Prominence (2)

In addition to general prominence, wherein the extroverted/popular people are on top, there's also prominence within different social categories. Of course, similar to gender and race, prominence is a huge divider.

Recently, I've learned something new about prominence. I was chatting with Jessie when I said, I hate boundaries. She said, no you don't, you need boundaries because you don't want insignificant people to know you well. And when you try to get to know prominent people, their boundaries will be up anyway.

So it's like a circle of prominence, everyone belonging in their own rank. Social categories are weaved in with it, as there is prominence of different groups. Like a dartboard, the people on the outer rings are worth less, and the most prominent people are what everyone is aiming for: the bull's eye. When I say aiming for I mean either are crushing on and want to be in a relationship with, or want to be close friends with, know them better, etc. 

Here is an illustration.

How Prominence works

As you can see, there are obviously more people who aren't prominent, and the insiders are only a select few. The blue arrows coming from each person indicates who they are 'aiming for'.
The rings within the rings were highlighted originally, but it didn't turn up in scan.  They indicate who each rank of people is capable of 'hitting', which is everyone in and lower than one's own rank. Of course, it's really hard to hit the bull's eye, or even the rings around it. Especially if there's distance between the person's prominence rank from the rank they are aiming for.

Of course as well, there are exceptions. Some prominent people are nice enough to be close friends with less prominent people. Some are obliged to, because they used to be in the same social category, or used to be a close friend. The tragedy is when someone achieves the prominence they have always yearned for and just...drop them. Their less prominent friends and the people they used to be kinda friendly to. It's a horrible thing, the termination of associations.

Because of course, prominent people are the ones people want to be around, to hang out with, to talk to. It's the rule of supply and demand. Few prominent people, lots of people want them. Prominent ones have plenty of options of who to choose. The less prominent people have little choice but to be the dependable, the 'nice' ones. Although most people anyways, if they had a choice, would be around, hang out with, and talk to the prominent people.

And when you're prominent (better known as 'popular' in this case), you no longer pay much attention to the prominent people. I imagine it as a world of prominence, where in belief, they would rise above the others.

The circle of prominence could also be seen as a mountain. Or maybe a layer cake. When you become prominent, it may seem like you're on top of the world, all-seeing instead of perpetually guessing what's happening at the greater heights. When you're on the top of the world, you can't really see what's happening at the bottom, or even close-ish to the bottom. Distance blurs your view. Not like you would care anyway. You're on the top of the world and you want to maintain that status!

Prominence creates such boundaries. Bad for you if you're not prominent. Good if you are.
But that could apply to any matter about prominence. Bad if you're not. Good if you are.