Robert.O+(Human+Nature)

 include component="comments" page="Robert.O (Human Nature)" limit="10" Human Nature

When exploring the concept Insiders and outsiders one can explore all facets of society such as racism sexism ageism sporting ability, to nerd or not to nerd. Regardless of how we dress it up being an insider gives us power comfort and being and outsider is the opposite discomfort and powerless. Some of us have suffered from some of these forms of exclusion while some of us are the ones who enforce it. Everyone at some stage has experienced what it is to be an outsider. Although we have all experienced this some of us with more privileged lives do not completely understand what it feels like to be an outsider. I could give a high brow explanation to help you understand the helplessness of an outsider but instead it is easier to understand by comparing it to one of our most basic functions. Have you ever felt the extreme urge too void your bladder and bowels only to find that the toilet is occupied? Or perhaps you are the lucky one sitting on the toilet listening to the anguish of the one outside hammering upon the door. This could be in any situation whether at home, a social function or with friends. Hold that feeling while I analyze how this is a classic case of insiders and outsiders. The outsider is desperate to come inside and feel the same comfort and security that the insider is feeling. There are many ways for this to occur. One could stay there pleading and begging to be let in or one could wait patiently for the other to get bored and allow them inside. You could ask for other people to intervene or become aggressive by shouting swearing and threatening. You could be more subtle and act indifferent or bribe. But while this is all happening every moment you are feeling the pain discomfort and helplessness and you know they are a smug and annoying person.

Now imagine you are in the position of the insider. You are sitting comfortably when someone knocks and says they need to use the toilet. The insider, being in the position of comfort and power can chose, and now holds the outsiders fate in his hands. Will he hurry or will he wait longer enjoying the power, for once he allows the other to use the toilet he loses this power. How long will he prolong the suffering and savoring the moment to share with his friends to laugh at the discomfort? Now think that the outsider has finally gotten to the toilet when another comes along. Will the outsider now become an insider because he holds this power? Will he now give up the power he has fought for for all this time just so another will become an insider? Or instead will he now treat the other as he was treated because he holds the power? Now let’s leave the toilet for the moment and look at how the treatment of the outsider by the insider can affect future behavior. To do this we can look at racism and one of the most famous examples of modern history, the treatment of the Jews by Hitler and the Nazis. 6 million Jews were exterminated and all their rights we withheld. They were powerless and helpless. We can now relate this to the treatment of the Palestinians by the Israelis. The Israelis who were once in this position of contempt now treat the Palestinians in the same way. They could allow the Palestinians back into Israel and live harmoniously but instead are using their power to treat others how they were treated. This is an example of outsiders becoming the insiders and treating other outsider how they were treated. We can also look at the boat people. Is it fear, economics, social reasons or just because we can. What seems to me is that we are happy for them to use the toilet but just not ours. It is interesting to compare this to the migration of the Greeks and Italians in the 40s and the Vietnamese in the 70 and to see how they have merged into Australian society. While both groups were treated as outsiders when they first arrived but are now seen as insiders. Was it they who changed or us? It seems to me that insiders and outsiders are generally defines by the situation and there behavior and reaction to it. So next time someone hammers on the toilet door, how will you react?