Monarchs and Viceroys

In an episode of “Lie to Me,” Dr. Lightman compares people to the Monarch and Viceroy butterflies. The Monarch butterfly and the Viceroy butterfly are nearly identical and often mistaken for each other. However, the Monarch is toxic, due to its diet of milkweed, while the Viceroy is non-toxic. Because they are so similar, a predator often mistakes one for the other and avoids both since it assumes they are poisonous.

Like butterflies, some people are Monarchs while others are Viceroy. Lessons we can take from it:

1. From a prey’s point of view, it is strategic to mimic yourself after someone more capable than yourself rather than than to dwell in self-pity and suffer in your own circumstances. Kids who are bullied need to step up and at least look tough in order to hold their own ground; the evil feeds off the weak so it is better to seem strong than not seem strong at all.  If the Viceroy just allowed itself to be a victim, then it would not have survived.

2. From a predator’s point of view, getting to know people is not black and white. Though you may infer that someone is a ‘bad person,’ there may be more than what meets the eye. Like Viceroys, people put up walls in order to defend themselves; they often lack the confidence to step out from behind their mask. When meeting people, it is important to dig deep and see someone for who they really are rather than profiling them into a stereotype.
Source: http://networkofideas.wordpress.com/2010/11/01/the-monarch-butterfly-vs-the-viceroy/

What you don’t know won’t hurt you

I used to think that this statement doesn’t apply to me as I keep telling myself that I would rather know the truth than be lied to.
But what happens when you know “everything”?
 
I watch the American tv series “Lie to Me” it is about a group of scientists who can tell if you are lying by observing your micro-expressions and non-verbal behavior. There was one episode when it was revealed why the main character, Cal Lightman got divorced. As her ex-wife said, because he tends to read too much on my expressions always trying to determine if I am telling the truth and that means he doesn’t trust me.
 
Makes you think… if you also have that ability to “read” lies, can you resist the urge to trust no one but yourself?
 
I also happen to hear the statement “if I could only read a person’s mind”. Do you think that “power” would give you comfort? Yes in some ways probably, you would know why your baby is crying for hours, or if you’re working for the CIA , know what are the terrorists next move. But it will also have its consequences, because like Cal Lightman it can make you paranoid actually more paranoid than him, since you know exactly what someone is thinking, more stressed as you would tend to read their minds while they are talking to you.
 
Someone told me, that I should learn Thai so that you know what your officemates are talking about. At first it appeals to me but as time goes by, I find comfort not knowing if somebody dislikes me or is making fun of me.
 
I don’t know why, maybe because I am beginning to not give a care in the world what other people think or maybe because I am trying to make an effort to be happier.