Why is Envy often overlooked or downplayed? (Jordan, Jay Z, Kobe, Drake)

[mbewane]

I don't know if one can really be "envious" of someone who is in a totally different world. So for rappers it's kind of different, but professional basketball players are damn near super humans, taller, stronger, faster, etc. To be envious of someone like Kobe or MJ make no sense if you were never in the same bracket to begin with. You have to be insanely delusional, unless you yourself for example were already a solid starter on a NCAA team that had a shot at the NBA. For rappers unless you yourself have a rapping career that didn't take off for whatever reason it makes no sense to be envious. You can dislike someone without envying them, because for me "envy" implies a "that should've been me" sentiment. For example I dislike Draymond Green but I don't "envy" him because it's not like I could've ever been in his position to begin with. I dislike Drake but I don't "envy" him because I never touched a mic in my life and what he has I never could've had anyway. Envy in those cases would basically only reveal deep delusions of grandeur.

 

[kaldurahm]

There's a thread to be made here, but I don't think you should've applied it to celebrities. At the end of the day, who cares? Why would they care about poor people's thoughts?

But people that hate their brothers and sisters in the same position, that's a real problem.

 

[lib123]

I don't know if one can really be "envious" of someone who is in a totally different world. So for rappers it's kind of different, but professional basketball players are damn near super humans, taller, stronger, faster, etc. To be envious of someone like Kobe or MJ make no sense if you were never in the same bracket to begin with. You have to be insanely delusional, unless you yourself for example were already a solid starter on a NCAA team that had a shot at the NBA. For rappers unless you yourself have a rapping career that didn't take off for whatever reason it makes no sense to be envious. You can dislike someone without envying them, because for me "envy" implies a "that should've been me" sentiment. For example I dislike Draymond Green but I don't "envy" him because it's not like I could've ever been in his position to begin with. I dislike Drake but I don't "envy" him because I never touched a mic in my life and what he has I never could've had anyway. Envy in those cases would basically only reveal deep delusions of grandeur.

What you’re saying is logical but envy is largely emotional so people definitely envy other people who have reached levels they never had any chance of achieving. Especially with men when it comes to success, a lot of men compare themselves to other men in their age range so when someone close to their age has achieved exponentially more than them they’re more likely to question why they haven’t achieved more, not necessarily on that outlier level but more than where they are currently.

 

[b. woods]

 

[mbewane]

What you’re saying is logical but envy is largely emotional so people definitely envy other people who have reached levels they never had any chance of achieving. Especially with men when it comes to success, a lot of men compare themselves to other men in their age range so when someone close to their age has achieved exponentially more than them they’re more likely to question why they haven’t achieved more, not necessarily on that outlier level but more than where they are currently.

Yeah dont get me wrong I compare myself to more successfull men all the time too lol. But those are people I know and/or to which I can relate, average everyday guys. Basically it's "why did he make it and I didn't even though we both were dealt similar cards". And even then it's not really "envy" in my case, because I don't hate on their achievements or on them, but rather regret that MINE aren't as good. I'm not MAD at them, since their success is not the reason why I'm not successfull myself. I'm mad at myself. Friends, local djs, guys I know who carved out their own successful business doing something they like, etc.

It would make absolutely no sense for me, an average sized 45 year old breh who never took basketball seriously to be "envious" of Lebron James. Sure I can say "must be nice to be paid 50 mil to play bball" but I was never remotely close to that being even a distant possibility in my life, so it's absolute science fiction to me. Same with football players over here in Europe for example.

 

[Manolo]

Sigmund Freud has a theory that we use defense mechanisms to diminish things and people that threaten our ego.

When you have qualities, talents, achievements, etc. that someone lacks but wants, their ego feels threatened and it causes them anxiety.

But to admit their envy would be admitting that they’re inferior to that person and their ego won’t allow them to do that.

So they cope with these feelings by diminishing that person and hiding their envy behind hating, random criticisms and moral judgments.

 

[lib123]

Sigmund Freud has a theory that we use defense mechanisms to diminish things and people that threaten our ego.

When you have qualities, talents, achievements, etc. that someone lacks but wants, their ego feels threatened and it causes them anxiety.

But to admit their envy would be admitting that they’re inferior to that person and their ego won’t allow them to do that.

So they cope with these feelings by diminishing that person and hiding their envy behind hating, random criticisms and moral judgments.

Facts. And social media puts that into overdrive because people are comparing their real lives to other people's highlights.

 

[mikishere]

not that i agree or disagree but its hilarious that the first page is full of nikkas who constantly hate on at least one of the 4 mentioned

 

[mindgawn]

Can the opposite admit how much DWYCK they riding then?

Why if I push back against their perceived placement its jealousy, hatred, or Envy? I can't just like others game or music better?

Shyt low-key crazy how a grown man can find it others but don't see it in themselves

 

[Shadow King]

1) Everyone listed has some flawed personality traits that have been some degree of spotlight at one point or another and men in their same (sub) generation were of age to watch organic and forced narratives about them develop.

2) Outside of Drake only men are going to be discussing athletes and rappers intensely enough to care.

3) Most of these figures are more loved than hated.

I think people overstate how envious people are of them/someone as a way to dissuade any criticism

Rich / successful people are not above reproach

Have to agree with this.