November 21: The Power Trip

According to Laura Joffe Numeroff, amazing things have the possibility of occurring with the smallest gesture. It was her 1985 children's picture book, entitled If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, that makes the suggestion of one favor leading to another. The book starts off with, "If you give a mouse a cookie, he's going to ask for a glass of milk. When you give him the milk, he'll probably ask you for a straw." The Domino Effect continues through a series of requested favors until the mouse asks for another cookie.

I enjoyed the book as a child, but I now find it to be the perfect allegory for so many experiences within this game we're all playing called Life. For example, if you give an average Joe the slightest bit of power or responsibilities, more times than not, he or she will turn into a complete jerk and do things for the sole purpose of showing off that given power.

It's called a power trip. There is something about the human psyche that is triggered when given a slight edge on anyone in the general area. It could be something as small as being designated as the leader of the line of children headed for recess or it could be as big as being elected the President of the United States. Very few people have the ability to resist behaving differently and (on some level) condescending.

We all do it. When I was hired as a Resident Advisor, I couldn't help but feel slightly more entitled than the residents. I did my very best not to act on these feelings or treat others with disrespect, but the feeling was still there. When I was promoted to bartender, I was no longer just another server. I felt like people were watching the way I behaved and I probably over compensated by trying not to look like I was better than anyone else. It just happens.

What is absolutely unbelievable, however, is when a person is clearly taking advantage of their position. When he/she refuses to look at a situation through unbiased eyes and act on pure logic and instead behaves so irrational that an outsider can only come to the power trip conclusion, it baffles the mind. The answer can be so blatantly obvious, but because this person wants to flex his/her hierarchic might, anyone beneath must suffer the consequences.

A fascinating aspect of the power trip is that you can't reason with someone that is so blinded by his/her own amount of responsibility. There might be the rare occasion where an open line of communication would be beneficial to all parties involved, but for the majority of the time, these people cannot be reasoned with. As an insubordinate, you have to take your licks with a smile and hope you don't endure the wrath the next time around.

If you give a mouse a cookie, he's going to ask for a glass of milk. If you give a human being a few extra responsibilities, he or she might want to show off the anointed power. Like my days in college or with my promotion a few years ago, it's easy to let the new responsibilities control the way you behave. Letting those responsibilities take over who you are and allowing yourself to talk down on your peers is just really annoying and sad. It's normal to be proud, but making decisions to display your ranking is absolutely uncalled for.