Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Name calling and rumours: why we enjoy them?
The beginning of wisdom, a Chinese proverbs say, is to call things by their right names.
Our lunch conversations in the office always take different turns.Today, I was discussing with my officemates the post of Niqabi and Kenjie about being untrue (what's the English of being 'plastik', can anyone help me?) and rumor-mongering.
I asked them: why do people, Filipinos in particular, love rumours and name calling?
Here are my mirror conversations on the topic.
Why are Filipinos so wont of rumours and name calling?
Because we're a very insecure race.
No, we're not. We just happen to be fun loving people.
And it's rooted to...where? Insecurity! You're so insecure that you derive satisfaction in knowing that other people's conditions are far worse than your sorry life.
That hurts. I thought you like it that they call you Snow.
I don't know why they call me that when it's so clear that I'm not white-skinned. Insulting!
If you feel insulted, why do you call Indians Itik, or the Saudis as Katutubo or the Saudi religious police as Mutya?
Because...(thinks hard)...I don't have an answer. And it's not as mean-spirited as the way you tag your fellow kababayans. Lilet (short for lilitsunin for the fat-figured), Guwrangler (for all the old people), Chugi (for the ugly), etc.
Because it's fun.
Without consideration of others?
Because it's...because it's...Why are so being clean?! As if you didn't enjoy watching the bahay ni Kuya (PBB).
I didn't. There's just nothing else to watch, that's all.
Admit it. A conversation is dull if it's not about other people. And name calling is such an art!
Art my ass! It is maybe true that we enjoy conversations about other people but that doesn't mean it's right. No matter how you put it, it is wrong and it's vicious!
So what is there to discuss then if not about other people?
Issues. Your own life. Economics. Religion!
[James 3:6 NIV] The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
(Rolls his eyes) But wouldn't it be a bore?! I might as well just play games in the computer.It is a bore but at least your conscience is clear.
(Whispers) But I don't feel sorry talking about other people's lives.
That's because you're already a callous person!
(In defense) No, I'm not. I'm just being a typical fun-loving Filipino.
(Swaggers his finger) Don't generalize. There are still righteous Filipinos around!
(Scoofs) ...in Vatican waiting to be canonized!
(Thinks) There are still other righteous Filipinos, I know. We are not a hopeless case. We...are...not...hopeless.
Aaayyy, the soap! It fell in the toilet bowl!
Oopps! (Looks sadly at the Dove soap). No sense saving you...sorry.
In my case, I find it as quasi-name calling. We are giving codenames for the sake of conversing comfortably. Puro at malalim na Tagalog ginagamit namin pag nag uusap kame para lang safe. Haha. Ang tawag naman sa "kanila" eh anaps imbes na itik. I'm sure meron din silang codename(s) for us. Pero yung panglalait, ibang kaso yan. Hanggang code names lang naman.
In other cases, I even coded some acts/processes like Garfield eyes for sleepy, Cinderella time for midnight, etc.
"Because we're a very insecure race"
This assumption may hold true to an individual but not for a group.
Rumor mongering doesn't mean Filipinos are insecure in general. This is a universal "pastime" and is being practiced all over the world.
We are a "social" animal and talking is a means of inter-acting with our specie. Sad to say, for those with 8086x processor, their topics consist of "who", "what" and "when" of other people.
Thanks for linking Nebz!
"You're so insecure that you derive satisfaction in knowing that other people's conditions are far worse than your sorry life."
I totally agree that some people are like that. A high school reunion are full of it, a workmate that was given raised or had a much better job, or a kapit-bahay na naging OFW or naging maayos na ang buhay. The natural man in us, would rather be happy to hear that other people are worse than us, or that we are better than them...and that makes us miserable, comparing ourselves to others.
Aaayyy, the soap! It fell in the toilet bowl!
Oopps! (Looks sadly at the Dove soap). No sense saving you...sorry.
parang lalaking version pala kita kuya nebz, nagmumuni-muni habang naliligo..thanks for linking po :P
Nga pala from then on kapag nararamdaman ko ng "chismisan" eto, lumalayo na lang ako para wala na akong marinig..clear na ang conscience ko.
tingin ko natural na sa tao na magbansag at mag-chismisan. siguro mas kinarir lang ng mga pinoy. di ko sigurado,pero parang may nabasa ako na may kinalaman yan sa history ng pagkakasakop satin.
gaya nung kay witsandnuts,tawag lang sa kanila yun.meron din silang tawag satin,..tawag nga nila sakin"italiano", mukha daw kasi akong pinagsamang ita at ilocano..pero ok lang yun,kasi di naman totoo..
pero sa tsismix,para yang mtv myx musika sa iba. at namatay narin ako dyan sa ganyan. nung natapilok ako sa basketball, may nagbalita naputol na raw ang paa ko,nrinig nung isa ang kwento koma nako, dahil sa pagkakaputol ng paa, kinabukasan nung nagbalik ako sa laro,nagulat sila bakit daw buhay pako...parang joke joke joke ang dating..pero malalim ya kung hindi uunawain,kasi ang tsismix, delikado yan.
i'm so guilty. kahit anong gawin ko, built in na rin siguro sa pagkatao ko ang habit na ito. hahaha!
love,
nobe
www.deariago.com
www.iamnobe.wordpress.com
Since Biblical times, ipinakilala na sa atin through the Book of Provers ang mga rumor mongers.
So many people tried to occupy their idle mind by entertaining the habit of gossip. May kasabihan nga na "An idle mind is a devil's workshop".
“A man who lacks judgment derides his neighbor, but a man of understanding holds his tongue. A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret” (Proverbs 11:12-13).
God bless you Nebz.
i think for security reason para di mabuking ang pinaguusapan nyo. other to have fun of other. and sadly to criticize ones defects. I hope if we use it ay hindi nakakasakit ng ibang tao if they found out n sila yun.
sa tingin ko, pare-pareho lang tayo sa ibang lahi, baka may mga codings at name calling din sila sa mga Pinoy Expats, hindi lang din natin naiintindihan..
Salamat sa dalaw.
I totally agree with you all: lahat ng tao mahilig sa tsismis; lahat ng tao, they call other people various names. Normal ba itong matatawag? Siguro...
Pero when it borders into something na downgrading na to others, that's when we should stop.
kaka intriga kasi ang tsismis, kaya if you look sa phil television, klick ang the buzz ni kris aquino, at mga katsikahan SA PHIL TV PROGRAMS.
Sa kape kape namin sa umaga, puno din ng tsika.
Pero, yung sa amin, hanggang dun lang sa table, hindi na lumalagpas dun.
And if lumagpas,
cheap niya ha...
Depends din kasi sa mga nakakarinig ng tsismis.
KAMI ni secretary, number one sa gossips, pero it didnt go out , nasa amin na lang.
May decency baga kami...