Do you believe that "everyone is the same" or that some people are better than others?

Question

I work a temp job in a medical office (a branch office of a national corporation) where one of the permanent office clerks likes to say "everyone is the same" in response to demanding patients that are more "accomplished" careerwise or in reference to corporate office holders and their sometimes demanding requests. I am very conflicted on this question and wonder what other people think. I believe that everyone is equal on a spiritual level and that everyone should be treated civilly - but not quite sure if worldly accomplishments should be ignored. For instance, I believe a medical doctor has accomplished a lot and provides a noble service to society and should be treated with the commiserate respect. The woman that says all are equal is a nice person who didn't go to college and part of me thinks that she wishes to lower the "status" of others in order to raise hers. Seems that she may have a chip on her shoulders (albeit somewhat repressed). Any thoughts?

Answer 1

I like your philosophy on the subject. Being conflicted about worldly accomplishments is the right way to be.

Let's say you meet a judge in his courtroom. You are in his world, and he is the 'master' of his domain. At a hot dog stand, he still deserves the same respect, but if he mistreats someone because of their lot in life not being the same as his, it's ok to defend the other person. His job gives him a title that is to be used in everyday life. We call him (or her) 'judge' or 'your honor' at the hot dog stand too.

The same with a doctor. A doctor's job carries with it a title, and since the reason the medical office is there is because of people like him, others act as support staff, and do as he asks. That's not to say you can't look him (her) in the eye like an equal, or even disagree with them, but it's customary to treat them with due respect when in their domain.

Advancement in the workplace is often times influenced by how you treat your superiors. If you're the one that doesn't get tongue-tied, and can carry on a fluid conversation effortlessly, your superiors will unconsciously view you as being one of their peers, and begin to treat you as such.

Like I imagine you do, I treat everyone with respect until they earn my disrespect. And then I continue to treat them with respect even when they don't deserve it. But, at least I know what to watch for in the future.

Answer 2

At the core, I think, on a human level, we are all equal, and each and every one should be treated humanely and civilly, with respect. This applies to getting basic services, justice, and treatment from others.

But, being "equal" is not equivalent to being the "same." (These terms of your question are problematic.) It goes without saying that we are born to different contexts, backgrounds, families, economic and cultural inheritances, AND capabilities. Some people would have more opportunities than others, and we would all choose paths to follow in life.

But, the level of "success" or "greatness" that society attributes to a person does not have to mean that he/she should get better treatment than others.

(unless, of course, this success means he/she is able to pay more for better service...such is the sad thing about economic inequality and our institutions).

Answer 3

This question is old as time, and overgeneralized as hell. No, not everyone is the same. That kind of homogeniety (sic?) is our worst nightmare.

But no one is truly better than another, either. To assume such is to assume that all humans are similar enough to be compared against each other in terms of quality. There are countless aspects of our identity. It's true that these aspects are mostly common among people, but everyone has things about themselves that are superior to others AND other things that are inferior to others.

For example, I consider myself to be a thoughtful person, not just sentimentally, but philosophically as well. That is a personal aspect which is above average (in my opinion). On the other hand, I have below-average confidence in who or what I am, while other people I know are much more self-assured.

That doesn't mean I'm better than a less thoughtful person or inferior to a more confident person. It just means I'm not perfect, and I'm not better than anyone else at everything. So are we all.

Answer 4

"The woman that says all are equal is a nice person who didn't go to college and part of me thinks that she wishes to lower the "status" of others in order to raise hers."

You have certainly hit on something there. People have differing ablities that different people value differently. We could go into the psychology of all that, but ... The idea for the concept equality is that we are to be free from the valuations of people who believe that human essence differs with ablity, and therefore assume nothing of those constituents of human essence as valuable generally. Such people are usually abusers of animals and believe in slavery. This woman probably fears to be treated as such and I don't condem her for it. Certainly we should value accomplishment of personal refinement and contribution, but for a moment to stupe to the level of that other condition and treatment is unconscionable, unacceptable and correctable.

As self conscious sensitive creatures, as we evolve, I hope the constituent Love accomodates the knowledge of all other human spiritual phenomena. If not, we have a very bleak and dim future ahead. At the moment hate has the com..

Answer 5

It depends on what you are suggesting that makes us different.

We are definetely not all the same. We are all born very, very different. We all have different values and beliefs.

That said, I don't believe that some people are better than others. I have a philosophy that I live by. If I ever have a successful career, that means I've failed at my ideal life. So because I have no desire to be successful in a career, does that mean a doctor is "better" than me? I certainly don't believe so.

Is a man that works hard to support his family as a janitor "better" than a lawyer? Of course not. I think you are equating "better" with career and that certainly isn't a good measure of a person.

Answer 6

The term "better" is probably a personal perception. I myself don't value people for the same things most people do. As far as being the same, people are definitely not the same, however they should be treated equally under most circumstances.

Answer 7

I think that we are all capable of greatness. There are people that take that capability and run with it! And then there are those that are afraid to try.

We should admire people instead of being jealous. Their accomplishment show the world what is possible. What could possibly more beautiful?

I believe that we are all CAPABLE of greatness, but no, sadly, we are not all the same.

Answer 8

We all know it's unwize to critacize as we've been told we all came from the same mold...never the less some are moldier than others...

Answer 9

Everyone is only as good as their own PR (Public Relations.)

Answer 10

not evreyone is equal michael jorden and you theres no compareison.But you should treat everyone fair.