“When people get used to preferential treatment, equal treatment seems like discrimination”
— Thomas Sowell
Simplified Meaning:
When someone is always given special privileges or advantages, they start to see that as normal. If these special benefits are taken away and they are treated the same as everyone else, it might feel unfair to them, even though it's actually fair. Think about a student who always gets extra time on exams while others don’t. If one day they are told they have to stick to the same time limit as everyone else, they might feel it's unjust. However, the reality is they are simply being treated like the rest of their classmates now. This shows how people can misinterpret fairness when they've been accustomed to getting more than others. Understanding this helps us recognize why some people react strongly to changes that promote equality and reminds us to reflect on what true fairness means.
