TEXT VIEWS: What are the telltale signs of the dreaded “crab mentality” in our society?
When GMA boasts that the economy is improving and the opposition says that we are still as poor as a rat, that is an example of crab mentality. – Ricardo Tolentino, Laoag City
Pag mayroon nang nagmalinis na Pinoy at kunwari pinintasan ang kapwa Pinoy, surely, that’s crab mentality. – Loi Castillo, Davao City
Isn’t the constant hullabaloo in the Senate not a telltale sign yet? Our honorable senators are crabs pulling one another down! – Lydia Reyes, Bataan
Those unabated, evidence-less, all-hearsay Senate investigations aimed to bring PGMA down is a telltale sign. – C. Manalastas, Manila
The usual sign of Filipino crab mentality is putting down the one going up because of envy, insecurity and self-interest. Ex-Senate President Jovito Salonga was the most logical candidate of the Liberal Party in the 1992 Presidential election but he was deserted by his bigwig party mates for their personal agenda. Dr. Salonga ended fifth in the seven-corner fight but he was consoled by winning the intellectual votes that was virtually a very small minority in the country. – Germi Sison, Cabanatuan City
Back-biting and fault-finding are the most dreaded telltale signs of crab mentality in our society. – Armando Tavera, Las Piñas City
The mudslinging among our government officials is the obvious sign of crab mentality affecting the country. - Steve dela Cruz, Metro Manila
Just look at what most members of the opposition are doing. Instead of being high-level fiscalizers, they resort to negative, oftentimes nasty, and personalized forms of mudslinging and grandstanding. - Nyogie San Andres, Camarines Sur
The dreaded crab mentality is prevalently confined to the political landscape, where protagonists adapt all available techniques including murder to put down/defeat or eliminate an opponent. Worse, the virus is now on the run up to 2010. – P. Alagano Sr., Vigan
Just look at the opposition’s presidential wannabes who keep on attacking and pestering the government instead of helping. – Rey Ibalan, Antipolo City
Crab mentality is one of the major negative attitudes most Pinoys have. This is why our country lags behind neighboring nations. We are always jealous of what our neighbors have. Some of our leaders can’t accept the good achievements of either the administration or the opposition. This is why unity seems very far behind. They always grandstand to show that they are better than others. Why don’t we work collectively to ease the economic crisis and bring forth prosperity for our country? - Manny Canlas, Connecticut, USA
Owners of one-digit license plates are the kings and queens of crab mentality. – Juan Eduardo, Baguio City
Crab mentality is born out of envy and selfishness among our politicians. No Bicolano has ever become President because of it. – Jim Veneracion, Naga City
Killings due to business rivalry; people rejoicing when their wealthy neighbors go bankrupt and suffer its adverse effects. – Leonard Villa, Laoag City
Sorry to say but most Pinoys exhibit signs of crab mentality due to the slow pace of their status in life. It’s the same as ningas cogon. – Rency Santos, Rizal
It is crab mentality that has contributed to our leaders and people’s bad attitude, which, in turn, has caused our nation’s political and economic failure. - Delfin Todcor, Mt. Province
Our chaotic social environment, as spawned by forces pulling down the national leadership. Even good harvests are hoarded to create a crisis. – Rudy Tagimacruz, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon
The telltale signs of crab mentality in our society are retrogression and stagnancy. That’s why we don’t progress. – Dave Velasco, Marinduque
What is not crab mentality is snitching on a fellow Filipino who’s a law-breaker. It’s our civic duty to report them. – Jon Go, Caloocan
I don’t think that we Filipinos have crab mentality. Di tayo utak biya o ayungin kaya. Our problem is our being todo-pasa most of the time. – Cris Rivera, Rizal
Some people are not happy when someone is doing his or her job well, so instead of giving a helping hand, they do pull him down to the ground. – Johann Lucas, Quezon City
It’s consuming envy and sadness at the success of anybody we know and mingle with in the same circle or community. Like crabs, those below the pyramid of life tend to pull down those nearing the top. Another detestable trait of one working his way to success is highlighting the weaknesses of his peers and building oneself as the only person deserving of the job or promotion to higher position. – William Gonzaga, Marikina City
Grabbing credit from others, refusing to acknowledge good performance, or spreading rumors that would jeopardize another’s promotion. – Ching Gaspar, Laoag City
You’re asking me? I was removed from traffic and transferred to “rescue” after my chief found out I was a Law Enforcers Riders Association of the Philippines (LERAP) member. “Ako lang ang bida dito!” He said when we escorted VIPs. He didn’t know that I’ve been a VIP motorcycle escort since 1993. Nainggit! – Gerii Calupitan, Mandaluyong City
Crab mentality is prevalent among those who want to lord it over. By pulling down others, they can get to the top like kings and queens. The signs are varied – envy, vanity, competition, among other things. – Elpidio Que, Vigan
When intriga weirdoes throw everything at a fast-rising star in showbiz to put her down, that’s crab mentality at its best. – Risa Golez, Metro Manila
The feeling of envy for those who strive and succeed. People also badmouth them and practice character assassination. – Gerry del Cano, Tarlac
Telltale signs of crab mentality? It is so odiously rampant everywhere in our society – in government, in business and in organizations, whether civic or religious – that it has become a vulgar manifestation of a newly-developed negative Filipino trait. One disgusting practice is the employment of dirty tactics and intrigues to destroy a person perceived to be a threat to the ambition of a wannabe with the help of his coterie of “experts.” Another is in business arena, where scandalous quarrels are triggered by crab mentality because of envy, jealousy or pure greed, and everybody ends up as losers. – I. Calata, Parañaque City
That green-eyed monster envy, jealousy, and pride. When left uncontrolled, it even leads to criminal acts. This may sound extreme, but it happens. – Ella Arenas, Pangasinan
It’s pure and simple envy – always asking the inevitable, “Why am I not as successful and wealthy as they are?” - Lito Sandico, Quezon City
When a person does not appreciate or tries to block the success of another, this is a sure sign of crab mentality or envy. – Dr. Manolo Cristi, Quezon City
Signs of crab mentality? I don’t see them. In fact, some even glorify those who amass questionable wealth. – R. Santos, Isabela
When the fangs of envy and the claws of destructive criticism rear their menacing ugliness, beware! – L.C. Fiel, Quezon City
Kapag mas marami ang sitsit at masamang pagpuna sa mainam na gawa, ito ay badya ng lilong dila at utak talangka. – Rey Onate, Palayan City
It’s simple, actually. Media headlines, especially PGMA-bashing, are a telltale sign of crab mentality. – N. Campaner, Tacloban City
The telltale signs of the dreaded crab mentality in our society is the continuous attitude of people to focus on the mistakes of others. – Arvin Padual, Quezon City
One example is the Biodiesel Fuels Act. One man’s vision for a clean air in environment is hampered by the many with clouts to oil firms. – Joseph Aliviado, Cebu City
The signs abound in the apparent wanton neglect and/or abandonment of government edifices that were the brainchild or successful projects of previous administrations. – Myrna Militante, Quezon City
Bahala ka and “Why should I help you?” syndrome among our people. – Mike Manalastas, Manila
That’s crab mentality by the Governor of Bohol. Suppose a calamity hit his province and the other governors decide to ignore him? - T. Sanez, Cavite
Notable are wrongly-parked cars of neighbors, giving other road users a hard time in maneuvering their vehicles to and from their homes. – Jun Cajucom, Tacloban City
In my neighborhood, there is a clear manifestation of crab mentality. Some don’t want to see others having a good life. All they want is to see others going down. When they see something new, oh they are so inquisitive. Some would even lure my maids to transfer to them. Though I started living here only in 1983, I consider myself an old resident since this place belonged to my lola. That time, I saw concern among neighbors; there was even bayanihan. She didn’t need to call for help because there were ready hands before you knew it. Back then, all the houses had small eskinitas to get to the other houses. Walang inggitan, everybody was for everybody. I know this because when my Lola cooked, I would ask her why she was cooking plenty of food, and she would reply, “This is so I can give some to your Lola Tale, Lola Juanita, Lola Ninay” and so on and so forth. Sometimes, there would suddenly be some goodies on the table. Bigay ng mga Lola ko daw. Though they weren’t actually my Lolas, I miss them and the whole old neighborhood where comradeship was prevalent, unlike today where I am surrounded by notorious, cynical wolves, panting with jealousy that keep staring. – Rose Leobrera, Manila
Crab mentality is a way of life for Filipinos. If not, Filipinos would be more contented, jueteng will cease to exist, the rabid opposition’s rhetorics would become moderate, and the greed and corruption of public officials would be minimal. Having a huge purse doesn’t imply that one is successful. A successful man is one who is contented with what he has. The cure to crab mentality is to obey the teachings of Jesus as He had said that man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. Crab mentality is the corruption of how Filipinos interpret and practice Western individualism against the inherent tendency of living as a group, as is the nature of Orientals. - Jeferson Zerrudo, Rizal
A sure sign of crab mentality is that everyone wants to be corrupt like 99.9 percent of Philippine government officials. – Roy Farol, Quezon City
I don’t want to get personal as I respect each and everyone and whatever crab mentality we have is no doubt part of our culture. Personally, I just strive to make the best out of the worst, instead of mainggit, manisi ng iba, at mawalan ng tiwala. The bottomline is sort things out, throw away trash. – Imee Aglibot, Rizal
To N.V. Lansangan: I agree with you. People who are demanding the resignation of PGMA are selfish and have “crab mentality”. For them, PGMA cannot do anything right. They want her government to fail so they can take over. – Juan Deveraturda, Zambales
In his “criminal disobedience,” Cito Beltran simply took the words right off my mouth. We have become too full of ourselves to recognize and submit to authority. No wonder we’re in a mess. - Jong Sorra, Parañaque City
To Geoffrey Gumban: One of the blessings of Inbox is being able to interact with folks like you. So keep that thumb busy, my friend. Have a great day! – L.C. Fiel, Quezon City
Yup, let’s not scrimp on beer since these make all women better-looking. Bottoms up! – Art Bugarin, Tarlac
To Sir J. Bondoc: I like that piece “Better to plunder than to mutiny”. You have millions to hire the shrewdest lawyers to defend you and to harass would-be witnesses and judges or donate to the campaign fund of sure winners in the 2010 elections and, presto! Lusot ka na. – Manuel Abejero, Pangasinan
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