Flying Tiger

I recently read this article in the paper version, and thought it was tremendously interesting, showing how one person's life situation so determines adult character:
Tiger Woods's Inconvenient Women

I find it fascinating how Tiger Woods never seemed to gain any sense of propriety OR of simple, basic empathy. It's a crude article, but I appreciate its honesty in baring the truth of Woods' life behind the very firm and quiet exterior he exuded for the public eye. Everyone likes a family man, and so that's what they made him, creating a double life.

It's very clear to me from this article that Woods was never taught the very basic lessons of empathy and consideration from those around him. In our early development years, pre-teen and teen, we are all taught the hard way what happens when you constantly place your needs above anyone else's without any consideration for the other people in your life--you end up alone and unhappy since no one likes you. It's not a fun lesson, always, but it's how the world works. Then, into your 20s you build relationships, hopefully in a healthy way with equal give and take from both sides.
Tiger Woods, on the other hand, never knew one second of this. At a young age he was adored for his talent, then later for his wealth and fame, meaning that he could treat people however he wanted, putting his needs no matter their import at #1. And everyone would stick around, just to get a piece of the fame pie, or out of blind adoration to his talent. If anyone stopped hanging out with him, there was always someone else to replace them, waiting in the wings for a chance to hang with Tiger.
The arrogance that has carried him into adulthood was also evident in the article, demonstrating how he had been able to get away with everything and wasn't about to stop now.
He demanded so much, and gave nothing in return, and yet because of his name or the hopes for future financial rewards, women who had very little to gain from the relationship kept coming to him. I can see how he began to see himself as impervious, acting in any way convenient to him without any regard for the situation of anyone he was involved with. This arrogance was encouraged time and again by the multitude of fans who poured out their adoration to a man they really knew nothing about and by the people around him, close to him, who gave him everything he wanted without ever challenging his behavior as would be normal in any other social situation.

Piled on top of this treatment throughout his character-building years in social development (I'd say ages 13 to 20?) was his father's behavior: no-apologies infidelity, public drunkenness, lewd behavior without any restraint for the impact he might be having on his son. And so, a total asshole was made. No one stopped him, no one checked him, no one punished him enough.

Throughout our socialization, most human beings are punished for their inappropriate, unfeeling, selfish, or arrogant actions. They either end up in a fight, or end up alone. Your friend lacks empathy when you tell him or her a story, you maybe don't talk to them for a couple of days. In high school, a friend lies to you or talks behind your back, you stop the friendship even though you see theme every day at school. No one did this for him--they treated him like a god, athletic manna from heaven shining fame on a sport that had been lost to old drunks ages before.

And is it really a wonder, that after such bad treatment, the women he's screwed and dumped are rushing to come forward, eager to share what an asshole he really is?