Why do us filipino's have crab mentality?

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((((marian))))

i definitely agree that not all Filipinos are like this, when i was a kid i get jealous when other kids have some stuff that we cant have, i have 5 sisters and it would be really hard to have a toy for each of us.i just get jealous and its normal.. but i dont have this mentality. , if one of my classmate gets a higher grades i just think that if others can, why cant i? i do everything i can to compete or try to get higher grades with out pulling anyone down..

yvie

Actually it has something to do with "jealousy", or we call it "inggit".It is really existing to most Filipinos , I'm sorry to say it also.

Johny

Its human nature really. I personally think they have this mentality to show to themselves that they made it and try hard to forget about where they came from and how they are better than that now. The more things they have like a big house,boat and a car just adds to this which is a shame. People shouldn't forget where they come from but as sad as it is alot of Filipinos who move abroad do so.

To those who are saying bad things and spread rumours are the ones who are just jealous and it can't be helped as its human nature also. It's a defence and coping thing that helps them get self assurance in regards to their situation. Though you may hate it with all your heart it's never going to go away. Just try not to add to it and I'm sure you'll have done your part.

Iris

I kinda agree with you but not all filipinos are like that. My sis is an RN and she was new at this job and when they found out that she was the employee of the month after only been working there for 3 months lots of filipinos hated her because shes new and a lot of them been working for years and none of them got nominated for employee of the month. Now, theyre trying to compete with my sis and of course they're watching every move she makes so when she makes a mistake she gets reported. My sis couldnt take this anymore she actually turned in her resignation 3 days ago and her last day is may 14th 2008.
Also happened to me,too. Oh my GOD at my class its like the filipinos " knows everything". They always correct the teacher eventhough the teacher is right and they always talk and they re sooo loud while the teacher is talking. They always compete w/ their answers and they always compete who gets the highest scores..
Dont get me wrong Im filipina and I live in California. SO far the filipinos in California are the worse especially the tagalog ones. If you tell them your not from manila or your a bisaya they think your this province dumb person thats why I always try to avoid them. They also have clicks/groups. Honestly if you just say yes to them, dont argue w them, give them food or bring potluck they will help you but once you cross the line, they will gossip about u to death! hehe
Not all filipinos.. Just some.. just like any other racist, they have the bad ones and the good ones :)

Steff

according to what i've learned in my history classes, crab mentality was not originally Filipino, it was the Spaniards (no offense meant) who introduced it to us when they colonized us and it has become part of our culture ever since..It is certainly a negative trait and its observable among Filipinos, not in all of us but it is rumpant. Since it has attached to our culture, its hard to totally excise it from our people..then again its a matter of choice, you can either go with the flow or you can change it starting small with your own circle of family and friends..culture is not an excuse.

Religion Kills!

I am a U.S. citizen, but have worked and lived here for over 2 years.
I have noticed a lot of jealousy and some sabotage too.
I don't understand the mentality of all of this, but do know that if your friend has more, he/she is more likely to be able to help you when you need it.
If you have more, they depend on you for more.
If everyone helps each other to have more, they all enrich themselves by enriching each other.
Keeping or beating another down just drags everyone down.
I am thrilled when one of my Filipino friends gets some kind of good fortune, but most of my neighbors become upset at the person who does so well and even shuns them.

Cici

ahh hate it when people don't admit the reality. YES, u know what u are right, while not ALL filipinos are like this MANY are, and people should NOT DENY this. In the compound where I live WOW, we are not supposed to cover the sidewalk with freakin GRASS and PLANTS, but guess what, some jerk decided to and now 99% of the homes in this compound have planted grass on our sidewalks! Now people walk on the friggin road! This is proof of filipino's crab mentality, which I literally see everyday!

Rose S

I agree with you, I am living in korea now and I still see and experience that.

Benjamin C

envy

A B

This is what I think...

This is the unfortunate truth about SOME Filipinos.
I see this and have experienced this myself a number of times. I have been friends with and lived with this type. This is why I have been staying away from these types since. And let me share that it's getting harder and harder now to find someone who is not this superficial.

What it all comes down to, in my opinion, is that this way of thinking is shallow, very bitter, insecure and immature. Because deep down they feel that they are not good enough and will never be good enough. They are truly unhappy inside.

When someone who has crab mentality sees how happy the other person is, they immediately think that if they have the same or better material things - the bigger house or the latest car model - that those things will make them happy too.

Yes, they may borrow money from the bank and buy all those things to show you up, but they will never understand and be able to replicate the intangibles - personal happiness, family, inner peace, satisfaction, contentment, etc. That's really what they're trying to capture. When someone who has crab mentality fails to do that they will do everything they can to put you down and gossip about you because that's really the only way they know to make themselves feel and appear better than you. These types are not truly happy. They don't know how to be happy.

I am not a materialistic person because I personally don't want my home to look like a department store. I only have what I need and have what makes "me" comfortable. I also have observed that if you happen to have less , they think of you less as a person. It doesn't matter to me what they think. They will find out later in life what they've gotten themselves into. I have known and heard of Filipinos who got divorced and didn't know what to do with all the junk they've collected and those who got older and couldn't deal with cleaning and moving their dust collectors anymore.

P3nTa g

not all filipinos are like that .

Ollie Oliver

damn them! just ignore them and achieve your dreams & goals!

Merrick B

I see that in filipinos. I don't understand why either. But jealousy certainly stems when someone's better. Does it have to do with Phillippines being a poor country?

DeathStar

This trait does not belong to Filipino only.

Here we call it "red eyes". Not happy when sumbody advanced /ahead of you and start to badmouth him. This is common in the corporate world.

Why? Because of Jealousy and lack of understanding. There's no solution for it. This is life.

the italian idol

its mostly just gossip.

ken_r41

I undertsand what is being asked. Your question is more of an opinion, not fact. Your question is generalized and does not apply to all Filipino's. I know because I have spent my whole adult life either living in the Philippines or making annula trips to the Philippines and I too associate with other professional Filipino's

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_crab_mentality

Crab Mentality describes a way of thinking best described by the phrase...."if i can't have it, neither can you". It's a metaphor refering to a pot of crabs in which one of them tries to escape and instead is pulled down by the rest of them.

Read the above Wilki definition. Certainly not all Filipinos are like this

nigel_rys

hey i really liked your question AT FIRST because you were addressing a possible hindrance towards globalization, but when i got at the end of your question you were totally b!t(h!n, you do realize that this is the internet wherein people can freely state their feelings, and if you are not ready to read what you dont want to then i strongly suggest that you must not post another question here....

CHOCO CRUNCHIES

not all pinoys have this mentality...

dewdrop

not all of us are like that. some of us are actually proud and genuinely happy if our fellowmen succeed.

Brandy

It is true . The reason it exists is because some are not as christian as they would have others believe. not all have this attitude , but many do

Big P

Interesting question.
This question is not for me to answer. I will keep out

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