My attention has been drawn to a rhetorical insult sent via a viral video from GNI to the person of Mr Amusan. Ordinarily, i would not have made any comment about this video but when i discovered that the said insult was coming from GNI. Our own GNI to Mr. Amusan, who was his number one fan in the land of the Yankees, especially Providence , i decided to place a call in order to avoid fallacy of unwarranted assumption. While it is a norm for others to descend low once they have ascended certain heights, i will not bet a cent that GNI is now in the company of people that can not argue intelligently without passing insults. GNI, a first class product of the best University in the world, the one and only great Ife, has now joined the bandwagon. Where is the refined GNI with the infectious mien? It is inexplicable.
In this age of AI, i did not buy what the video was selling until i evaluated it with my own software and made calls to confirmed same. To me insult in an argument is a breach of decorum . I know that the psychological underpinnings of insulting replies can be complex, often rooted in both individual temperament and situational triggers. At their core, insults can serve as a defensive mechanism, allowing individuals to protect their self-esteem or assert control over a situation. When faced with criticism or perceived threats, individuals may resort to insults as a way to regain a sense of power and agency. But GNI ought not to be in the above sample because of his pedigree.
However, from the comment of GNI in the said video of which he committed fallacy of Ad hominem – attacking the arguer instead of the argument, one can say without any iota of doubts that social identity theory hits the nail on the head that individuals often derive a sense of belonging and self-worth from their group affiliations. When their group identity is challenged, they may resort to insults as a way of defending their social group and reinforcing in-group solidarity. In this context, insults become tools for affirming group dynamics- lobatan . GNI has joined roforofo politics of Inadequacy or insecurity which often make individuals who perceive a threat to their self-image, lash out with derogatory remarks as a means of deflection. He did not respond to the argument . He went for the jugular of the arguer. He started defending his group.
It is a shame that GNI was struggling to articulate his feelings constructively, leading to impulsive and hurtful remarks by calling Mr. Amusan a clown which to me is a Chewbacca defense and i hope GNI can reach out to Mr. Amusan ,otherwise , we will conclude that he is auditioning because it is not in his character to descend that low.
It’s often said that truth-tellers face the toughest battles. There’s an admirable quality in someone who sticks to their principles and isn’t afraid to speak their mind, even when it might be easier to sugarcoat or keep quiet. It can certainly lead to challenges, though, especially when others might prefer diplomacy or tact over blunt honesty.
Mr. Amusan is not a clown. His main problem is that he cannot sugarcoat or keep quiet and does not prefer diplomacy or tact over blunt honesty. That’s definitely a strong trait to have.
Abiodun Egunjobi
Former President ,
National Association of Egbado Students.
OAU, Ife
My word will always be my bond and I want to be held by it- GNI
