Most of my epiphanies come to me in the shower. Don't ask me why, because I don't know. During one of these times, I remembered a story one of my professors told once:
This phenomenon was used to explain the behavior of electrons in the junction between two oppositely doped regions on a piece of silicon. Aside from such an application, this behavior, itself, had always puzzled me. I had concluded by attributing this phenomenon to having its source in people's hypocrisy or selfishness. However, the more I consider this matter, the clearer it becomes that it may just be part of survival. It may be too much to expect people to be altruistic, and it certainly is unrealistic to expect them to set aside their self-interest.
In India, it is very crowded. People squeeze against each other just walking down the street. When it comes time to get on the buses, it is a fight between the people outside trying to get in, and the people inside, who are trying to keep more people from getting into the already overcrowded bus. A very interesting phenomenon then transpires. It is hard for anyone outside to get onto the bus. But, given that someone is strong enough to force himself onto the bus, he soon experiences a change in heart, feeling that enough is enough, and switches sides to help those on the bus keep those who were his former allies off the bus.
This phenomenon was used to explain the behavior of electrons in the junction between two oppositely doped regions on a piece of silicon. Aside from such an application, this behavior, itself, had always puzzled me. I had concluded by attributing this phenomenon to having its source in people's hypocrisy or selfishness. However, the more I consider this matter, the clearer it becomes that it may just be part of survival. It may be too much to expect people to be altruistic, and it certainly is unrealistic to expect them to set aside their self-interest.
Written on March 27, 2010