Here are all the other ways in which FOMO and the fear of not fitting in or losing a competitive edge kills us, both literally and metaphorically :
Drug use in college and alcohol consumption at all ages. I like the occasional beer. But too often alcohol consumption is a slippery slope that turns into many more drinks than is fun or desirable. And what happens in college sets the tone for life at work and home.
Drug use in sports. India is among the top three countries to return the most positive doping test results. More embarrassingly this doping does not result in great medal tallies. Which probably means our athletes are not cycling their drug use well. This is probably more shameful than the actual act of doping.
Breaking traffic rules. The things we do to save a couple of minutes and few bucks in fuel like taking the wrong side, darting through service lanes is probably costing everyone a lot more fuel and plenty of needless deaths.
Steroid use in most bodybuilding competitions. To call it an open secret would be silly. It’s a competitive necessity.
The great Indian wedding is a silly game of one-upmanship. Bigger venues, gaudier events, ostentatious displays. Sure, it’s a choice. But it also feels like a race.
Loudspeaker use and public displays of private faith or beliefs. Why is loudspeaker use in mosques, churches and temples use even a thing? In an era where everyone has a speaker on their phone, this is pointless. And temples planting tents, poles etc in roads. Mosques and churches building onto periphery of roads. Religious expression is an arms race of increasingly public displays that inconvenience the public.
Paying bribes and receiving bribes. You get ostracised if you don’t take bribes. And you feel like an idiot navigating red-tape if you don’t pay them and deal with the legal consequences.
Test scores and schools. Need i add to this?
The worst part. This sense of seeking a competitive edge rarely extends to good habits like personal upkeep, hygiene or care for ones personal space. We mock people for restrained eating or being organised with their food.
Far fewer people think ‘look at them doing single leg squats, they’re going to have healthy knees for decades. I am going to do this too’. Or admire frugality. Same goes for admiring restrained celebrations of any personal beliefs or occasions.
Our competitive streak emerges only when it is counterproductive.
Drug use in college and alcohol consumption at all ages. I like the occasional beer. But too often alcohol consumption is a slippery slope that turns into many more drinks than is fun or desirable. And what happens in college sets the tone for life at work and home.
Drug use in sports. India is among the top three countries to return the most positive doping test results. More embarrassingly this doping does not result in great medal tallies. Which probably means our athletes are not cycling their drug use well. This is probably more shameful than the actual act of doping.
Breaking traffic rules. The things we do to save a couple of minutes and few bucks in fuel like taking the wrong side, darting through service lanes is probably costing everyone a lot more fuel and plenty of needless deaths.
Steroid use in most bodybuilding competitions. To call it an open secret would be silly. It’s a competitive necessity.
The great Indian wedding is a silly game of one-upmanship. Bigger venues, gaudier events, ostentatious displays. Sure, it’s a choice. But it also feels like a race.
Loudspeaker use and public displays of private faith or beliefs. Why is loudspeaker use in mosques, churches and temples use even a thing? In an era where everyone has a speaker on their phone, this is pointless. And temples planting tents, poles etc in roads. Mosques and churches building onto periphery of roads. Religious expression is an arms race of increasingly public displays that inconvenience the public.
Paying bribes and receiving bribes. You get ostracised if you don’t take bribes. And you feel like an idiot navigating red-tape if you don’t pay them and deal with the legal consequences.
Test scores and schools. Need i add to this?
The worst part. This sense of seeking a competitive edge rarely extends to good habits like personal upkeep, hygiene or care for ones personal space. We mock people for restrained eating or being organised with their food.
Far fewer people think ‘look at them doing single leg squats, they’re going to have healthy knees for decades. I am going to do this too’. Or admire frugality. Same goes for admiring restrained celebrations of any personal beliefs or occasions.
Our competitive streak emerges only when it is counterproductive.