It’s Not DESPITE; It’s BECAUSE!

Sometimes we encounter (apparently) paradoxical situations in which people behave in way that is (apparently) counterintuitive. Let me give you some examples to better understand.

1. Despite thefact that 30 people witnessed a bad thing (e.g. theft or aggression) no one intervened.

2. Despite the fact that these people barely have money for food, they buy expensive “flashy” things like iPhones or designer-brand clothes. 

3. Despite thefact that top managers (especially in the financial sector) have huge salaries,they also have immense bonuses. 

4. Despite the bad weather in The Netherlands, the agriculture (particularly growing vegetables) is highly developed. 

5. Despite he was a nice guy, he did something really bad. 

6. Despitebeing (living in) a homophobic society, (strait) men hug and have closephysical contact in public. 

7. Despite thefact of having a job in a very personal field (like medicine) people talk andact in a very impersonal manner. 

8. Despite having more money than they can spend, rich people are stingy (the opposite of generous). 

9. Despite not having high athletic (sport) performance footballers get a lot of media coverage. 

10. Despite beingpraised for their huge potential, many people don’t fulfill their potential.

The interesting thing about all these (apparent) paradoxes is that in fact it is not “Despite ….” It is BECAUSE. In a series of posts I’ll try to briefly explain why it is not Despite, but Because.