That's it, I guess.

Well, that's just it.

The promo exam results are out, and finally things are over and done with. I'm sick of it already anyway. I did better than I thought I would, but mostly that's because I'm both self-effacing and arrogant at the same time.

"Mugger!"

That's what Wei Jian and Bobby always says to, well, muggers. Definition? People who mug for exams.

Obviously, the duo doesn't like muggers.

I look at their definition, and I look at myself, and I draw startling parallels. Not because I'm a mugger. (God knows I _don't_ study.) But because I have the negative traits of a mugger: arrogant, good-for-nothing, complacent, nose-in-the-air, and many others.

Yeah, I'm bitching about myself.

Why do I say I'm a mugger? (Even though I definitely don't mug?) Because a mugger doesn't need to mug to be a mugger. What makes a lion a lion? We usually equate lions to the traits of strength, courage, majesty. But can a timid lion be a lion? Or is it the traits that make the lion a lion? Or is there no such thing as a timid lion?

Is there such a thing as a mugger who doesn't mug?

I say yes. Like the freaks of every society, there are lions without the traits of lions, there are muggers without the traits of muggers, and there are humans without the traits of humans. And going along the same line of thought, there are non-lions with the traits of lions, non-muggers with the traits of muggers, and non-humans with the traits of humans.

Example: A weasel who fights a hopeless battle against a lion to protect its young exhibits courage. But weasels are not known for courage. Weasels are known as, well, weasel-ly creatures who slink about and nibble at where you cannot swat them away. But what do you call a weasel with the courage of a lion?

Example: I do not mug, but I display all the traits of a mugger: namely, being a hypocrite, worrying about results when I should not, faking concern where I know I'm good, thinking I'm good at something, putting on a brave front for the sake of putting it on, telling others I expect bad results, and inwardly reacting badly when the results do turn out to be bad.

Yeah, I'm one fucked up bastard.

Now, going along with my argument, I have proven that there ARE creatures who do not adhere to the image widely expected of them. So, what are these misfits of the society called? Do they still suscribe to the group they belong to, or are they under the jurisdiction of the group whose traits they exhibit? Is a non-mugger who display mugger-traits a mugger or not? Is a weasel who is as courageous as a lion a weasel or a lion?

Are you thirsty?

No? Yes? Does it matter?

Well, chances are: no.

But humans put undue emphasis on labels and discrimination. So well, in line with human traits (I'm only human, afterall.) I shall bring out the huge labels, and make a decision now.

First example: The lionish weasel.

Is the weasel a lion, or a weasel? First, let us examine both weasel and lion traits.

What is a Weasel?

Weasels are mammals in the genus Mustela of the Mustelidae family. Originally, the name "weasel" was applied to one species of the genus, the European form of the Least Weasel(Mustela nivalis). Literary references to weasels usually refer to this species rather than to the genus as a whole.

(Thanks to Wikipedia)


A weasel, in common folklore, is depicted as a creature which slinks about, doing unsavoury things out of sight. When a person first thinks of a "weasel" in fantasy context, the picture comes to mind of a farm in the dark of twilight, and chickens sleeping. A flash of shadow, and then pandemonum. By the time the farmer rouses and rushes to investigate, the weasel would have made off with a chicken, and without tracks.

In modern day context, a weasel has been used as personification for skulduggery. Look at the following example:

"That m'fug, whatever his intelligence, still has all the worst traits of a weasel -- he'd backstab President Bush himself if there was a way it'd advance his own career."

(Taken from an anonymous blog)

And what about Lions?

The Lion (Panthera leo) is a mammal of the family Felidae. The male lion, easily recognized by his mane, may weigh up to 250 kg (550 lb). Lions are predatory carnivores who live in family groups, called prides. Despite its popular moniker of "King of the Jungle", the lion is an animal of the open plains, and can be found on the savannas of much of Sub-Saharan Africa.

(Thanks to Wikipedia)

I need not elaborate much on a lion's perceived traits, I hope. We all know that a lion embodies at least in human culture) courage, strength, majesty and pride. In effect, the direct opposite of a weasel.

Now, can you imagine a weasel as courageous as a lion? Not likely. However, please read the following about a common species of weasel:

The stoat is territorial and relatively intolerant of others in its range, especially others of the same sex. Within its range, it typically uses several dens, often taken from prey species.

(Thanks to Wikipedia)

Can you imagine what will happen if some other animal intrudes upon its lair? As a canivore, (yes, weasels eat other mammals from as small as rodents to the size of rabbits.) weasels are well versed in the art of combat. In the wilds, those who fail to protect their own would no doubt be wiped out. An intrusion would not be taken lightly, and the result, a ferocious defense, even if the opponent is much larger and stronger.

Cornered, a weasel would fight with as much, or even more courage than a lion.

So what do we call these weasels who fight with a lion's courage? A lion-weasel? Or maybe a liasel? Or a weasion? Why, we call them a lion, of course. Humans label things based on traits they see and expect. If a weasel displays traits of a lion, then humans label them as lions.

Irrational? If you think about it, even YOU label people you have yet to get to know under a perceived label, no matter what he really is. If you meet a guy wearing 5 cm thick glasses, his nose in a book, clad in trousers pulled to his stomach, and wearing a clean white shirt that bears the creases from sitting down to read at the library, your brain jumps immediately to "NERD!".

But he might be a jock who loves basketball, wearing a costume for the sake of a halloween party.

If we meet a weasel, and it displays the traits of a lion, the first thing our brains will jump to is, "LION!".

So, what do you call a non-mugger who displays mugger traits?

Yes! A mugger is born!

All hail his Muggership, Vincent!

Long live the Grand Muggerer!
--

P.S. If you have followed my argument, you should have realised, of course, that all this is hinging on IMPLIED perceptions. If you SHOW others you have non-mugger traits, you'll be labelled as a non-mugger. This means, you can be a mugger at heart, while appearing to be a non-mugger. Of course, it may sound easy, but the art of hypocrisy is not so simple.

Maybe I'll talk about it, and share with you some secrets of my hypocrisy technics the next time I blog. Well, till then, tata~!

Looking to the future~
+ + +

Comments: Post a Comment