Comments on: Compare People – Why? Part 2

By: Manoj Mathai

Manoj Mathai — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 10:42:07 +0000

I agree with Dishant. Children, nowadays are subjected to so much pressure, from their parents, peers, etc. Parents have a key role in helping their children figure out what they are good at and to let them pursue that instead of choosing a direction just because everyone else is going there or because the parents think its good for them.I also hate parents who have the habit of perpetually comparing their children with others’ and interfering when not required. Its their life, let them live it their way, all parents have to do is guide them a little, help them when they are in need and keep the interference to the minimum.

By: Dishant

Dishant — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 08:29:54 +0000

When you compare yourself with your peers in positive sense(provided you want to tread the same path)…It can actually prove to be beneficial for you..!
Comparisons based on marks / % ages is indeed unjust and useless!!.Parents,especially have a important role in not forcing their children in what they want their child to be!!
Rather, what should be done is to explore yourself,nurture your hidden talents and play on your own strengths!!.
As potrayed beautifully in Taare Zameen Par..Every child is indeed unique!!

By: Kaushik

Kaushik — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 05:06:46 +0000

Comparison has been there from the period of Cain and Abel

And as Dhanashree put it rightly- there can only be one comparison, with oneself, to see if I myself am a better individual – morally, health wise, financially etc, than I was some time ago

By: Dhanashree

Dhanashree — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 03:52:56 +0000

Comparison is a topic very close to my heart. We come across numerous stories in newspapers about youngsters committing suicide because they were not able to do well in a certain exam. Even in IITs there are numerous cases of suicides because of the intense pressure that students take when faced with a large competition. What such students should do is indulge in constructive comparison that is comparison of one’s past with one’s present. This is actually what leads to self-betterment. Also as you rightly pointed out in majority of the cases comparison is mostly on the basis of one parameter , generally it is academic. What such parents fail to understand is that their kid may have certain other skills in which he may be excellent. Who knows if Sachin Tendulkar’s parents would have continuously compared him academically he would not have been a cricketer of the stature he is today.
Also in many cases comparison by peers also causes serious problems. Many a times youngsters are forced into vices by friends saying “All of us are doing it, so why not you?” The child at a very young age should be taught to respect his values and not fall into any kind of pressure due to comparison. He should taught to respect his individuality.The key to avoid comparison is to recognize the uniqueness of each individual. As Harsha Bhogle puts it “If I cannot be Tendulkar then Tendulkar can also not be me”