Why is it so hard to get people to admit to...?

Question

Everything a man does is a choice... Even with a gun to your head and a knife in your hand. Even in that kind of scenerio, whatever a man does was a choice he made... People like to blame pomp or circumstance but in reality, everything from homosexuality to what you do to lead and direct your own life is all a choice. Alchoholics and addicts, make choices, murderers make choices and students and policemen, parents and children make choices. What do you believe? Do you believe that circumstance and life direct your hand and cause you to act, do you believe disease and genetics cause any condition? Or do you take personal responsability for you own life choice, it's results and outcomes?

Isin't your belief in this being a false dichotomy a choice too? How am I giving only one sided anything when all I am doing is posing question and leaving all of the details up to the person answering? It passed being anything close to a false dichotomy the minute I included the word "Everything,"

Thanks for the big words hon. I pat you on your back and pin a rose on your chest for not only knowing them but for using them in a sentence as well!

Always remember this... "Any experience of interest in life will be carried out at your own expense." The 2nd Earl of Rochester.

This is one of the most brilliant things I have ever heard!

That was supposed to read... "Any EXPERIMENT of interest.. ." not experience. Sorry....

Answer 1

You're setting up what's called a false dichotomy - where you present two choices as if they're the only possible. Responsibility falls on a continuum between you being completely responsible for your actions and the environment being completely responsible.
Most psychologically sound people take credit for the things they do well - "I earned an A on this test" - and blame circumstances for things they do poorly - "The professor gave me a D on this test".
It's a normal part of being a human being. You should try not to be so judgemental and just make sure that you make good choices.

Answer 2

I can see the point that your trying to make and on the surface it seems to be a plausible argument; however, I don't think that it takes into consideration that a choice made under duress is not always seen as being justification for holding someone responsible for the choice they made, the results thereof, or the consequences suffered. For instance, if a woman has a gun held to her head and her choice is to be killed or live but allow herself to be raped would you say that the perpetrator was not responsible for presenting her with limited choices, for killing or raping her, or for serving time for the crime? Would you hold the victim of a drunk driver responsible for being killed or maimed, or for killing or maiming someone in the car with them because they made the choice of being out on the road at the same time as the drunk? I do not feel that someone is necessary responsible for things that happen to them when the outcome of a situation results because of factors that were beyond their ability to control thereby limiting the choices they would otherwise be free to make decisions from. As for disease and genetics. I have been in the mental health field for over 20 years and will say that there are times when mental illness is a factor in the choices people make for which they should not be held accountable but there are other times in which it is used as a crutch or excuse that should be seen as such and should not afford them the means of not being held responsible for the choices they made or anything that happened as a result. It depends upon the facts and the circumstances but you can't just make a blanket statement that in every situation they are responsible. Same with genetics. I have known of situations in which a diabetic, who had no forewarning that their blood sugars were fluctuating, having a wreck because they blacked out. It had never happened before so how or why would they assume that they shouldn't be driving. Now once it has happened, then I believe they bare responsibility for knowing that there is the possibility that it could happen again and it is their responsibility to do whatever they have to to try to prevent the risk of their being a danger behind the wheel - even if that means no longer driving. I just don't think that such a generalization as you have made is possible - at least the law and judges have not upheld this belief and rightfully so.

Answer 3

That's all true except I don't believe that someone can say that homosexuality is a choice when you don't know what it feels like to be gay or what a gay person has felt their whole life. But, that's another issue. Yes, everyone has choices, but it's not that simple. Different circumstances will bring different choices for different people. If a mother had a hungry child and no money and no way of borrowing any or whatever and she steals food from a store. She had the choice to do what she had to do to feed her child or let the child go hungry and not steal. Some would steal the food even though they know it's wrong and others wouldn't because it's wrong.

Answer 4

Oh girl, you say it all! I mean how low is that to blame on everything else but yourself when anything bad happen? Alcoholics and addicts, they know what they did is wrong but they still do it blaming it to their parents, evil friends and blah blah blah... don't they have brain? They are the one who choose to do so. It's hard to get people to admit this because they're afraid or insecure about themself and yah it is also an easier(wayyyy too easy!) way out. <<<-- I mean some people

Me too but I really do my best and persistence in controlling my life. I choose what I want and when I don't I ... well, haaha depends on the situations. I say no, walk away, just ignore it or whatever that suits me at the time :P I take full responsibility on my mistake and I try to make it up by being responsible and do my best in every circumstance. :) But then again, sometimes circumstance do take a part in your life. The big gamble is usually your own choice though.

Feelings? No choice but how you respond to it? That is your choice.

Answer 5

I believe that circumstance is the first bit of information that is given a person dealing with any or all of the situations that you have posed, however in the end, I sincerely believe that you and I have the overall responsibility to make the final choice. We are all created equal therefore have been given a computer called the brain which we (baring mental illness) are in control of and thus, the choices are ours without excuse.

Answer 6

There are people who deliberately do things and cite examples as circumstances. These men are guided more by passion, lust, desire and anger, sometimes frustration. Many belong to this category and that is why there is no improvement in spite of society's efforts of counselling and rehabilitation centres to bring down cases alcoholics, drug addicts etc., These men definitely knowing fully well what they are committing is wrong, indulge in it.
However there have been few cases in which the innocent people otherwise get caught in this web purely due to circumstances. These people commit mistakes helplessly. Sometimes society too watches from a distance without going to his help. No person with a strong will fall into this category.
Finally, where there is a will, there is a way.
VR.

Answer 7

This is actually a very good question. Many physiologist that I have seen always have tried to put my actions of drinking on to the fact that my mother was an alcoholic. Now I personally dont believe this to be true. I am the one who wanted to drink, not because my mother did. If I was going off that kind of logic I think I would honestly stray the other way due to the fact that I saw the problems it caused. I drink because I choose to. I have chosen men that weren't nice to me because I needed their love. I needed to feel like I was able to help them, which again was my own choice. Some may say because of my mother I felt these ways. Due to the fact that my mother made me understand her life so I find other people that resemble her life and say to myself, I can help you and I mostly understand you. Had I not had a life that my mother had showed my I might look differently on the subject. That might be true but in the end it is still my choice to act on my feelings. I hope that answered your question.

Answer 8

Unfortunately some choices bring about a domino effect. At some point if you are willing to see it for what it is you can get off that road that your choices have paved. If you cant see that then excuses ( explanations, reasons, fate, planetary pull of the moon, etc... ) are ready for you to use. Action and reaction, choices bring about actions and actions cause reactions. You can always put down the knife or walk away. In truth it comes down to accepting responsibility and that will determine what road you travel.

Answer 9

its just like you being born straight in a world that accepts gays over straights.. it is something you are born with!!!!

people who are addicts and murderers are doing the wrong thing

gays are not.! (unless you believe a certain 4 million year old book that also accepts mass genocide, slavery and treating women as second class)
it is a consenting relationship and NO-ONE has the right to tell others what they can and cant do when it's perfectly legal.

i believe that people who do drugs are responsible for their actions because they DO have a choice. granted people will make a bad choice in life.

for as long as people think that gays have a choice, there will be young adults jumping off cliffs and running in front of buses because they can't stand the fact that they have to get people to accept them as who they are. it's ok for heteroes because they dont have to ask someone if its ok by them or if they will accept who the person is.

when you grow up as a homosexual, you are constantly reminded about peoples ignorance , whether it be a gay bashing, or someone telling fag jokes while you're around, maybe in the office or walking down the street, family first political party, and the church saying that it's wrong makes you feel like a worthless piece of **** that doesnt deserve to live.

all gay people ask is to be respected for who they are and have the same rights as everybody else, without religion having anything to do with politics.

you wouldnt make fun of someone who was born with a disability and protest against them with pickets saying aids cures retards would you? you cant because its not their fault the way they were born. same for us.

The last thing i would want to do is decide one day, hey i want to be gay and dress in pink, and have society judge me as wrong and degrade me and not have the same rights and be looked at funny in bars and abused and not be able to hold hands with someone down the street for fear of retribution.

being gay makes me realise what it's like when you are born different to others and that is the best thing about me. my ability so see EVERYONE as unique and to not criticize just because they dont do what i do. unfortunately only gays know what it's like to be on the other end of the stick.
hey, how much fun would that be! YAY

I respect that religious people think it's wrong, but thats their opinion, they shouldnt be going out of their way to put their own beliefs on others.

thanks for reading

Answer 10

I take personal responsibility for all my actions...Good or bad, they were all my decisions.

Now, when they impact some one elses life, such as my Children, then I have to assume the responsibility as a Parent would. I try to do my best for them, and help them along in life.

My Son is now in College and I tell him that he is the one that has to make his own decisions now, and he will have to live with them, good or bad, but to trust in the LORD, if he needs guidance...(The LORD sure helped me, even though I made a fool out of my self many times, HE was there to pick up the pieces).

No, I dont use the LORD as a "crutch", HE has forgiven me for my misconducts, but, I had to ask all others to forgive me, whom I offended also, so that it cleared all the air between each of us.

I wish you well..

Jesse