worship heroes. My own school (The Bishop's school in Poona) was notable for its not producing anyone of note in terms of sport or academics or even porn, but nevertheless produced alumni with great self-esteem. But then again - my school was almost an offshoot of an Army regiment. This kind of indoctrination is probably of great utility in the army, but is of variable benefit in educational institutions. People with low self-esteem are likely to benefit, and people with high self esteem do not need the indoctrination. I believe that it is the people with lowest self esteem who benefit the most in belonging to a group with a reputation of some sort. Their self esteem is greatly improved by vicarious association with the perceived image of the group. These are also the people who are likely to behave most uppity about people outside the group. IIT alumni, (and in my experience) alumni of my own medical college, JIPMER were prime shareholders in this attitude. Now here's the rub - if a person with low self esteem, (whose self image is dependent on the group he belongs to) tries to make you feel inferior because you do not belong to a particular group, he does that because he needs it for his self image. He has a problem, and can only feel good because he belongs to that group and you don't. Feeling upset, or showing that you are upset is exactly what makes his day. But even better is an acknowledgment from you that he is great. The best way to deal with such a person is to tell him "Wah Wah! You're the greatest". He will them be eating out of your hands. shiv
