Crabs not only make a flavorful, mouth-watering dish for seafood lovers; they also serve as a metaphor for spiteful individuals who, like these clawed crustaceans, nip and pull down their own kind just so they could work their way to the top. Hence, the expression "crab mentality" that cruel mindset of some to take down anyone whom they think gets in their way, if only to realize their own selfish ambitions.
It's obvious they're envious! They may deny it, but what truly drives such people to be mean and do nasty things to their neighbors, colleagues, or even relatives is envy or jealousy. Instead of being happy for someone else's success or achievement, they feel jealous, and, not wanting to be outclassed, they come up with the most annoying ways to spite the object of their envy. It's not just around the neighborhood that such incidents happen. Even at the workplace, in school, or even within a household or a clan, envy gets the better of many people. And when it does, these people can do a lot worse than merely stopping up one's wells.
Don't fret or get crabby about it. Don't let the hate and vindictiveness creep up on you and push you to do wrong to get back at them.
Let's not be divided, as crabs that attack instead of helping one another and thus, fail altogether to get out of the bucket. Let us do away with backbiting and backstabbing. Instead of harboring envy or jealousy against one another, let us fill our hearts with love, for it is through love that we can truly be freed of all evil thoughts and ill-feelings.