Stephen Hawking once said that the greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge. Often at times, people have preconceived notions of others and, in turn, either underestimates or overestimates that person. The human mind is capable of being quick to judge and, as a result, those who are held liable for it have to face the consequences of their actions. Not everyone has the same predisposition; thus, it is natural for a person to encounter a wide variety of adversaries. Some may disguise themselves as one who is innocent and gullible or try to project a different persona in the presence of others. With this in mind, critical thinking is the key to triumph over the battlefield.
In the case of Muhammad, the shain of Khwarezm, it was a matter of underestimating his opponent, who was Gengis Khan. Genghis Khan offered sharing the Silk Route to Europe with Muhammad and even promised peace between their empires. However, Gengis Khan was a new tribal leader at that time; thus, Muhammad was led in believing that he was not worth his time and that he wouldn’t pose a threat if he rudely declined his offer. Genghis Khan attempted more than once to persuade Muhammad in accepting his offer but this led to the aforementioned in offending not only Kahn’s pride but his honor as well. This aggravated Khan into waging a war with Muhammad which led to the former seizing and destroying the latter’s empire, forcing him to flee with nothing but his worn down pride.
Never underestimate your opponent or think less of him. You never know the force of his blow when he comes in for an attack. Muhammad made a reckless move when he offended Genghis Khan. He devoted his time in expanding his empire but his actions were left short when his excessive pride caused its downfall. If someone makes a request and you find it insignificant, simply turn the person’s offer down as respectfully and graciously as you can to avoid offending him because you never know who you truly are dealing with.
There are other cases wherein your opponent can be someone driven by his insecurities to the point of obsessing over attaining revenge to those who have wronged him or someone who is totally ignorant and is unable to be deceived. In addition, he can be someone who shows suspicion towards everyone and puts those who think are after him into a bad position. In the art of battle, one has to be cunning and wise enough to know how to measure up his opponent without letting his instincts and biases carry him away. Perhaps one has to participate in the flawed system of pretensions to be the one left standing.
Teri Marcelo
HI 18 K
59 comments:
In any case, one shouldn't really underestimate nor overestimate anyone. In order to avoid offending another person, most especially the wrong person for this matter, one has to treat each and everyone with respect, even if it's one's enemy.
In the end, knowing who you're dealing with should not be the primary concern. Instead, knowing how to deal with the situation is what one should put more attention to.
Tom Manahan
Hi 18 - K
without thinking Machavellian, this law simply alludes to the (supposedly) normal way of thinking: be nice to everyone, remember your manners, and don't talk too much (especially when you're in front of people you don't know very well).
You have to be constantly aware of the fact that you're not only talking to one person when you relay info but also to huge networks (think Friendster/Facebook). everyone's connected so a misplaced word can bite you in the ass in no time.
monica ang, L
i have to agree with this law -- it's wiser to over estimate an opponent because you over prepare. and, at least, if you over prepare, you are more than capable of handling whatever situation you find yourself in.
if you over estimate someone, you also compliment them by showing that you were threatened more than necessary (it is always comforting to know that people acknowledge one's power).
however, you can show how poorly you estimate people when you either over or under prepare.
like monica, we should follow the golden rule: do unto others what you want others to do unto you.
kyra ballesteros hi18 K
I see your point, Tom. In the long run, what we should take in consideration is how we treat others more than concerning ourselves with the background of who we're dealing with. However, we don't live in a society wherein the welfare of others is the top priority in everyone's list. Sadly, in the art of war or battle (figuratively speaking), the key is protecting yourself and looking after your needs. Letting your guard down is a big NO. Being one step ahead of our oppoonent is a must. This is what separates the winners from the losers, in this case.
Teri Marcelo
Hi 18 - K
upon reading about your law, i remembered two famous quotes:
"don't judge a book by its cover."
"looks can be deceiving."
both of these quotes are very true and are connected with law 19. in dealing with other people, it is really important for one to know who the other person actually is. one must get to know the other person well. one must set aside preconceived notions because these notions may not necessarily be accurate or true. it is important to think critically of others because in that way, you are really know who you are dealing with.
you do not want to offend the wrong person because it is very embarrassing to do so. it shows that one acted immediately before thinking. one must plan well, know who he or she is really dealing with, and make wise decisions.
-Philip Albert T. Verde
Hi18 K
the more you expect, the more liable you are to be disappointed. it's a pretty negative statement but i think it's quite accurate. i guess it's the same with people. the less you think of your opponent, the harder it will be for you to adjust when you're presented with someone you didn't expect.
ocampo 18-k
As someone who's taking into consideration and possibly applying some (if not all) of these 48 laws, you should know that some people will be smart enough to contain themselves and pretend to be capable of only minimal things. Therefore, it should not come as a surprise that there is a law that teaches you to defend yourself from the clever moves that you yourself might apply.
Underestimating someone is an act of stupidity and carelessness. Stupidity because it takes a lot of guts underestimate someone, and for you to have those guts would mean you're DEAD sure this person is not capable of anything more than what he/she has displayed. Which is where carelessness comes in - carelessness because you were not careful enough to verify and observe the people around you.
Though it might sound wrong, there is a right/proper way of offending someone to get what you want such that it doesn't bounce back to you.
Hi18 L
I think that the law is precisely telling us to know what others are capable of and use that as a gauge for your actions.
The Philippines won't wage war against China or The United States because we cannot stand against their forces, and because we benefit a lot from their trade. Players of Civ will know that it's foolish to attack an empire that's 2-3x bigger and more advanced than yours. Entrepreneurs survey the competition before establishing businesses. The Greeks formed the Delian League because they knew that Persia was a force to be reckoned with.
A wise leader uses his or her knowledge of stronger colleagues in dealing with foreign nations and leaders. A solider armed with a handgun cannot go to war against an army of tanks and fighter planes.
Chio Cebrero
Hi 18 L
Rising to power is all about having connections and the right one at that. "Strength in numbers," as they say.
You shouldn't act too capriciously and risk swaying the wrong crowd. They could bring you down so it's best to bite your tongue instead of saying things which could sound way out of line for them. It's always safe to be on the right side of people whether or not you consider them as your enemies.
Krizia Javate
Hi18-K
I guess this is why intel has been the primary commodity in today's society. What you can achieve by knowing all there is to know about the enemy is boundless (or at least to the point that you can exploit his/her weakness). That's why research institutions like McKinsey take pride in their work. They evaluate and examine the market, analyze it then sell to the highest bidder. Lucrative business, methinks.
If you have the information to one-up on your rivals, you're the king of the hill in every which way. Errors are far less committable since you're the know-it-all.
Joey Palma
Hi18-K
To Monica:
I think that constant awareness of our disposition to others is the key to protecting ourselves. Yes, everyone is connected, even in the smallest sense, so we must be hyperaware of our actions and what we say to others. I believe that people have the tendency to not think before they act or before they speak; thus, a lot can be used against them. Other than unmasking the true nature of others we must not forget to put up our own front and play the game of false pretenses for our betterment.
Teri Marcelo
Hi 18-K
To Kyra:
I agree with what you said regarding overestimating our opponent. As the saying goes, most would rather be safe than sorry. We shouldn't let our guard down and always expect the worse from our opponent so that we won't downplay their abilities. We have to be prepared all the time and expect that everyone is out to get us so that we won't be in shock when someone attacks us.
The golden rule is universal; thus, it can easily be applied to a lot of situations. However, I think with this rule, we have to keep in mind that in the art of war people are mostly out to get us so we must not rely on how nice we treat others alone.
Teri Marcelo
Hi 18-K
To Philip:
Yes the quotes "don't judge a book by its cover." and "looks can be deceiving." can definitely be applied to this law. As I have said, we shouldn't judge our opponents by mere appearances alone because we really never know what's going inside their heads, they could seem nice on the outside but be deceiving and cunning on the inside. Judging based on looks will make us underestimate our opponents and we will end up being hanged for this. Looks absolutely can be deceiving, we can't assume that all of our assumptions of people are correct. One must remember to keep an open mind, when it comes to dealing people, and to never underestimate someone without getting to truly know that person.
Teri Marcelo
Hi 18-K
To Bea:
We never want to be unprepared when someone comes after us. Thus, it's better to expect the worse from our opponent so that we will be prepared for whatever comes. We always have to think of the possible dangers in dealing with someone and to never overlook their abilities, even if they may seem weak or frail.
Teri Marcelo
Hi 18-K
To Miguel:
I agree that it's careless and stupid to underestimate someone. Who are we to truly judge someone and undermine their abilities? In order to survive in a competitive world, one must never overlook anyone as an opponent. Some people have won wars because they were able to deceive their opponents. We must never let this happen to us. We always have to be aware of our surroundings and the people in it. We must never ignore anyone and take them out of our list of supposed threats. Thinking that everyone is out to get us is the best way to be prepared in the field of war.
Teri Marcelo
Hi 18-K
To Chio:
I agree with what you said. In order to win a battle, we must know first if we are fully capable of fighting. It's careless if we fight someone we know we can never win against, call it false courage and bravery if you want. This is why it is important to keep a good profile of our opponents. We shouldn't risk fighting someone who is able to easily crush us and our defenses. We can't win all battles; thus, we have to avoid those that we know we can't handle.
Teri Marcelo
Hi 18-K
To Krizia:
Being on the "right side" definitely has its perks in the realm of battle. We have to look out for our own welfare and seek protection from others as well. In order to win, we must not offend the right people. If we end up being in the "wrong crowd", we won't be able to safeguard our territory or protect ourselves. We should always keep in mind to not offend the wrong people and to always be aware of whose side we should be on.
Teri Marcelo
Hi 18-K
To Joey:
Yes, there is definitely power in knowledge. Knowledge of your opponents is what enables you to win the battles against them. If we know a lot about our opponent, we can easily use this information against him and be at the upper hand. Everyone would not dare to go against you if you have something against them and everyone would want to be in your side as well. Truly, knowledge enables you to go a long way in the realm of battle and win over every opponent that comes your way.
Teri Marcelo
Hi 18-K
@kyra
i think overestimating isn't exactly what this law is about. Knowing is different from overestimating. not to be aggressive but i think that overestimation would be the kind of thing that would make one seem weak compared to someone who knew his opponent in and out to prepare just what is needed.
@ Teri
But to know how to treat others, shouldn't we have some idea of their background first? It's like how a thumbs up is good in america but a 'up your ass' in a middle eastern country(i forgot which one :P). I do agree, however with what you said about war and battle. :P
@Miguel Galvez
You have a point but doesn't the excerpt mentioning stephen hawking explain this particular predicament? The illusion of knowledge is the greatest enemy of knowledge? You may THINK you know your enemy but he may just be leading you on nga. :P
"Though it might sound wrong, there is a right/proper way of offending someone to get what you want such that it doesn't bounce back to you." Though this sounds vague, i like the idea and i don't think it's too far fetched. :D I'm sorry but im a bit sadistic as you can see :P.
@Joey
YES i agree with your point about intel so very much. Ahaha great point!!! Knowledge is power nga diba? ahahaha maybe a 48-laws of knowledge would go hand in hand with these 48 laws we got here. :P
(a bit sidetracky)
Diego Ibanez
Hi18-K
This is key when making your way to the seat of power - other people can be your greatest foes or allies. Making friends with the right people is a valuable skill in this because you never know when they might come in handy. Then again, making enemies with the wrong people can have serious consequences and drawbacks when it comes to making your way to the top.
Denis Flores
Hi 18k
One way to look at this is when you need to confront or pick up a fight with a person who has wronged you (or your friend, for example). Make sure that you know who you're going to face, because at the moment you miscalculated some details and possibilities, you might end up losing the fight/situation big time. Never think that you can handle a person because of his seemingly flimsy and weak stature -- be sure you know his moves, his network, and his weaknesses so you can attack him from those different areas.
Underestimating your opponent would be like jumping off a cliff. It's sheer suicide.
Gliza Marasigan
Hi18-L
Honestly, I can't think of anything wrong with this law. It makes perfect sense; it's why teams scout their opponents before each game. It's the point of reconnaissance in wars. Heck, it's even why we ask older students about professors we just might take for the coming semester. But as important as knowing you're opponent is, more important, I think, is knowing HOW to deal with them. Yeah, you shouldn't underestimate anyone, but if you overestimate them, you waste resources. Definitely, you should devote time and energy on the right offense, but you should devote more time and energy on figuring out an effective one too.
Sam Bautista
Hi18-K
To Diego:
Yes, I agree that we have to know the background of someone to know how to deal with them. The main point in my blog entry is how great the power of knowledge truly is and how we should always be critical of our treatment to others. As you have pointed out, countries have different cultures whether it be in the form of gestures or traditions; thus, we should never base someone on mere appearances or first impressions alone.
It is important to broaden our perspective on others so that we won't be left at the chopping block when the day comes when someone we didn't think had the power to fight back if offended (like in my example). Knowledge can be use not only as a mere reference on how to treat others but as an upper hand in battle and conquest.
Teri Marcelo
Hi 18-K
To Denis:
I agree with what you said. How we perceive people is crucial in the realm of battle because we don't want to offend those who are fully capable of fighting us back and taking away all that we have worked for. Moreover, we don't want to befriend the kind of people who are manipulative and deceitful as well. In the game of false pretenses, one can win if his guard is up and if he is able to critically analyze the people he encounters. It is all about connecting with the right people who will be able to help you in time of trials and who you know will be of great importance in the long run in battle. Do not waste your time with people who are unable to be viewed as true adversaries.
Because we are social beings, we will encounter a vast number of people and make numerous first impressions. However, we should never let this be our basis because what we see externally is, more often than not, not what is real internally. As people easily mask their true intentions, you have to put on a mask as well to protect yourself and to safeguard your life. It's all about strategy, critical thinking and total awareness.
Teri Marcelo
Hi 18-K
To Gliza:
Yes, it is sheer suicide to underestimate someone. People are often left at a loss when they realizes that they came unprepared in fighting. Let us not waste our time dilly dallying on useless things and prepare for the unexpected. There is nothing wrong with expecting the worse because, in the end, what will be protected is our territory.
It is stupid to believe that no one can outdo oneself so why bother investing time on defenses. Like what we learned in class, in the case of Themistocles in the Persian War, it is best to use what we have now (our resources) as a means of preparing for battle and building a good defense.
Let us focus on the present and what we can do to avoid regrets and remorse for our lack of efforts in defending our turf and our lives as well.
Teri Marcelo
Hi 18-K
To Sam:
As I have said in my previous comments and as you have pointed out as well, knowledge really goes a long way. It is what enables people to garner an upper hand at war and be at the winning side of a fight.
Thank you for pointing our the cons in overestimating your opponents. Yes, we can't waste our resources in doing so; thus, we should focus our time on finding our what is the right way to deal with people. I believe that the law is truly universal; thus, instead of arguing whether it is right or wrong we should focus on our attention on how to concretely apply it in our lives.
Teri Marcelo
Hi 18-K
@ Teri
That last comment of yours makes total sense. :P This law is almost like some law of nature in that in essence boils down to mean "Don't do anything without knowing anything". It's pretty obvious actually, it's just saying DONT BE DUMB. :P Your right, instead of arguing about the validity of the law, try to understand what it implies in our life.
Diego Juan Elpidio Canlas Ibanez
Hi18-K
I think it is really important to "know who you're dealing with". It is best to outwit the person (if you can) to be powerful over that person. We should all know when to try and when to give up. "Offending the wrong person" would do us nothing good. To not offend the wrong person, I think it is important to know how to differentiate people who are superior or inferior than you.
Just like in the example of Muhammad and Gengkis Khan, offending the wrong person didn't produce any advantages, but produced disadvantages and failures.
Yu Chin Hong
Hi18-K
i agree to this law very much.. in fact this maybe one of the top laws in the book. what the title says is don't offend you're enemies but what the law is saying underneath it all is never underestimate your enemies which a lot of people did even today.
what i remember with this law is the scene from the movie 300 where the Spartans kill the Persian messenger because they offend the queen of sparta.
Villamor O. Dagamac Jr. L
To Yu Chin:
I think that in the game of power outwitting your opponent is the only means of winning. If you can't outwit your enemies, you will be left with a shattered ego and a defeated army. You always have to be ahead of everyone else so that you won't be left behind or stagnate. Yes, you won't lose any of your resources if you don't do anything but what if an attacker just comes along hastily? What have you done to prepare for that attack? You might end up losing everything you fought hard for just like Muhammad.
When you said that we should know when to give up, I realized the importance of choosing your battles. The knowledge you have on someone can either gain you the advantage of challenging that person or give you enough information to know that that person is not worth fighting with either because he is too powerful or useless (you'd only just be wasting your resources on fighting someone who can't gain you an upper hand in battle).
Teri Marcelo
Hi 18-K
To Villamor:
I totally agree with you that this law is one of the best laws in the entire book. It enables you to critically look at people not based on their looks but based on their skill and power. We often judge people hastily and forget that not all our first impressions are accurate.
Underestimating your opponent is one of the worst things you can possibly do. You'll end up losing the entire battle if you do this. Being unprepared leads to failure and defeat. This is why the law is very important. Defeat is what we want to avoid most.
Other than the example you gave from the movie 300 (which is one of my favorite movies, by the way), I remember the lesson in class we had about The Battle Of Marathon. The Persians didn't expect the Athenians to attack them because they thought they wouldn't have the army or guts to do so. Even if the Athenians lost men in that battle the ratio between the deaths of Persian and Athenian soldiers sided with the Athenians. In fact, Herodotus counted 6,400 dead Persian bodies while he counted only 192 men in the side of the Athenians.
Teri Marcelo
Hi 18-K
this law, no matter where, when or how, is valid. One of the gravest sin anyone can do is to underestimate his or her opponent. you're enemies, and not friends, nor acquaintances. you can never write a book about him unless you've been into his mind.
for example, hannibal and the romans. the romans clearly underestimated the skills of Hannibal in battles. they thought he was just one of those barbarians, but they were wrong. Romans were at the brink of destruction with hannibal. But Hannibal also committed the same mistake. he didn't think that the romans are capable of fighting him using his own tactics. The romans were smart; he overlooked it. and look at what happened.
Humans are unpredictable. you may think you know your opponent weakness already, but you don;t know his strength.
Kriska Rivadillo
hi18 K
to tom: yeah, but it's hard to know if you ARE over or underestimating anyone. I like that you pointed out how overestimating is as dangerous as underestimating. When we were kids all the movies told us that it was better to overestimate. but if, say, we were to attribute to an opponent an intelligence that he did not posses, and expect him to do the unexpected, we would probably end up concentrating our forces on guarding one area, while neglecting the other, the more "expected" area. what if the opponent was dumb enough to be predictable, or smart enough to know that you would think he'd be unpredictable and thus (he'd) be unpredictable by being predictable? it's not about staying as many steps as possible ahead, it's about staying the right number of steps.
to villamor and kriska: nice observation. while many, if not most, of the laws are based on the assumption that you and your opponent are completely different entities, this one forces you to think at the same level as your opponent. maybe not the "don't offend the wrong person part", but definitely the "know who you're dealing with, don't underestimate, stay two steps ahead" part. in romanticized accounts (don't know about real life), warring generals often develop relationships with each other, as if they're old chess buddies who meet every week. they sort of are. they take pleasure in reading each other, and outsmarting the other (which they can do because they know each other so well). in the book The Sands of Time by Sidney Sheldon, a Spanish general Acoca is fighting to quell the Basque rebellion, led by Jaime Miro.
Exerpt:
(Acoca:)'They're travelling with Mir6 and his men. He's split
them up into three groups.'
(Some dude:)'How - how do you know that?'
Ramon Acoca leaned back in his chair. 'Do you olav
chess?'
'No.'
'Pity. It's a very educational game. In order to be a good
player, it's necessary to get into the mind of your opponent.
Jaime Miro and I play chess with each other.'
Fal Sostelo was staring at him. "I don't understand how '
'Not literally. Colonel. We don't use a chess board. We
use our minds. I probably understand Jaime Miro better
than anyone in the world. I know how his mind works. I
knew that he would try to blow up the dam at Puente la
Reina (...etc. etc.) that he
would try to rescue them, and Mir6 knew that I knew it.'
Ramon Acoca shrugged. 'I didn't anticipate that he would
use the bulls to effect their escape.' There was a note of
admiration in his voice.
(Fal Sostelo:) 'You sound as though you... '
'Admire him? I admire his mind. I despise the man.'
Anyway, all this has digressed pretty far from the original law. its tangential, but not really THE point, which is DON'T PISS PEOPLE OFF, because you never know how powerful they really are.
Du, L
ps: i guess i disagree with villamor though. i don't think that the point is the don't underestimate part. i think its more of don't assume that the things you say won't come back to bite you in the ass part. but hey. it's not important.
Nikka Du
I agree, this law is for the person who holds too much pride and deals with his/her enemies without regard to their actual strength. You can't just take what you see and regard it a first and lasting impression. People change, people gain power; sometimes you may not know but you already lost yours. It's good to keep your head where your body is, and keep your pride to yourself. When dealing with people, do so with respect, regardless whether they are weak or strong.
Alan Ortiz
HI18 K
To Nikka:
I think not underestimating your opponent is the main point. If you focus on the pissing off people part, then how can you participate in war? I mean Hannibal Barca wasn't afraid of instilling anger in the Romans.
I think that getting angry with someone is inevitable in battle. You can't get along with everyone. The term war itself is defined by conflict.
It's important to garner knowledge of your opponents before attacking to avoid the whole situation Muhammad had with Genghis Khan. In this way, you know for sure that your actions won't backfire.
Teri Marcelo
Hi 18-K
To Alan:
I agree that we should respect others whether or not they're strong or weak. I believe that power isn't really the basis of greatness. Every human being has the right to be treated well and to not be subjected to prejudice.
People often regard themselves as higher than others. Personally, I feel bad for these people because as they get caught up in their own narcissistic ways they fail to realize what is truly important. I remember discussing in my TH121 class how materialism demoralizes people and leads them to a path of eternal damnation.
It's sad to think that, in battle, people measure a man based on how many he has killed, how many his victories are and how much wealth he has. Greed and selfishness can only get you so far in life.
Teri Marcelo
Hi 18-K
To Kriska:
The example you made regarding Hannibal and the Romans is truly applicable to this law. The mere fact that they labeled him as a simple barbarian caused thousands of their best men to die. It's such a pity how many lives were slaughtered due to their inability to judge their opponent correctly. Underestimating an opponent only reflects one's excessive pride.
Moreover,regarding Hannibal's own mistake, it is important to keep your pride intact because unless you fully have defeated your opponent can you truly rejoice at your winnings. Fight until the end and rejoice only at the end.
Teri Marcelo
Hi 18-K
I just watched Ocean's 13 recently and this law made me remember it... How the guy who was suppose to rate the casino/hotel was given the crappiest kind of service because they thought another guy was the hotel critic... They definitely offended the wrong person there...
Sometimes people base it on impressions and assumptions which can be the downfall of most people...Which is why I agree completely with this law, NEVER offend the wrong person... Who knows, you might even get blacklisted or something...
Gail Lim
Hi 18-K
I like this law. This law basically states that we should not treat others bad. Who knows, those who we treat bad will turn into the future leaders of our country. This law teaches us to swallow our pride and be good to the people around us.
Sean Co
Hi 18 K
People who have gone against certain government officials know this law pretty well. I know someone who got into a huge fight with a government official which appalled the entire blogging community. I've been very bothered by the issue for days, but soon enough I realized that whatever we do, we would be fighting for a lost cause if we go against the wrong people.
It all boils down to not underestimating or overestimating anyone. Also we should remember to be polite and humble in all situations that you get yourself into to avoid getting into fights.
PC Magnaye, Hi18-K
This law is very much useful in this society. People tend to judge others just by their appearances, wealth or the fame but not with their inner qualities and thoughts.
Racism may be an example. People tend to judge by the people's color without knowing what that person's qualities are. It is better to wait until you know that person before you judge.
Hae In Lee
Hi 18 K
reminds me of the mafia.they always used their name to protect themselves.
it's pretty amazing how your name can protect you. if i'm George W. Bush, no man WEAKER than me will attempt to slap me on the face. it takes a brave soul to throw a pair of shoes at me. and he even got arrested for attempting to do so.
jaclyn yap
hi18 K
law #35:master the art of timing
I think it all simply boils down to knowing what youre getting into before you jump in. Either way, overestimation or underestimation of your opponent could lead to certain losses. What is essential is that one does not blindly take action.
-Angelo Mendoza, His18-L
I like the quote you gave by Stephen Hawkings, Teri. I think that the illusion of knowledge is really powerful. To be a good leader you MUST do your homework. It's important that you know who you're dealing with because each person responds differently to various situations.
I would never give Imelda Marcos a yellow-colored gift, and neither would I complain to Paris Hilton about the increase of drunk driving accidents. Knowing the history of the person you are dealing with can greatly aid in getting them to agree or negotiate with you because you'll be on the same page and will seem respectful and polite to them.
Regina A. Yulo
Hi 18 L
To Gail:
I just watched that movie recently. I remember that scene perfectly. It's funny to think how we tend to base the way we would treat someone on our first impression of that person or preconceived notions.
People are guilty of treating others based on mere appearances alone. I remember my friend saying she went to a Chanel store to buy something for her mom I think and was totally looked down upon by the saleslady just because she was in her pambahay clothes (she had no time to change). She also pointed out that when she actually visited that same shop again (this time all dressed up) the way the saleslady treated her was a complete 180 degree change. She couldn't take how plastic the saleslady was and ended up talking to the store manager.
Being judgmental can definitely be the reason for one's downfall.
Teri Marcelo
Hi 18-K
To Sean and Pc:
I agree with what both of you said. We should just swallow our pride and treat people nicely. However, when you're struggling for power, you can't apply this to everyone. As the saying goes, the nice guys finish last. People who want to be on top are consumed with power and are only willing to show respect towards others if he can gain something in return from them.
Teri Marcelo
Hi 18-K
To Hae In:
I like the example you gave, the one about racism. I remember when I was little someone mistook my dad and I for being Japanese and my mom being a japayuki. She was really offended because of how that person was able to insult her face to face just because she looked the most pinoy out of the three of us. I hate how someone's race affects the way a person treats you. Aren't we all human beings, shouldn't we be treated the same way? I don't think that's much to ask for in our world today. People stop caring so much about how others look and focus their attention on bigger issues.
Teri Marcelo
Hi 18-K
To Jaclyn:
I think it's funny how knowing the name of someone can totally change the way you view that person. I remember in gradeschool, when I befriended someone who was the daughter of a famous actress and actor in the Philippines, people would act all nice and tried to impress my friend when they found out who her parents were.
I guess connections and wealth are the top pre-requisites for some people in relation to getting to know someone and treating them with respect and dignity.
Can you really say that a person would treat someone of high prestige such as the Queen the same way he would treat a squatter along EDSA?
Teri Marcelo
Hi 18-K
To angelo:
I guess we have to strike a balance when it comes to people. We wouldn't want to underestimate them because we might be unprepared when they attack and lose everything we worked for. Moreover, we wouldn't want to overestimate them either because we might end up wasting our resources and effort on someone who could never pose as a major threat. This is why knowledge is important. To win a battle you must be strategic and cunning in anyway possible and know who your opponent is before striking them.
Teri Marcelo
Hi 18-K
To Ina:
I like the example you gave about what not to say to popular icons such as those you stated (Imelda Marcos and Paris Hilton). True, we have to know who we're dealing with so that we won't offend them and so that we'll be able to get in their good side. How can you persuade someone if you don't know their background? You might end up insulting them without meaning to. A true and wise person knows how to kiss up to their enemies without showing their true motives.
Teri Marcelo
Hi 18-K
The title says it all:” LAW 19: KNOW WHO YOU’RE DEALING WITH— DO NOT OFFEND THE WRONG PERSON.” It is necessary for people to familiarize themselves with all those they have to deal with, especially if they could be either harmful or beneficial to them. It never hurts to add extra caution when trying to dig deep into finding the person’s significance in society. As said it is also important that we don’t underestimate people, for they can be unpredictable or may actually be hiding something. The Romans thought that they could easily annihilate Hannibal and his army by attacking in large numbers. They were wrong. Hannibal implored unpredictable strategies that led to their defeat. Had they bothered to really find out who Hannibal was, and familiarize themselves with his tactical fighting style, then they would have fared better in the that battle, the battle of Cannae.
Paolo Banaga
Hi 18-L
I agree with what most people said. It's better to overestimate someone because it'll help you be ready for anything. This is useful especially when your opponent is someone who acts as if he's weak or as if he's not capable of anything, but is in fact very competent and skilled. If you discover the hidden potentials of your opponent, then you can prepare for what he can do. However, this can be really tiring and may not be worth it. I get the point of this strategy, but i'm not sure i would advice this to people. :|
Dana Cammayo
Hi18-L
To Paolo:
I agree that if only the Romans got to know their opponent better then maybe they wouldn't have lost so many lives in battle. It's sad to think that thousands died just because the one in authority underestimated his opponent. The Romans would have been able to not only protect more lives and prevent more deaths but also use up less resources in fighting Hannibal.
Teri Marcelo
Hi 18-K
To Dana:
Overestimating does have its drawbacks, as stated in some of the comments posted here. We live in a world with scarce resources; thus, it's important to not let anything go to waste. If we keep on overestimating our opponents, we might end up using not only all of our resources but all our time and effort as well.
Teri Marcelo
Hi 18-K
There simply is no other statement to justify this better than this one-liner: "Keep your friends close, but keep your enemies closer."
In understanding what and how your enemy is, you'll be able to predict his behavior. Thus, his upcoming moves are more likely to be predictable, which gives you the upper hand and better preparation to fight against him. Definitely a smart law to keep.
Chua Rojas, Serica
Hi 18 - L
know the enemy. it's impossible to win anything, much less survive, if you don't really understand the situation you're in or the person your situation involves. how else will you be able to plan properly and act so that you protect yourself and have a real chance of winning?
kristina tan hi18 k
This makes so much sense, even those without power can use it. Though, this relies a lot on how you perceive people in the first place. It's very easy to overestimate people you think are above you and very easy to underestimate people you think are below you. The only way to avoid those, I guess, is to do some research on those you are dealing with, but that takes time. In that sense, I guess this law tells us not to judge people by first impressions and to think about our actions and their consequences.
Leo Zacarias hi18-L
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