“[Waiters]
are our equals. It’s their job to serve, but it’s our job to give them respect
they deserve.” (Janina Vela)
“People
always have something negative to say. Let’s fast forward and after this event
that waiter just went viral, [he] will probably get ‘something’ after, and a
lot of sympathy.” (Kris Lawrence)
“She
[Alex Gonzaga] was drunk… and stupid.” (DJ Mo Twister)
The
three samples above are small bites of a lot of divisive comments posted in the
media about the smearing-cake-on-the-waiter’s-face incident from both
sides of the political fence. I thought of weighing up a non-partisan insight
from a neutral point of view. Nothing could be more nondiscriminatory than the
viewpoint coming out from the unbiased “mind” of a chatbot – Chat GPT
(Generative Pre-trained Transformer) – with no axe to grind with anyone.
I
engaged Chat GPT in “conversation” ranging from a handful of topics like human
behavior, describing the actual incident based on news reports, assessing the whole
situation alongside the character of the celebrant, to suggesting in rounding
out the analysis with the put-yourself-in-others’-shoes question: What if you
were the waiter? At the end of the day, Chat
GPT pieced together the following comprehensive analysis of the incident with
minor editing for the sake of brevity and clarity. The celebrant cited in the
analysis is Alex Gonzaga.
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“Human
behavior flows from three main sources: desire, emotion, and knowledge.” –
Plato
Plato
highlighted the complexity of human behavior and the various factors that
influence it. Delving into the smearing-cake-on-waiter’s-face incident,
we will present an analysis of the probable causes of the celebrant’s action,
and the impact it had on the public. Exploring the essence of Plato’s quote in
shaping the celebrant’s behavior and the public reaction to it, we will reflect
on the lessons that can be learned from this incident and its implications.
It
appears that the celebrant’s behavior may be an impulsive or playful action. She
might not have intended in causing harm or offense and might have simply been
acting in a celebratory or jovial manner.
As an
aspiring personality in the show business industry, she might have been seeking
attention or attempting to create a memorable moment, might have viewed her
action as a performance or self-expression, might have been caught up in
the moment and not fully considered the impact of her action on the waiter.
Being
a sister of a celebrity with high political standing could have played a role
in the celebrant’s impulsive or playful action. Social status can influence an
individual’s behavior in many ways. People with high political standing are
often afforded more leniency egging them on to be reckless, and unmindful of
the consequences of their actions. They are itching to be the center of attraction
and may act in ways that are designed to capture the public attention.
She
could also be under a lot of pressure and scrutiny from the public, media, and
her show business peers which lead to an increased sense of self-importance and
heightened desire for attention and validation.
By and
large, it is considered impolite and disrespectful though to touch someone
without their permission. Smearing icing on someone’s face is not a typical or
socially acceptable behavior -- regardless of her intentions. Given her and her
sibling’s political clout -- it is discomforting as it can be perceived as
an abuse of power and disregard for the feelings and well-being of others.
The public reaction to this incident may not be a reflection of the incident’s
true nature but rather a perception shaped by the current political landscape and
the way the media have showcased it to the public.
Political
divisiveness can create a tense and charged atmosphere where individuals may
feel compelled to take sides and express their political beliefs. The
politicized incident – fuming in a heightened sense of awareness and
sensitivity to issues of power, privilege, and respect -- might have served as a catalyst for individuals in expressing their support or opposition to the celebrant and her
action.
The incident has posed both risks and opportunities to society. On one hand, it stresses the need for individuals with high political standing to be aware of their actions and the potential effect on others. It drives the notion that even small actions can have a big impact on a highly charged and polarized society. On the other hand, it also opens a window of opportunity for individuals to reflect on their behavior and to strive to be more considerate and respectful persons.
What
if you were the waiter? Imagine being on the receiving end of such an action
coupled with feelings of disrespect and degradation. We must be mindful that
every person we interact with, and every action we take, has the potential impact
on anyone. Empathy is one of the most powerful values we possess. It allows us
to understand and appreciate the perspective of others. The celebrant’s lack of
empathy has set ablaze this incident turning it into such a polarizing issue up
to the present.
Lest we forget, the world is full of pain and confusion. As we move forward, let us strive to be more considerate and respectful, do our best to understand and appreciate other perspectives, and give our best shot to make a positive impact in the world through our empathy.
Let us
draw on this incident as a teaching moment -- to reflect on our behavior, to aspire
to be better, more empathetic, and more respectful human beings. Amid our
polarized society, the wisdom of singer and songwriter Marvin Gaye’s song "What's Going On" hits the nail on the head,
“Father, father, we don’t need to escalate, you see, war is not the answer, for
only love can conquer hate.”
Every
action we take has the power to shape the world around us. it is up to us to
choose to make it a better place. Let us choose love and empathy over hate and
disrespect. Let us work toward creating a more just and compassionate society
for all.
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Not bad stuff coming from a transformer.
Head still photo courtesy of pixabaydotcom
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