I think it is part of human nature to constantly compare things to be better or worse- it comes from an evolutionary advantage we possess that allowed us to quickly decide what’s best for survival and wellbeing. So, comparing ideas, objects, and people is a natural response to seeing 2 different things. I have felt that I was better than someone hundreds of times in my life. It is a daily occurrence. However, this has never stemmed from an ego that I try to fuel by making myself feel superior, it is my perception of a fact that I can clearly see. For example, if a friend and I were cooking the same dish and their dish comes out tasting significantly worse than mine, the first thought I would have is “I’m a better chef.” This doesn’t mean I’m invalidating their entire human experience by saying I’m better, it means that I am better than them in one aspect that they could very well improve in.
I have equally felt less than someone else. Not because I’m insecure of my standing compared to them, but because I have flaws and aspects of life that I can improve in. I may be a good chef compared to my friends, but standing beside my mother, I feel like whatever skill I possess is minimal.
If everyone were the same, there would be no individuality. With this, comes a society that doesn’t grow. Innovators, artists, producers, thinkers, inventors wouldn’t exist because there would be nothing separating them from everyone else. The power we hold as a society is a direct result of our differences and acceptance of the fact that millions of people will be better than you at one thing and worse at another. Therefore, it is absurd to feel that you as a person are a better human than someone else: “Better than” is not a term we can use to compare humans; functionality varies across thousands of things a person could possibly do in their life.
