It's A Dog Eat Dog World Out There

It's one of those axioms whose literal meaning I rarely stop and think about. Recent events, however, have planted me right in the middle of one of those rare times. Last Wednesday, my dad and dog were going on their daily walk when a dog came bounding at them out of nowhere. While I'm sure my dog was expecting a casual meet and greet (the classic nose-in-butt routine), things didn't exactly pan out according to plan. The dog instead took a bite out of my dog's neck. As someone who refuses to listen to her friend talk about a blister, I should apologize for the unwarranted graphic description. My dog was rushed to emergency the next morning after small pools of blood were discovered in her favorite spots -- under the piano, by the window, and on the couch (only when nobody's home, of course). Long story short and trauma overlooked, my dog has been stitched up, is sporting the cone around her neck which she absolutely hates, and is to make a full recovery.

The thought of this cannibalistic dog is utterly repulsive. But I'm not having a puppy crazy over it -- humans are the exact same way (in a more metaphorical sense)!

While it's not just an expression, the fact that it is an expression is equally disturbing. For some reason, we humans feel it necessary to bring people down as we go up. During an intense season of search for careers and sisterhood, it's clearer than ever that people are willing to go to the edges of the universe to come out ahead. And yes, to come out ahead, someone has to be behind.

To clarify the seeming juxtaposition from my previous entry -- Of course an individual should receive recognition for his work. Of course we should pat him on the back for his successes. But to bring someone else down in that struggle for power and fame is where I draw the line. After all, we're all in this together. (I realize that quoting from High School Musical puts the credibility of my blog at stake.)

Considering, that in the grand scheme of things, an individual is your competition for just a split second, it seems completely futile to bite his or her neck off. Consider that one kid you were always competing with in high school. Smart kid, huh? Must've been, if he was your competition. The one with whom you always secretly wanted to work. Probably shouldn't have shut him out...My game theory instinct is telling me that cooperation leads to the greatest social gains, so why are we wasting time trying to better only ourselves?

I might be missing something, but whatever it is, it's not worth it. It's a dog-eat-dog world out there...but why bite when a growl will do?