These are time sensitive. You do not receive credit if you write them after the deadline each week.
First, there's a blog entry (about 250 words) which will have you respond to a hopefully thought-provoking question. Each week, you must do the blog entry with enough time left in the week to be able to enter into dialogue online with your classmates. Write, reply, write more, reply more, and then write and reply more.
Second, there's a reading. There’s no blog entry associated with this. Just read.
Third, there's a written response to the reading. Your reading and writing on the blog must be completed by the SATURDAY (by midnight) of the week in which the reading falls. This entry should be a long paragraph. YOU DO NOT NEED TO RESPOND TO OTHER STUDENTS' PART THREE EACH WEEK.'
Monday, November 16, 2015
WEEK TEN BLOG ENTRY
If you could change one thing about humans, what would it be?
--OR WRITE ABOUT THIS--
Agree with one: People are inherently good and seek the best for each other/People are inherently bad and seek their own interests at the expense of others.
If I could, one of the things I would change and get rid of in humans is "violence" because violence; does not justify taking the lives of others because of their race, religion, or social status. In some countries, the struggles for humans are to get a proper education and a decent job in order to provide and support their families. Unfortunately, in other countries the rights and liberties of people are taken away by other people because of their religion and race. The attacks in Paris show to what point a certain group of people can use violence. It is sad that people are willing to take the lives of others because of what they believe in, but there is no validation for “terrorists” to harm innocent people. The attacks that occurred in Paris, are a great example that violence only brings harm and injustice to innocent people. Furthermore, it would be great if violence did not exist in humans because it would get rid off all the horrific crimes committed in the world. Additionally, with no violence, it could have prevented many wars and many horrendous genocides committed against groups that did not deserve to suffer. If it were possible, perhaps we would have a chance to have a world free from violence and crime. Moreover, the world would be a great place for everyone to enjoy, and to live freely without being frightened of what would happen next. Unfortunately, people have violence within them, and the only thing we can do as a society is to prevent war, genocide, and terrorism from occurring again.
Hey Yesica, you wrote some interesting points about how the world would be better off without violence. I agree that a lot of fighting is unnecessary, but sometimes it’s the only option people have. I am in no way defending war, genocide, or terrorism, as I believe that falls under unnecessary violence, but I do believe that sometimes we have to resort to violence to get a point across. Thanks for the read, and hope you have a great week!
In the absence of violence nature can play a huge teacher to us all. It is true, we as humans do not know how to handle violence. Violence creates conflicts in the mind and fractures a planned reality into that of doubt and fear. It's very hard to harness coping mechanism to understand and compartmentalize such concepts. The mind therefore measure in degree the violence to other acts and then assigns degrees as to severity. So when one act of violence is witnessed, multiple splinters, this ripple effect, are embedded into the mind. You are not designed for that. The doubt and fear from it sits as cancers, and corrode the connections in your mind like subserviced terminals on a car battery. In the end, this limits your progress.
Hi Jesse, thanks for sharing your point of view. It was interesting that you mentioned that “using violence in a way will get a point across”, that will lead to more violence. I guess what I meant to say is that emotion of violence should not exist at all in order to prevent crimes or violence from occurring in the first place, that is if it were possible. Thanks for sharing hope you have great winter vacation.
Hi Clem, hope you are having a great week. I really like your point of view, and I will have to agree with you. The mind is very powerful and it can make us do things that we often think we can. It's interesting that you mentioned “the mind, therefore, measure in degree the violence to other acts and then assigns degrees as to severity,” because what causes one thing to occur can also trigger other things that a person can act on. Thanks for sharing, and hope you have a great winter vacation
For this blog, I have to chosen to agree with the statement that “People are inherently bad and seek their own interests at the expense of others”. I believe it is part human nature to be greedy and to always be wanting more than what they already have. Without this urge, I believe the human race wouldn’t have be as prevalent as it is today. This selfish desire for wealth, power, and even food is what drives many to make changes and advancements. Inventors probably wouldn’t have the motivation to create new technologies if there wasn’t anything in it for them. I’m not saying this quality is “bad”, but I do believe we as humans seek our own interests and sometimes, it may be at the expense of others. Sometimes sacrifices have to be made in order to put yourself in a better position in life.This includes even the simplest of actions such as buying the last carton of milk for your family even though you still have some at home while knowing that somebody in line wanted it as well. Anybody I know would have taken that last carton of milk regardless of the situation because their priority is looking out for their family and ensuring they have milk at all times. So in conclusion, while I do agree people seek their own interests even at the expense of others, I don’t necessarily agree with all people being inherently bad.
Jesse, I actually did not answer this questions, but the one thing that I said I would change about humans is our selfish nature. That is so similar to your argument about why people are "bad" that I had to comment and let you know that I share your opinion! I wish it really was possible to remove this selfish desire completely from human nature instead of trying to fight it through things such as education and taught compassion. Thanks for sharing your thought, and if you get a chance, check out my post!
I read your post, and it looks like we have similar opinions about people being inherently "bad". We are selfish beings that usually only look out for ourselves in order to put ourselves at a better standpoint. This is why stealing is a thing and greed is seen as a sin. I appreciate your feedback, and am glad others have the same opinions about these characteristics.
If I could change one thing about humans, it would probably be the hate towards others that aren’t like them that we see too often. It baffles me that people have the ability to harm others simply because they want to. They can do so physically or emotionally. It pains me to see people be discriminated against for their religion, skin color, or sexual orientation. Even revealing your political views is an easy enough way to open yourself to hate from others. Too often, I see people arguing over social media because they do not have similar viewpoints. I think healthy debate is great, but arguments like these often lead to threats. There are far too many threats these days, and they are from our own kind. We are all people. I think some people forget that sometimes, and I wish they would be reminded. The news shows innocent Muslims being treated as less than dirt due to the acts of extremists. We see homosexuals being shamed and made fun of. We saw slavery in the United States, and that hate towards African Americans is still very real today even if it is not seen in the same way. I would change the way people see others. I wish we could all see each other in a more positive and equal way. Innocent people deserve to be treated better than they are. I am not ignorant about what goes on in the world, and I want to be a part of a change for the better.
I really enjoyed reading your post. Hate is a characteristic that I would like to change about humans as well. It is sad to see different crimes that people commit because they have so much hatred towards a specific race, religion or beliefs. I definitely agree with you that we should see others in a positive way as this would make a positive impact.
A great post about the characteristic hate. So many people have hate towards others for no apparent reason, and that baffles me. Just because someone is different from you doesn’t make them less of a person than you are. I agree with you that debates are healthy and this should be the way arguments are resolved instead of through hate or violence. You brought up some great points Carly, so thanks for that.
I'm glad that people agree with me! I especially like what Jesse said that people who are different from us are not less of a person. I completely agree with that statement, and I'm glad you brought up that point. We can all be more positive about people.
If I could change one thing about humans, it would be the ability to forgive and not hold grudges against others. I think all of us at some point have been hurt, humiliated, upset, angry or betrayed by someone. Most of us probably thought to ourselves that we would never forgive the person who made us feel that way. For some of us, a couple hours will pass and we will be fine and forgive the person. For others, it may take days, months or years to be able to forgive. I know that forgiving is not easy because I have held a couple grudges against some people for quiet some time in the past. I was not able to forgive certain people because I was still holding on to all the negative emotions that those people inflected on me. After a while, I realized that these people were probably living life perfectly fine and there I was, still holding on to all those feelings years later. This was very different to what my mom taught me growing up. It would be an understatement for me to say that my mom has the biggest heart ever. My mom does not hold grudges against anybody even those who have betrayed her on many occasions. My mom has always taught me to be the same way. She would get upset when I did not want to visit certain family members due to the resentment I had towards them. I think I always expected those people to come and apologize for what they put my family through. One day I realized that I would probably never get that apology. I decided to forgive those people, be kind to them but keep my distance. I am not saying that we have to become best friends with those who may have hurt us but I do see the importance in being able to forgive someone. In reality I feel like we hurt ourselves even more when we do not forgive others, even if they were wrong. Forgiving someone is not doing the other person a favor instead it is helping our healing process by letting go of resentments.
Jazmin, I agree with you that forgiveness is such a powerful thing for the person who has been hurt. My family always jokes that I have the shortest memory because I honestly forget most of the things that people do that offend me, but others in my family do not. I try to model this behavior of forgiving, even if that does not mean forgetting, and then protecting yourself by not giving that person the same power over you that they had in the past by not sharing secrets with them for children or as adult by not trusting them with the things that matter most to you. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us, and I hope that your journey of learning to forgive has been a good one!
Hello Janel. It is great to know that you can forgive someone so fast. I honestly think that is a great trait to have. Thankfully I have learned to not let people have a hold on my emotions the way they would in the past. I can forgive people now, move on and be happy. You're welcome and thank you for sharing your thoughts regarding my post! :)
I enjoyed reading your post about forgiveness and not holding grudges. I share a similar personal story like yours. My mom has a forgiving heart also, There are times when I see people hurt her or say something bad about her. She forgives them and moves on, As I was growing up, I felt when someone hurt me or mean to me that I should get revenge on them. I figured out that forgiving helps us shallow our pride and move on with our own life. There will be people who will hurt, miuse, or even backstab us, but it is up to say, "Im sorry." This will help us grow and feel that a heavy load has been lifted off our shoulders. Thanks for sharing!
Hello Brittany. Thank you I am glad to hear that I am not the only one who has dealt with this issue. It is true that at some point in our life we will be hurt or backstabbed by people but it is better to forgive. It feels great to know that we can put our pride to the side and forgive people in order to move on. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me.
I have to day this is another great one. I think it is also one thing that we give less value than it deserves. The ability to forgive someone is a big accomplishment for anyone.
Hello Shannon. Yes I agree, it is a big accomplishment to forgive someone because in many occasions it is not that easy to do so. Which is why it is very important that we put our pride to the side as Brittany had mentioned.
If I could change one thing about humans, I would change our selfish nature. This desire to do what is best for us, I believe, is ultimately the cause of most other problems that humans create. Something as simple as a two year old not wanting to share a toy or a five year old cutting in line can be broken down to the fact that they want something for themselves instead of thinking about how it can effect others. Although we learn through our parents and other authority figures to teach ourselves to consider other people's feeling, adult problems such as couples cheating on each other, stealing, or even murder in most circumstances can be brought back to this selfish desire. People cheat on their significant other because they want to satisfy their own desires in that moment instead of thinking about how it will affect the other person. Stealing is ultimately taking what belongs to someone else and keeping it for yourself, which to me is a textbook definition of selfishness. And murder often times is a result of hatred or a burst of anger towards a person that is not controlled because the criminal is only thinking about his or her emotions not the consequences of their actions. I could go on and on with examples about this such as gossip or even texting and driving, but I think I made my point that when humans think about themselves, which we often do, bad things happen. Although I am sure there would still be evil in the world from more malicious intentions, if humans did not think about themselves first, then I believe the world would be a much better place.
Hi Janel, I hope you are having a great week. You pointed out very important details about the selfish nature of people. Unfortunately, people are selfish because they want to have the things their way, even if it includes hurting someone they care for. It is true; when humans only care about themselves they will do whatever it takes to make things happen for them. Selfishness leads to more crimes and violence, and the only thing that can stop that is for people to become more humble and caring about others. Thanks for sharing, I hope you have a great winter vacation.
Hi Janel, Being selfish will do no good to ourselves or the people around us for many reasons. I also believe that the way we act is highly reflected on our parents for the way they have raised us. The way we have been raised has a lot to say about our morals and beliefs. I really liked your explanations of selfish desire. They reminded me about my blog when I wrote that people are inherently bad because they seek interests for themselves.
I believe people are born inherently good and that through finding himself, herself, or themself in each life experience, has the potential for derailment. The person derailed gets lost in their journey and results in bad actions. Or they do things not normal to society but, then ask yourself, what is normal? Some lines of normality cause good people to look like bad people and others make bad people, look good. Maybe it is not their fault but the definition of normality in society? Don't get me wrong; some guidelines are absolutely required to bond society together. People will still kill other people. Science can explain it simply-we, are still animals and environments are not always hospitable. Put an animal in an inhospitable situation and they usually claw, scratch, bite, fight, or in the terrible sense kill. Ever pet a cat too long, approach a dog backed into a corner? Evolution does not take hold in everyone at the same rate. If we remove labels of normality, then actions created by people determine their placement on an scale. Say a bell curve. People that have identified with what they know they are not, tend to fall in the middle, are fairly sure of the path they are is right, and know how to handle life's changes. Interestingly enough, their nurture, which placed them early in life, under the bell, also prevents their experience of life. Those whose nurture was stunted, interrupted, delayed tend to be the outliers in our scale. Their journey towards the bell is much more difficult and rarely takes a direct path. And, that journey can take a lifetime. Success, is not always achieved but, be assured, they will have as many chances as is in the design.
...I thought you might enjoy this little piece...how, I wish, I was a Hydrogen atom...
Ode to a Covalent Bond...
What I most desire, in life, is to be connected...to know... the fullness. Its...its longing has taken my path through those celestial bodies you can only gaze upon...I have drank from more shores than sand upon all the earths in your...and not...your universe...yes, for that I'm thankful...and so...so it should as well be for you...but, the pull...the pull of their energies, surround me...the longing, that broken bond has created...lost...I'm like souls in the darkness, looking for their place in the absence of universe...ignorant, like a deprived brain...nowhere near, its journey...the complete story, that explains, why?...suffer, no...Its not, suffering...its...the spark...oh, once alive...once complete...once whole...once more, back, into, the one...which always, takes, us, home...
(Note: voice over for this was award winning, and musical score...thank you...he prayed)
Hi Clem, hope you are having a great week. The hydrogen atom is a neutral atom because it has the negatively charged electron and a positively charged proton. After reading, you post it was interesting that you mentioned “the shores, the pull of energies, and the broken bonds,” and what came to mind is the composition of water. It made think that water is often seen as something fragile, but in reality is one of the strongest compositions formulated. When the two hydrogen atoms bond to the oxygen atom and the result is water; what makes a water molecule bond to another molecule is the covalent bond, which is one of the most important things that will attract or repulse forces between atoms. Thanks for sharing your post, it made me think about the simple things I take for granted, which is essential for life in the universe.
Yesica and Clem--you are both making an argument for why science teachers in our schools should be using writing alongside the science. We think more clearly through writing. The poem is brilliant and the writing about it, Yesica, is insightful. If either of you go on to teach science, please make your students write about science!
If I could change one thing about humans, it would be our judgmental nature. When we see someone that may look different than us or does not fit in well we automatically judge their appearances, what kind of name brand clothes they wear, what kind of house they live in, or what kind of car they drive. In media, magazines, and other widespread sources they portray celebrities to have these fancy things like nice cars and houses. At times, we can get these images in our head and use it to judge someone else. If we have all these nice materialistic things, we can judge someone who does not have the same things as we do. Instead as humans, we should focus on building up someone else up instead of putting them down. Words or actions may be hurtful and negatively affect their life. Humans should be able to make lifelong friends with someone who is an insider or different than everyone else. At times it is not easy, but it is not impossible either. So, go to your friends and say something positive about someone else or compliment the person! Believe me it makes the world of difference :)
I wish we could get rid of the negative judgmental nature of humans towards other humans as well. I often catch myself judging other people by their actions or other things, and then I think, "why am I thinking this? It won't change anything to think these things." I believe a lot in the idea that saying something positive to someone can help them a lot more than we think. Especially to someone who is having a particularly bad day or week or year. Glad you agree with this as well.
Hi Brittany, Humans are judgmental and because of that, we have cliques in school and social problems. Your comment on the clothes we wear made me think of elementary school when uniforms were required for every student. The reason being was so that all the students would look the same and no one would feel uncomfortable if they were not wearing what was in style, or the "prettiest" clothes. I also agree that we should make everyone feel confident in their own skin and push someone to be happy.
I really like how you brought this subject up because you see it so often. Everywhere you go you see someone who is somewhat different than oneself in religion, race, and etc., and being judgmental onky makes things worse. If only people would change, how accepting would everyone be towards each other's differences.
If this characteristic were changed, the world would be a much better place. People do become stereotypical and judging of a person's appearance without understanding that personality is what matters the most. I am also guilty of this, especially at work. We deal with angry, sentimental, crying members on a daily basis. Some situations are much more severe than others, but sometimes we as tellers get frustrated when some people make transactions a lot more complicated than they need to be. For instance, there are some members who are very critical and demanding about how they want to go about their business. We tellers already know these members and hope that we aren't the ones having to deal with it. However, although some people can be complicated and mean, it always matters to be the better person.
If I could change one thing about humans it would be for people not to be selfish and hateful. I have encountered so many people that are so selfish and only think about themselves. I personally do not like people who are extremely hateful and selfish because it’s unethical. I don’t think it’s correct for people not to be sympathetic about others feelings when they are upset or going through a rough time. I have also met people who do not care about other races or religions. They are selfish for their own kind. For example, this weekend I went to a birthday dinner with a party of 15 people. I met people who were friends of others and started conversation, moments after the Paris attack came up. One man stated that he didn’t care what occurred in Paris because he did not live there. He didn’t have family or loved ones affected; therefore he didn’t care about the issue. Personally, I would have slapped this man on the face. I cannot stand people who are so selfish and don’t care about other people’s feelings or concerns. It upsets me that there are so many people in the world that are so selfish and hateful. If I had the power, I would eliminate hate out of every human being. I don’t believe anything good comes out of hatred. When people hate they hurt others and to extremes kill other human beings. Our human race needs to evolve and become better. With all the attacks and killings going on around the world proves why hatred and selfishness is destroying our humanity.
I also spoke about humans hateful nature. I am also baffled that anyone can say they do not care about events like the ones who recently happened in Paris. Especially when the United States suffered a major terrorist attack in 2001. These threats are very real not only to Paris, but to anywhere in the world because of humans nature to be hateful and selfish. We should all be concerned with the events taking place in the world because we are all a part of it. Thanks for your great points.
Every good post. I always wrote about people being so self-centered and inconsiderate. I have met people that have that mentally and if it does not affect them then they don't care. Not only is it upsetting its also annoying to see people act that way. I do not know anyone personally that was affected by the Paris attacks but I feel their pain and fear. I wish people could understand and consider other people not just theirs.
Hey Elizabeth I strongly agree with you, selfishness is such an ugly trait. I guess some people don't see the importance of these actions and how it effects us as a human race. If people weren't so hateful I think this world would be such a better place.
I strongly agree in the quote, “People are inherently bad and seek their own interests at the expense of others.” Although I do not believe that every person is bad, I do agree that most people seek the best for themselves. We are living for survival of the fittest. They want something that will benefit their self. Humans will do whatever they want to get what they desire. We see this in our everyday lives. For example, college students are competing against each other for the better grade. They will not give away answers to a test in order for the other person to do better. Also, people in their careers are competing for promotions. These activities involve people striving for success. Their actions are based on opportunities to get them farther in life. This does not mean that they are inherently bad but they are in some way selfish by only looking out for them self.
Hello Sylvia, I can relate to what you are saying. Today's society is living in a survival of the fittest mode that makes human beings become selfish. We live in a world filled with competition and therefore we think about ourselves first rather than others. This is why it is extremely important for humans to realize how society is transforming us in order to be more empathetic and engage in acts of kindness that benefit others and not only ourselves. This in return will bring more happiness into our hearts and will allow us to live happier lives.
If I could change one thing about humans it would be for everyone to simply be nicer to each other. People are just so mean sometimes and it is simply unnecessary. It is not only for an issue worldwide nor am I only referring to countries or current situations in the Middle East and Europe. I’m referring to everyday life. People can be rude and inconsiderate of others. I worked at a local restaurants for almost five years and I also worked at Starbucks for a few months. The jobs I actually enjoyed; it was always the customers that were so rude and just plain mean that always ruined your mood. I never understood why people were so rude and demanding. I understand that the customers is always right but that is no reason to talk down to anyone. People were so rude and most of the time it was for minor things. Working in customer service certainly changed me as a person. I always try my best be nice and respectful to people in the customer service business because I know it can be tough and emotionally draining. If everyone were to just chill out and be a nicer person, the world would be a better place. If everyone were to be more considerate of others and not be so self-centered it could improve our relationships with other people. There are those certain people out there that need to work on their “pleases” and “thank yous”. Be polite, be nice, and be respectful. Our daily lives would be so much less stressful and we would be more at peace if everyone would just be nice.
I agree Carolina that the world would be a happier place if everyone would be nicer to everyone else. However, I think the definition of being "nice" is subjective where it would be hard to distinguish if a person were being nice or not.
I agree with the statement you made about everyone being nicer to each other. Mike was right, the world would be a happier place. Every day we can face one rude or mean person to ruin our day. Some people are just not happy and will see to it that they make everyone else miserable around them. As humans, we need to take the simply pleasures out of life and smile to the one who makes us angry or mad and say, "I will remember to do that next time," or "thank you for your input." I believe it shocks them and will help them remember about what they said.
My family always says a quote, "Kill them with kindness."
I was talking about people's negativity just today at work. Customers I have encountered are rude here and there, I do not understand that characteristic.
Hello Carolina, I didn't read through any blogs before my post and love that yours can be related to my blog in regards to empathy. People do tend to let the world get the best of them which leads to hatred and negative acts. My father always taught us girls to never follow the crowd and always be the better example of what a good person is. I work at a bank and money is especially a big reason people become so stressed out. Many times my co-workers criticize me for "being to nice", but honestly I don't think being to nice should be negative. It is going the extra mile that truly makes a difference. Even just a smile and simple "thank you" can make someone's day a thousand times better.
I believe that people are inherently good and seek the best for each other. This prompt is truly one of those philosophical questions that people can argue about for days without end. I believe that people are inherently good because, it is shown through history that, people come together and bond when times are rough. For example, when there are wars, people don’t take advantage of the destruction by stealing and invading other people’s homes. They try and help in whatever fashion they can and try to improve the overall good of the community through community service. Although it might seem like people seek their own interests and pursue their own goals, inherently, I believe that people’s actions reflect positive attributes without direction. A direct historical example that I can think of is WWII. America got involved in the war after Pearl Harbor was attacked. However, people in general were concerned with what was going on in Europe. They wanted intervention but the President, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, was hesitant in going to war. In general, I think that people want to succeed and make sure they have stability in their lives. However, once they reach that point of stability, statistics prove that people will donate because it makes them feel good. Whichever way that people might think about that, the fact that people donate reflects the inherent personality that people are inherently good and seek the best for each other. Again, this is a philosophical question and I would be interested in hearing the different arguments for both sides.
If I could change one thing about humans, it would be to be trustworthy and not tell lies. I feel that today trust is very rare, it’s almost even impossible to trust people. Trusting people is taking a big risk to being betrayed and even emotionally hurt. If lies didn't exist I feel that people would be better human beings in general and we’d feel more comfortable with one another. We all have that one friend we can trust, imagine everyone being that way, and having that sense of comfortableness. The fact that you know that there is a sense of trust is remarkable. Being honest is always the way to go with any type of relationship. If all humans were capable of not telling lies friendships and marriages would be more about love and growth rather than backstabbing and infidelity. For instance, the divorce rate is so high in the United States because of infidelity that marriage itself feels like a risk. I feel that lies are what ruins a lot of relationships, because if lies didn’t exist there wouldn’t be disappoints for such actions. Lying always bring disappointment, especially if one had fully trusted that person. Loyalty and honesty is what helps maintain a good relationship and our human instinct of lying and covering our wrong doing can ruin something that was meant to be great. Not only in relationships but also in our everyday life, small lies could even ruin opportunities. Being truthful would save a lot of uncalled for situations and it would make humans much more unified rather than feeling that sense of being betrayed.
Hi Jennifer, I totally agree with you. Trust is very hard to find among people. I have an extreme issue with that and because of it I usually keep to myself. We can only hope that the people we meet are trustworthy.
Hi Jennifer, I think you make some great points, and I agree with you to an extent. But at the same time, I think lies are necessary because the people who don’t lie to us are the people who truly care about us. If I am completely trustworthy of someone, then that means I have an incredibly strong and important relationship with them.
I have to say this is my absolute favorite. I completely agree with everything you said, and I think based on societal values we have begin to put less value on the truth and that is not a good thing. Thanks for bringing this up.
There are thousands of negative characteristics that people carry, but I believe that being judgmental allows growth of other negative characters from a young age to the next. We have all seen this many times and even perhaps done it (I am sure). Most people have always enjoyed dressing beautifully (there is nothing wrong with that) with new trends, expensive clothing, and so forth. (To mention a few) And although there isn’t anything wrong with dressing nice or being more fortunate than your neighbor, it brings on negative judgements between two people. It is more the people than the materialistic things we have. I remember when I was in middle school, I would always being judged from classmates and even siblings about my weight. When I looked in the mirror, I never considered myself a big girl, I just was not the girl who weighed 105lbs. Now, I weigh less than 150, but still feel a bit self-conscious about my weight. These judgements go far in life. Obviously, these judgments are and have been worse for many other people. People care too much about race, appearance, weight, social status, and many more. If people cared a little less about what others are, do, and do not have than life in this world would be a little better for most. Overall, if I had to choose one characteristic about people, it would be “judgements.” I believe that this would dissolve many other negative characteristics that come from being judgmental towards another.
Hi Jazmin, I agree that judgment is a major problem in our society. Along with caring about race, weight, class, etc., I feel that people are way too focused on age and appearance. I am the kind of person that has less than zero interest in shopping, getting my hair and nails done, or getting plastic surgery when I’m older. I think that if our society was not so judgmental, fewer people would find the necessity to do these things.
Hi Jazmin, I also agree with your ideas of humans being judgmental and wrote some of my thoughts of it in my post too. Our strive for perfection is getting stronger and stronger and unfortunately, it's setting a really bad example for our future generations.
If there were one thing that I could change about humans it would be less hatred and more empathy. Killing and murder has become a constant issue on the news that I can never understand how someone can be capable of causing others harm, especially innocent children. If individuals were more empathetic and less hating towards one another, I really believe that the world would find peace. One thing that I always notice at work is that others aren’t really willing to do for others what they would want to be done for them. For example, sometimes my co-workers make fun of me for going beyond expectations for our members. When I help elders and they ask for a challenging request, I especially show empathy because I would like others to show that towards my elderly parents or myself when I am old. In this world we have become so competitive about resources that we forget why we are all on this earth in the first place. Many people let money and hatred get the best of them. This not only leads to bitterness and an unhealthy life style, but also sets an example to their children that hatred is okay. I believe that empathy is the key to a good heart and healthy lifestyle. If we could all learn to work with one another rather than against, I think this would contribute to a more positive way of life on earth
I know it sounds incredibly pessimistic, but I believe that “people are inherently bad and seek their own interests at the expense of others.” Humanity’s main focus has been on survival at all costs, which can cause a person to neglect or even inflict harm on others. The idea of inner cruelty of man has even been shown scientifically, especially in the Stanford prison experiment of 1971. In this study that took place in an actual prison, Philip Zimbardo took a group of college students and split them into two groups: guards and inmates. Zimbardo found that the one group of students actually took on the roles of being guards; they became ruthless and treated the inmate group with great cruelty. Even Zimbardo found himself taking on the role of warden. The experiment was discontinued after six days.
Whether a person is morally good or evil depends partly on their situation. If a person is living in a fairly civil society, there is a better chance of them acting like a good person. However, if a person is faced against harsh nature or is put in a dangerous situation, they may do whatever it takes to survive, even if that includes putting themselves above others. Finally, I think it is important to acknowledge that evil is necessary. For without evil and temptation, how could we tell who is good?
If I could change one thing about humans it would be all of us to be more empathetic. I think that most of us do not have enough. There are many times where I will walk past a homeless person and attempt to help but most people will not. I myself have even been guilty of not showing enough when it is needed. I think that our values are not what they use to be and the human race becomes more self-absorbed with each day that passes. We want others to empathize with our situations but we do not show it ourselves. How would I change this? That I am not sure of but I think the first step has to do with us allowing ourselves not to allow our own kind suffer. With learning to be more empathetic I feel that the world will become more functional and cohesive. It allows us to be more supportive of one another which could lead to all thing prospering. Sometimes our own selfishness causes us not to share what we all have to offer the world. When everyone is offering the best of who they are there is the potential to be nothing but greatness. Yet, with every desire there is down fall. But with these down falls when everyone is on the same accord the bad things can be concurred. Maybe this seems a little far-fetched but I think this would be one of the ways to restore a lot of the issued with humanity.
Hello Shannon, I completely agree with you I believe that the world now a days is becoming more and more negative each and everyday. I try to practice empathy myself because i know that a lot of times we simply judge individuals based on their actions and we don't take into account the unknown situation. Being more empathetic would definitely help humans understand each other by putting ourselves in each others shoes instead of judging each other before taking into account the situation. I think that being more empathetic would help humanity be more happy and loving creating a more comfortable world to live in.
If I could change one thing about humans it would be to take away the ability to hate. Hate is a strong feeling that can cause individuals to act without thinking. This can sometimes cause drastic results such as deaths or long term consequences such as jail or a deadly diseases. If humans didn’t have the ability to hate I think today’s world would be a happier place. Maybe we wouldn’t have wars or terrorist attacks and the world would be more united as a whole. Nations are often competing and I believe that this is due to hate. We hate each other for the things we don’t have causing tension between nations. By taking away the ability to hate I believe humans would learn to solve their problems by talking rather than by engaging in harmful behaviors. This would make humans listen to each other’s point of view to try to understand each other. Eliminating hate would make this world a peaceful place to live in because hate is a feeling that triggers many negative behaviors such as corruption, inequality and unfairness. In my opinion this world is becoming more negative day by day due to the powerful role that hate plays in our lives. This is why If I could choose one thing to change about humans I would chose to remove the ability to hate because that would open more positive doors for our society. Removing hate would enable us to love more, eliminate discrimination and all together live in a more peaceful happier world.
If I could change one thing about humans, I would change their constant strive for perfection. I think everyone’s strive for perfection is the cause of many of the other characteristics mentioned in other response like violence, being judgmental, hate, lying, selfishness, etc. Everyone has their own idea of “perfect” in their heads and though they may not share it verbally, they are constantly thinking about it and that is what drives them to act the way they do, whether it is violently, judgmentally, and selfishly, etc. Like many others have pointed out, humans are naturally selfish and will more than likely do whatever it takes to succeed themselves rather than helping others. I also think our judgmental nature has come from our own ideas of “perfect”. If someone does not fit into our idea of perfect then we immediately think negatively about him or her when really, we know absolutely nothing about them. Our strive for perfection even makes us think negatively about ourselves sometimes. We want to be skinny, we want to dress fashionably, we want the newest electronics, most followers, we want more money, and we want more, more, more. And because we are all trying to be the best of the best, we will continue to belittle each other until we get where we want to be, and even then, we still won't be satisfied.
If I could, one of the things I would change and get rid of in humans is "violence" because violence; does not justify taking the lives of others because of their race, religion, or social status. In some countries, the struggles for humans are to get a proper education and a decent job in order to provide and support their families. Unfortunately, in other countries the rights and liberties of people are taken away by other people because of their religion and race. The attacks in Paris show to what point a certain group of people can use violence. It is sad that people are willing to take the lives of others because of what they believe in, but there is no validation for “terrorists” to harm innocent people. The attacks that occurred in Paris, are a great example that violence only brings harm and injustice to innocent people. Furthermore, it would be great if violence did not exist in humans because it would get rid off all the horrific crimes committed in the world. Additionally, with no violence, it could have prevented many wars and many horrendous genocides committed against groups that did not deserve to suffer. If it were possible, perhaps we would have a chance to have a world free from violence and crime. Moreover, the world would be a great place for everyone to enjoy, and to live freely without being frightened of what would happen next. Unfortunately, people have violence within them, and the only thing we can do as a society is to prevent war, genocide, and terrorism from occurring again.
ReplyDeleteHey Yesica, you wrote some interesting points about how the world would be better off without violence. I agree that a lot of fighting is unnecessary, but sometimes it’s the only option people have. I am in no way defending war, genocide, or terrorism, as I believe that falls under unnecessary violence, but I do believe that sometimes we have to resort to violence to get a point across. Thanks for the read, and hope you have a great week!
DeleteIn the absence of violence nature can play a huge teacher to us all. It is true, we as humans do not know how to handle violence. Violence creates conflicts in the mind and fractures a planned reality into that of doubt and fear. It's very hard to harness coping mechanism to understand and compartmentalize such concepts. The mind therefore measure in degree the violence to other acts and then assigns degrees as to severity. So when one act of violence is witnessed, multiple splinters, this ripple effect, are embedded into the mind. You are not designed for that. The doubt and fear from it sits as cancers, and corrode the connections in your mind like subserviced terminals on a car battery. In the end, this limits your progress.
DeleteThank you so much Yesica for sharing.
Hi Jesse, thanks for sharing your point of view. It was interesting that you mentioned that “using violence in a way will get a point across”, that will lead to more violence. I guess what I meant to say is that emotion of violence should not exist at all in order to prevent crimes or violence from occurring in the first place, that is if it were possible. Thanks for sharing hope you have great winter vacation.
DeleteHi Clem, hope you are having a great week. I really like your point of view, and I will have to agree with you. The mind is very powerful and it can make us do things that we often think we can. It's interesting that you mentioned “the mind, therefore, measure in degree the violence to other acts and then assigns degrees as to severity,” because what causes one thing to occur can also trigger other things that a person can act on. Thanks for sharing, and hope you have a great winter vacation
For this blog, I have to chosen to agree with the statement that “People are inherently bad and seek their own interests at the expense of others”. I believe it is part human nature to be greedy and to always be wanting more than what they already have. Without this urge, I believe the human race wouldn’t have be as prevalent as it is today. This selfish desire for wealth, power, and even food is what drives many to make changes and advancements. Inventors probably wouldn’t have the motivation to create new technologies if there wasn’t anything in it for them. I’m not saying this quality is “bad”, but I do believe we as humans seek our own interests and sometimes, it may be at the expense of others. Sometimes sacrifices have to be made in order to put yourself in a better position in life.This includes even the simplest of actions such as buying the last carton of milk for your family even though you still have some at home while knowing that somebody in line wanted it as well. Anybody I know would have taken that last carton of milk regardless of the situation because their priority is looking out for their family and ensuring they have milk at all times. So in conclusion, while I do agree people seek their own interests even at the expense of others, I don’t necessarily agree with all people being inherently bad.
ReplyDeleteJesse, I actually did not answer this questions, but the one thing that I said I would change about humans is our selfish nature. That is so similar to your argument about why people are "bad" that I had to comment and let you know that I share your opinion! I wish it really was possible to remove this selfish desire completely from human nature instead of trying to fight it through things such as education and taught compassion. Thanks for sharing your thought, and if you get a chance, check out my post!
DeleteI read your post, and it looks like we have similar opinions about people being inherently "bad". We are selfish beings that usually only look out for ourselves in order to put ourselves at a better standpoint. This is why stealing is a thing and greed is seen as a sin. I appreciate your feedback, and am glad others have the same opinions about these characteristics.
DeleteIf I could change one thing about humans, it would probably be the hate towards others that aren’t like them that we see too often. It baffles me that people have the ability to harm others simply because they want to. They can do so physically or emotionally. It pains me to see people be discriminated against for their religion, skin color, or sexual orientation. Even revealing your political views is an easy enough way to open yourself to hate from others. Too often, I see people arguing over social media because they do not have similar viewpoints. I think healthy debate is great, but arguments like these often lead to threats. There are far too many threats these days, and they are from our own kind. We are all people. I think some people forget that sometimes, and I wish they would be reminded. The news shows innocent Muslims being treated as less than dirt due to the acts of extremists. We see homosexuals being shamed and made fun of. We saw slavery in the United States, and that hate towards African Americans is still very real today even if it is not seen in the same way. I would change the way people see others. I wish we could all see each other in a more positive and equal way. Innocent people deserve to be treated better than they are. I am not ignorant about what goes on in the world, and I want to be a part of a change for the better.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your post. Hate is a characteristic that I would like to change about humans as well. It is sad to see different crimes that people commit because they have so much hatred towards a specific race, religion or beliefs. I definitely agree with you that we should see others in a positive way as this would make a positive impact.
DeleteA great post about the characteristic hate. So many people have hate towards others for no apparent reason, and that baffles me. Just because someone is different from you doesn’t make them less of a person than you are. I agree with you that debates are healthy and this should be the way arguments are resolved instead of through hate or violence. You brought up some great points Carly, so thanks for that.
DeleteJazmin & Jesse,
DeleteI'm glad that people agree with me! I especially like what Jesse said that people who are different from us are not less of a person. I completely agree with that statement, and I'm glad you brought up that point. We can all be more positive about people.
If I could change one thing about humans, it would be the ability to forgive and not hold grudges against others. I think all of us at some point have been hurt, humiliated, upset, angry or betrayed by someone. Most of us probably thought to ourselves that we would never forgive the person who made us feel that way. For some of us, a couple hours will pass and we will be fine and forgive the person. For others, it may take days, months or years to be able to forgive. I know that forgiving is not easy because I have held a couple grudges against some people for quiet some time in the past. I was not able to forgive certain people because I was still holding on to all the negative emotions that those people inflected on me. After a while, I realized that these people were probably living life perfectly fine and there I was, still holding on to all those feelings years later. This was very different to what my mom taught me growing up. It would be an understatement for me to say that my mom has the biggest heart ever. My mom does not hold grudges against anybody even those who have betrayed her on many occasions. My mom has always taught me to be the same way. She would get upset when I did not want to visit certain family members due to the resentment I had towards them. I think I always expected those people to come and apologize for what they put my family through. One day I realized that I would probably never get that apology. I decided to forgive those people, be kind to them but keep my distance. I am not saying that we have to become best friends with those who may have hurt us but I do see the importance in being able to forgive someone. In reality I feel like we hurt ourselves even more when we do not forgive others, even if they were wrong. Forgiving someone is not doing the other person a favor instead it is helping our healing process by letting go of resentments.
ReplyDeleteJazmin, I agree with you that forgiveness is such a powerful thing for the person who has been hurt. My family always jokes that I have the shortest memory because I honestly forget most of the things that people do that offend me, but others in my family do not. I try to model this behavior of forgiving, even if that does not mean forgetting, and then protecting yourself by not giving that person the same power over you that they had in the past by not sharing secrets with them for children or as adult by not trusting them with the things that matter most to you. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us, and I hope that your journey of learning to forgive has been a good one!
DeleteHello Janel. It is great to know that you can forgive someone so fast. I honestly think that is a great trait to have. Thankfully I have learned to not let people have a hold on my emotions the way they would in the past. I can forgive people now, move on and be happy. You're welcome and thank you for sharing your thoughts regarding my post! :)
DeleteHello Jazmin,
DeleteI enjoyed reading your post about forgiveness and not holding grudges. I share a similar personal story like yours. My mom has a forgiving heart also, There are times when I see people hurt her or say something bad about her. She forgives them and moves on, As I was growing up, I felt when someone hurt me or mean to me that I should get revenge on them. I figured out that forgiving helps us shallow our pride and move on with our own life. There will be people who will hurt, miuse, or even backstab us, but it is up to say, "Im sorry." This will help us grow and feel that a heavy load has been lifted off our shoulders. Thanks for sharing!
Hello Brittany. Thank you I am glad to hear that I am not the only one who has dealt with this issue. It is true that at some point in our life we will be hurt or backstabbed by people but it is better to forgive. It feels great to know that we can put our pride to the side and forgive people in order to move on. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me.
DeleteHi Jazmin,
DeleteI have to day this is another great one. I think it is also one thing that we give less value than it deserves. The ability to forgive someone is a big accomplishment for anyone.
Hello Shannon. Yes I agree, it is a big accomplishment to forgive someone because in many occasions it is not that easy to do so. Which is why it is very important that we put our pride to the side as Brittany had mentioned.
DeleteIf I could change one thing about humans, I would change our selfish nature. This desire to do what is best for us, I believe, is ultimately the cause of most other problems that humans create. Something as simple as a two year old not wanting to share a toy or a five year old cutting in line can be broken down to the fact that they want something for themselves instead of thinking about how it can effect others. Although we learn through our parents and other authority figures to teach ourselves to consider other people's feeling, adult problems such as couples cheating on each other, stealing, or even murder in most circumstances can be brought back to this selfish desire. People cheat on their significant other because they want to satisfy their own desires in that moment instead of thinking about how it will affect the other person. Stealing is ultimately taking what belongs to someone else and keeping it for yourself, which to me is a textbook definition of selfishness. And murder often times is a result of hatred or a burst of anger towards a person that is not controlled because the criminal is only thinking about his or her emotions not the consequences of their actions. I could go on and on with examples about this such as gossip or even texting and driving, but I think I made my point that when humans think about themselves, which we often do, bad things happen. Although I am sure there would still be evil in the world from more malicious intentions, if humans did not think about themselves first, then I believe the world would be a much better place.
ReplyDeleteHi Janel, I hope you are having a great week. You pointed out very important details about the selfish nature of people. Unfortunately, people are selfish because they want to have the things their way, even if it includes hurting someone they care for. It is true; when humans only care about themselves they will do whatever it takes to make things happen for them. Selfishness leads to more crimes and violence, and the only thing that can stop that is for people to become more humble and caring about others. Thanks for sharing, I hope you have a great winter vacation.
DeleteHi Janel,
DeleteBeing selfish will do no good to ourselves or the people around us for many reasons. I also believe that the way we act is highly reflected on our parents for the way they have raised us. The way we have been raised has a lot to say about our morals and beliefs. I really liked your explanations of selfish desire. They reminded me about my blog when I wrote that people are inherently bad because they seek interests for themselves.
I believe people are born inherently good and that through finding himself, herself, or themself in each life experience, has the potential for derailment. The person derailed gets lost in their journey and results in bad actions. Or they do things not normal to society but, then ask yourself, what is normal? Some lines of normality cause good people to look like bad people and others make bad people, look good. Maybe it is not their fault but the definition of normality in society?
ReplyDeleteDon't get me wrong; some guidelines are absolutely required to bond society together. People will still kill other people. Science can explain it simply-we, are still animals and environments are not always hospitable. Put an animal in an inhospitable situation and they usually claw, scratch, bite, fight, or in the terrible sense kill. Ever pet a cat too long, approach a dog backed into a corner? Evolution does not take hold in everyone at the same rate.
If we remove labels of normality, then actions created by people determine their placement on an scale. Say a bell curve. People that have identified with what they know they are not, tend to fall in the middle, are fairly sure of the path they are is right, and know how to handle life's changes. Interestingly enough, their nurture, which placed them early in life, under the bell, also prevents their experience of life. Those whose nurture was stunted, interrupted, delayed tend to be the outliers in our scale. Their journey towards the bell is much more difficult and rarely takes a direct path. And, that journey can take a lifetime. Success, is not always achieved but, be assured, they will have as many chances as is in the design.
...I thought you might enjoy this little piece...how, I wish, I was a Hydrogen atom...
ReplyDeleteOde to a Covalent Bond...
What I most desire, in life, is to be connected...to know... the fullness. Its...its longing has taken my path through those celestial bodies you can only gaze upon...I have drank from more shores than sand upon all the earths in your...and not...your universe...yes, for that I'm thankful...and so...so it should as well be for you...but, the pull...the pull of their energies, surround me...the longing, that broken bond has created...lost...I'm like souls in the darkness, looking for their place in the absence of universe...ignorant, like a deprived brain...nowhere near, its journey...the complete story, that explains, why?...suffer, no...Its not, suffering...its...the spark...oh, once alive...once complete...once whole...once more, back, into, the one...which always, takes, us, home...
(Note: voice over for this was award winning, and musical score...thank you...he prayed)
H+
Hi Clem, hope you are having a great week. The hydrogen atom is a neutral atom because it has the negatively charged electron and a positively charged proton. After reading, you post it was interesting that you mentioned “the shores, the pull of energies, and the broken bonds,” and what came to mind is the composition of water. It made think that water is often seen as something fragile, but in reality is one of the strongest compositions formulated. When the two hydrogen atoms bond to the oxygen atom and the result is water; what makes a water molecule bond to another molecule is the covalent bond, which is one of the most important things that will attract or repulse forces between atoms. Thanks for sharing your post, it made me think about the simple things I take for granted, which is essential for life in the universe.
DeleteYesica and Clem--you are both making an argument for why science teachers in our schools should be using writing alongside the science. We think more clearly through writing. The poem is brilliant and the writing about it, Yesica, is insightful. If either of you go on to teach science, please make your students write about science!
DeleteThank you Dr. Schmoll, Brett...and thank you for all you have done for me, and us.
DeleteYesica,
DeleteYou are able to see, as much in your minds eye, as your physical ones. Thank you. Have a great break.
If I could change one thing about humans, it would be our judgmental nature. When we see someone that may look different than us or does not fit in well we automatically judge their appearances, what kind of name brand clothes they wear, what kind of house they live in, or what kind of car they drive. In media, magazines, and other widespread sources they portray celebrities to have these fancy things like nice cars and houses. At times, we can get these images in our head and use it to judge someone else. If we have all these nice materialistic things, we can judge someone who does not have the same things as we do. Instead as humans, we should focus on building up someone else up instead of putting them down. Words or actions may be hurtful and negatively affect their life. Humans should be able to make lifelong friends with someone who is an insider or different than everyone else. At times it is not easy, but it is not impossible either.
ReplyDeleteSo, go to your friends and say something positive about someone else or compliment the person! Believe me it makes the world of difference :)
Brittany,
DeleteI wish we could get rid of the negative judgmental nature of humans towards other humans as well. I often catch myself judging other people by their actions or other things, and then I think, "why am I thinking this? It won't change anything to think these things." I believe a lot in the idea that saying something positive to someone can help them a lot more than we think. Especially to someone who is having a particularly bad day or week or year. Glad you agree with this as well.
Hi Brittany,
DeleteHumans are judgmental and because of that, we have cliques in school and social problems. Your comment on the clothes we wear made me think of elementary school when uniforms were required for every student. The reason being was so that all the students would look the same and no one would feel uncomfortable if they were not wearing what was in style, or the "prettiest" clothes. I also agree that we should make everyone feel confident in their own skin and push someone to be happy.
Hi Brittany,
DeleteI really like how you brought this subject up because you see it so often. Everywhere you go you see someone who is somewhat different than oneself in religion, race, and etc., and being judgmental onky makes things worse. If only people would change, how accepting would everyone be towards each other's differences.
Hello Brittany,
DeleteIf this characteristic were changed, the world would be a much better place. People do become stereotypical and judging of a person's appearance without understanding that personality is what matters the most. I am also guilty of this, especially at work. We deal with angry, sentimental, crying members on a daily basis. Some situations are much more severe than others, but sometimes we as tellers get frustrated when some people make transactions a lot more complicated than they need to be. For instance, there are some members who are very critical and demanding about how they want to go about their business. We tellers already know these members and hope that we aren't the ones having to deal with it. However, although some people can be complicated and mean, it always matters to be the better person.
If I could change one thing about humans it would be for people not to be selfish and hateful. I have encountered so many people that are so selfish and only think about themselves. I personally do not like people who are extremely hateful and selfish because it’s unethical. I don’t think it’s correct for people not to be sympathetic about others feelings when they are upset or going through a rough time. I have also met people who do not care about other races or religions. They are selfish for their own kind. For example, this weekend I went to a birthday dinner with a party of 15 people. I met people who were friends of others and started conversation, moments after the Paris attack came up. One man stated that he didn’t care what occurred in Paris because he did not live there. He didn’t have family or loved ones affected; therefore he didn’t care about the issue. Personally, I would have slapped this man on the face. I cannot stand people who are so selfish and don’t care about other people’s feelings or concerns. It upsets me that there are so many people in the world that are so selfish and hateful. If I had the power, I would eliminate hate out of every human being. I don’t believe anything good comes out of hatred. When people hate they hurt others and to extremes kill other human beings. Our human race needs to evolve and become better. With all the attacks and killings going on around the world proves why hatred and selfishness is destroying our humanity.
ReplyDeleteElizabeth,
DeleteI also spoke about humans hateful nature. I am also baffled that anyone can say they do not care about events like the ones who recently happened in Paris. Especially when the United States suffered a major terrorist attack in 2001. These threats are very real not only to Paris, but to anywhere in the world because of humans nature to be hateful and selfish. We should all be concerned with the events taking place in the world because we are all a part of it. Thanks for your great points.
Hi Elizabeth,
DeleteEvery good post. I always wrote about people being so self-centered and inconsiderate. I have met people that have that mentally and if it does not affect them then they don't care. Not only is it upsetting its also annoying to see people act that way. I do not know anyone personally that was affected by the Paris attacks but I feel their pain and fear. I wish people could understand and consider other people not just theirs.
Hey Elizabeth I strongly agree with you, selfishness is such an ugly trait. I guess some people don't see the importance of these actions and how it effects us as a human race. If people weren't so hateful I think this world would be such a better place.
DeleteI strongly agree in the quote, “People are inherently bad and seek their own interests at the expense of others.” Although I do not believe that every person is bad, I do agree that most people seek the best for themselves. We are living for survival of the fittest. They want something that will benefit their self. Humans will do whatever they want to get what they desire. We see this in our everyday lives. For example, college students are competing against each other for the better grade. They will not give away answers to a test in order for the other person to do better. Also, people in their careers are competing for promotions. These activities involve people striving for success. Their actions are based on opportunities to get them farther in life. This does not mean that they are inherently bad but they are in some way selfish by only looking out for them self.
ReplyDeleteHello Sylvia,
DeleteI can relate to what you are saying. Today's society is living in a survival of the fittest mode that makes human beings become selfish. We live in a world filled with competition and therefore we think about ourselves first rather than others. This is why it is extremely important for humans to realize how society is transforming us in order to be more empathetic and engage in acts of kindness that benefit others and not only ourselves. This in return will bring more happiness into our hearts and will allow us to live happier lives.
If I could change one thing about humans it would be for everyone to simply be nicer to each other. People are just so mean sometimes and it is simply unnecessary. It is not only for an issue worldwide nor am I only referring to countries or current situations in the Middle East and Europe. I’m referring to everyday life. People can be rude and inconsiderate of others. I worked at a local restaurants for almost five years and I also worked at Starbucks for a few months. The jobs I actually enjoyed; it was always the customers that were so rude and just plain mean that always ruined your mood. I never understood why people were so rude and demanding. I understand that the customers is always right but that is no reason to talk down to anyone. People were so rude and most of the time it was for minor things. Working in customer service certainly changed me as a person. I always try my best be nice and respectful to people in the customer service business because I know it can be tough and emotionally draining. If everyone were to just chill out and be a nicer person, the world would be a better place. If everyone were to be more considerate of others and not be so self-centered it could improve our relationships with other people. There are those certain people out there that need to work on their “pleases” and “thank yous”. Be polite, be nice, and be respectful. Our daily lives would be so much less stressful and we would be more at peace if everyone would just be nice.
ReplyDeleteI agree Carolina that the world would be a happier place if everyone would be nicer to everyone else. However, I think the definition of being "nice" is subjective where it would be hard to distinguish if a person were being nice or not.
DeleteHi Carolina,
DeleteI agree with the statement you made about everyone being nicer to each other. Mike was right, the world would be a happier place. Every day we can face one rude or mean person to ruin our day. Some people are just not happy and will see to it that they make everyone else miserable around them. As humans, we need to take the simply pleasures out of life and smile to the one who makes us angry or mad and say, "I will remember to do that next time," or "thank you for your input." I believe it shocks them and will help them remember about what they said.
My family always says a quote, "Kill them with kindness."
Thank you for sharing I enjoyed reading it!
Hi Carolina,
DeleteI was talking about people's negativity just today at work. Customers I have encountered are rude here and there, I do not understand that characteristic.
Hello Carolina, I didn't read through any blogs before my post and love that yours can be related to my blog in regards to empathy. People do tend to let the world get the best of them which leads to hatred and negative acts. My father always taught us girls to never follow the crowd and always be the better example of what a good person is. I work at a bank and money is especially a big reason people become so stressed out. Many times my co-workers criticize me for "being to nice", but honestly I don't think being to nice should be negative. It is going the extra mile that truly makes a difference. Even just a smile and simple "thank you" can make someone's day a thousand times better.
DeleteI believe that people are inherently good and seek the best for each other. This prompt is truly one of those philosophical questions that people can argue about for days without end. I believe that people are inherently good because, it is shown through history that, people come together and bond when times are rough. For example, when there are wars, people don’t take advantage of the destruction by stealing and invading other people’s homes. They try and help in whatever fashion they can and try to improve the overall good of the community through community service. Although it might seem like people seek their own interests and pursue their own goals, inherently, I believe that people’s actions reflect positive attributes without direction. A direct historical example that I can think of is WWII. America got involved in the war after Pearl Harbor was attacked. However, people in general were concerned with what was going on in Europe. They wanted intervention but the President, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, was hesitant in going to war. In general, I think that people want to succeed and make sure they have stability in their lives. However, once they reach that point of stability, statistics prove that people will donate because it makes them feel good. Whichever way that people might think about that, the fact that people donate reflects the inherent personality that people are inherently good and seek the best for each other. Again, this is a philosophical question and I would be interested in hearing the different arguments for both sides.
ReplyDeleteIf I could change one thing about humans, it would be to be trustworthy and not tell lies. I feel that today trust is very rare, it’s almost even impossible to trust people. Trusting people is taking a big risk to being betrayed and even emotionally hurt. If lies didn't exist I feel that people would be better human beings in general and we’d feel more comfortable with one another. We all have that one friend we can trust, imagine everyone being that way, and having that sense of comfortableness. The fact that you know that there is a sense of trust is remarkable. Being honest is always the way to go with any type of relationship. If all humans were capable of not telling lies friendships and marriages would be more about love and growth rather than backstabbing and infidelity. For instance, the divorce rate is so high in the United States because of infidelity that marriage itself feels like a risk. I feel that lies are what ruins a lot of relationships, because if lies didn’t exist there wouldn’t be disappoints for such actions. Lying always bring disappointment, especially if one had fully trusted that person. Loyalty and honesty is what helps maintain a good relationship and our human instinct of lying and covering our wrong doing can ruin something that was meant to be great. Not only in relationships but also in our everyday life, small lies could even ruin opportunities. Being truthful would save a lot of uncalled for situations and it would make humans much more unified rather than feeling that sense of being betrayed.
ReplyDeleteHi Jennifer, I totally agree with you. Trust is very hard to find among people. I have an extreme issue with that and because of it I usually keep to myself. We can only hope that the people we meet are trustworthy.
DeleteHi Jennifer, I think you make some great points, and I agree with you to an extent. But at the same time, I think lies are necessary because the people who don’t lie to us are the people who truly care about us. If I am completely trustworthy of someone, then that means I have an incredibly strong and important relationship with them.
DeleteHi Jennifer,
DeleteI have to say this is my absolute favorite. I completely agree with everything you said, and I think based on societal values we have begin to put less value on the truth and that is not a good thing. Thanks for bringing this up.
ReplyDeleteThere are thousands of negative characteristics that people carry, but I believe that being judgmental allows growth of other negative characters from a young age to the next. We have all seen this many times and even perhaps done it (I am sure). Most people have always enjoyed dressing beautifully (there is nothing wrong with that) with new trends, expensive clothing, and so forth. (To mention a few) And although there isn’t anything wrong with dressing nice or being more fortunate than your neighbor, it brings on negative judgements between two people. It is more the people than the materialistic things we have. I remember when I was in middle school, I would always being judged from classmates and even siblings about my weight. When I looked in the mirror, I never considered myself a big girl, I just was not the girl who weighed 105lbs. Now, I weigh less than 150, but still feel a bit self-conscious about my weight. These judgements go far in life. Obviously, these judgments are and have been worse for many other people. People care too much about race, appearance, weight, social status, and many more. If people cared a little less about what others are, do, and do not have than life in this world would be a little better for most. Overall, if I had to choose one characteristic about people, it would be “judgements.” I believe that this would dissolve many other negative characteristics that come from being judgmental towards another.
Hi Jazmin, I agree that judgment is a major problem in our society. Along with caring about race, weight, class, etc., I feel that people are way too focused on age and appearance. I am the kind of person that has less than zero interest in shopping, getting my hair and nails done, or getting plastic surgery when I’m older. I think that if our society was not so judgmental, fewer people would find the necessity to do these things.
DeleteHi Jazmin, I also agree with your ideas of humans being judgmental and wrote some of my thoughts of it in my post too. Our strive for perfection is getting stronger and stronger and unfortunately, it's setting a really bad example for our future generations.
DeleteMaegan, Great point about our future generations. If we don’t change our ways, it will only get worse from here on out.
DeleteIf there were one thing that I could change about humans it would be less hatred and more empathy. Killing and murder has become a constant issue on the news that I can never understand how someone can be capable of causing others harm, especially innocent children. If individuals were more empathetic and less hating towards one another, I really believe that the world would find peace. One thing that I always notice at work is that others aren’t really willing to do for others what they would want to be done for them. For example, sometimes my co-workers make fun of me for going beyond expectations for our members. When I help elders and they ask for a challenging request, I especially show empathy because I would like others to show that towards my elderly parents or myself when I am old. In this world we have become so competitive about resources that we forget why we are all on this earth in the first place. Many people let money and hatred get the best of them. This not only leads to bitterness and an unhealthy life style, but also sets an example to their children that hatred is okay. I believe that empathy is the key to a good heart and healthy lifestyle. If we could all learn to work with one another rather than against, I think this would contribute to a more positive way of life on earth
ReplyDeleteI know it sounds incredibly pessimistic, but I believe that “people are inherently bad and seek their own interests at the expense of others.” Humanity’s main focus has been on survival at all costs, which can cause a person to neglect or even inflict harm on others. The idea of inner cruelty of man has even been shown scientifically, especially in the Stanford prison experiment of 1971. In this study that took place in an actual prison, Philip Zimbardo took a group of college students and split them into two groups: guards and inmates. Zimbardo found that the one group of students actually took on the roles of being guards; they became ruthless and treated the inmate group with great cruelty. Even Zimbardo found himself taking on the role of warden. The experiment was discontinued after six days.
ReplyDeleteWhether a person is morally good or evil depends partly on their situation. If a person is living in a fairly civil society, there is a better chance of them acting like a good person. However, if a person is faced against harsh nature or is put in a dangerous situation, they may do whatever it takes to survive, even if that includes putting themselves above others. Finally, I think it is important to acknowledge that evil is necessary. For without evil and temptation, how could we tell who is good?
If I could change one thing about humans it would be all of us to be more empathetic. I think that most of us do not have enough. There are many times where I will walk past a homeless person and attempt to help but most people will not. I myself have even been guilty of not showing enough when it is needed. I think that our values are not what they use to be and the human race becomes more self-absorbed with each day that passes. We want others to empathize with our situations but we do not show it ourselves. How would I change this? That I am not sure of but I think the first step has to do with us allowing ourselves not to allow our own kind suffer. With learning to be more empathetic I feel that the world will become more functional and cohesive. It allows us to be more supportive of one another which could lead to all thing prospering. Sometimes our own selfishness causes us not to share what we all have to offer the world. When everyone is offering the best of who they are there is the potential to be nothing but greatness. Yet, with every desire there is down fall. But with these down falls when everyone is on the same accord the bad things can be concurred. Maybe this seems a little far-fetched but I think this would be one of the ways to restore a lot of the issued with humanity.
ReplyDeleteHello Shannon,
DeleteI completely agree with you I believe that the world now a days is becoming more and more negative each and everyday. I try to practice empathy myself because i know that a lot of times we simply judge individuals based on their actions and we don't take into account the unknown situation. Being more empathetic would definitely help humans understand each other by putting ourselves in each others shoes instead of judging each other before taking into account the situation. I think that being more empathetic would help humanity be more happy and loving creating a more comfortable world to live in.
If I could change one thing about humans it would be to take away the ability to hate. Hate is a strong feeling that can cause individuals to act without thinking. This can sometimes cause drastic results such as deaths or long term consequences such as jail or a deadly diseases. If humans didn’t have the ability to hate I think today’s world would be a happier place. Maybe we wouldn’t have wars or terrorist attacks and the world would be more united as a whole. Nations are often competing and I believe that this is due to hate. We hate each other for the things we don’t have causing tension between nations. By taking away the ability to hate I believe humans would learn to solve their problems by talking rather than by engaging in harmful behaviors. This would make humans listen to each other’s point of view to try to understand each other. Eliminating hate would make this world a peaceful place to live in because hate is a feeling that triggers many negative behaviors such as corruption, inequality and unfairness. In my opinion this world is becoming more negative day by day due to the powerful role that hate plays in our lives. This is why If I could choose one thing to change about humans I would chose to remove the ability to hate because that would open more positive doors for our society. Removing hate would enable us to love more, eliminate discrimination and all together live in a more peaceful happier world.
ReplyDeleteIf I could change one thing about humans, I would change their constant strive for perfection. I think everyone’s strive for perfection is the cause of many of the other characteristics mentioned in other response like violence, being judgmental, hate, lying, selfishness, etc. Everyone has their own idea of “perfect” in their heads and though they may not share it verbally, they are constantly thinking about it and that is what drives them to act the way they do, whether it is violently, judgmentally, and selfishly, etc. Like many others have pointed out, humans are naturally selfish and will more than likely do whatever it takes to succeed themselves rather than helping others. I also think our judgmental nature has come from our own ideas of “perfect”. If someone does not fit into our idea of perfect then we immediately think negatively about him or her when really, we know absolutely nothing about them. Our strive for perfection even makes us think negatively about ourselves sometimes. We want to be skinny, we want to dress fashionably, we want the newest electronics, most followers, we want more money, and we want more, more, more. And because we are all trying to be the best of the best, we will continue to belittle each other until we get where we want to be, and even then, we still won't be satisfied.
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