Few things stir the pot like being belittled does. The feeling of inadequacy can make a big man feel small and a smart man feel dumb. Whether truth is relevant to the situation or not ultimately makes little difference. The emotion is what stings. It seems that most people spend much of their time finding ways to avoid this feeling by proving themselves worthy in various ways. The bigger car, the largest breasts, the smoother skin, the most money, the most muscle; it's all a race to be superior. Funny enough, these antics only serve to reveal the true weakness of the culture let alone the individual. However, few, if any, are free of this sort of behavior, though some are most certainly worse than others. To truly be free of this, a person must not only see it in others but more importantly find where the feelings of inadequacy are within. They are there and at any given moment they may arise. The difference between the ignorant and the enlightened is the ability to handle these feelings when they arise. One will "prove" his worth while the other laugh at his own ignorance.