Influences - real talk

[ook]

Link to original post: [drupal=3740]Influences - real talk[/drupal]



(I posted this on aib, but I'm posting it here too for good measure)

Whenever a controversial topic comes up (smoking cigarettes, for example) many people say something along the lines of "I personally don't smoke, but I don't mind if others do." And on the opposite side, someone who does smoke will usually say something like "If you don't smoke, that's fine, but mind your own business and don't try to push your opinions on people."

Now, that's a fine way to avoid some potential conflict, but... is it a good attitude to have?

We all like to think that as adults we can make our own decisions; we are our own individual. But the fact is, whether you realize it or not, your decisions are heavily influenced by outside factors like culture and other people. The video games you play, the food you eat, the music you listen to, the way you live your life - everything was influenced by someone or something else. That's the whole way that cultures develop.

So going back to the smoking example... if you don't smoke, chances are it's because you think smoking is bad. It kills. So, if smoking kills... why you don't have a problem with your friends killing themselves?? It's ok to care about your friends well-being.

The thing is, though, you gotta lead by example. Respect is a powerful thing. You can't just go around telling random strangers not to smoke. If people respect you as a person, they may listen to you. If you're an ***, or they don't even know you, you probably won't be able to influence them (like those "God hates ***s" people, lol. good luck with that). Don't be an ***. Start small, with your close friends. I don't think people realize how much power they have over their friends.

For instance, valdens. I don't even really consider him a close friend (we've only talked a couple times, through the internet), and he probably doesn't to me either, but I respect that guy. He's good at Brawl. So seeing him losing weight inspired me to change my opinion on food and lose weight too.



tl;dr: If you have a strong opinion on something, and you truly believe that it's the correct one, I don't think there is anything wrong with trying to influence others to believe it too. You have the power.

But how do you know if your opinion is the correct one? I dunno... that's the problem. I gotta think more about that one

EDIT: just realized that this is similar to the current blog "God gave me a job"
but less godly

 

[El Nino]

So going back to the smoking example... if you don't smoke, chances are it's because you think smoking is bad. It kills. So, if smoking kills... why you don't have a problem with your friends killing themselves?? It's ok to care about your friends well-being.

I guess it has to do with the way smoking kills. It depends on a number of factors which may or may not be in place at the time. Smoking kills the way high blood pressure kills, which isn't the way a gunshot to the head kills.

A similar question might be: Would you let your friend drive a motorcycle? Or, would you let your friend join the military? What if he's really passionate about bikes, or what if he's really patriotic? Would you take away something that matters a lot to a person because you want them to live longer?

It's a fine line.