The problem with POWER

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Political power (imperium in Latin) is a type of power held by a person or group in a society. There are many ways to hold such power. Officially, political power is held by the holders of the sovereignty. Political powers are not limited to heads of states, however, and the extent to which a person or group holds such power is related to the amount of societal influence they can wield, formally or informally.

Political scientists have frequently defined power as "the ability to influence the behaviour of others" with or without resistance.

NO, I will not start a political discussion. I think that my former colleagues at the Political Science Department of De La Salle will react violently if ever I do start one.

Just a simple note... that simply stated, there are those who can handle power and those who cannot. Being in the business sector for the last five years has afforded me the luxury of actively observing how power is wield by people who are supposedly powerful or those who just simply think that they are. During all those times, I have noticed that real power has a humbling effect on a human being... while "power" based on self perception has the opposite effect.

example 01

My car was rear-ended by some drunk dude in Sta.Mesa last year. The drunken man stepped out of his vehicle proclaiming his guilt as he confessed that he was texting somebody at the time. He however said that there will be no problem because he is "Chinese" and that he is rich being in the construction business. I called a friend who sent two officers on the scene in less than 5 minutes and we were all brought to PCP 8. The drunk dude, upon realizing that the damaged car wasn't "regular" pleaded "poor" on all counts.

example 02

Same night, the officers of the said PCP brought in two groups who were in a fight. One guy in shorts and yellow shirt claims that he has the cellphone number of the President... and that he should be treated with due respect being the friend of the President who was residing just a few blocks away in Malacañang. (that was the most fun I had that evening... but in retrospect, I think he meant the President of the Concepcion Aguila Fish Vendor's Association. he, he, he)

example 03

Some guys in a ktv slaps a waiter around for being inattentive to their needs... now that's what I call being powerful! Slap some helpless and powerless employee around.

-- My personal motto about this... never argue or fight with a waiter, a cook or the security guard. The more you piss them off, the more paranoid you would become as to what's in your food or drink, or how your car is doing out there in the parking area.

(If you want to prove your courage... pick on somebody more powerful than you are)

example 04

Ugly yet feeling beautiful, but supposedly rich club owner shouts around at all her employees simply to show off to her friends how powerful she is. Actually, that's her strategy to cover up on all her inadequacy as a boss since she hasn't paid anyone their salaries for six months -- now that's pathetically plain bad manner.

example 05

City official threatens closure to an establishment... that's power! Next question... Until when?

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You see, nobody is exempted from brandishing their power around. And I mean, nobody. Every once in a while, some anomalous cricket in your brain wakes up and then you'd feel the urge to be an asshole. For me, this is normal. What is not normal, is the frequency of which your crickets overwhelms your sensibility as a human being. When it becomes too often, then it becomes your character. And a good character (reputation) is hard to come by these days... and a negative perception in one's character is difficult to erase.

So the next time you feel like exercising your power, think twice... and then think again. There are more ways to exercise power than the obvious... and as I always say... we are here to make friends... not enemies.