Would the world be a better place if every time we knew that someone else did something wrong we told?

Question

Or would that make us all a bunch of tattletaling finger pointers?
Are there times when it IS just best to avert our eyes and keep our mouths shut?

Just wondering.

Answer 1

There are times when the harm done by telling would be greater than the harm done in the first place.

Answer 2

if that were the norm, I can see it playing out in a couple of ways... if we told every time someone did wrong, people would get the message and start doing right just so as not to get told on... but more likely, unless there was serious stigma or consequence (other than a bad rep which usually doesn't concern someone who is headed in that direction), all that would result is a state of hostility because unless you found a way to conquer the anger gene, getting told on would trigger many a folk to rage

IMHO, there are times to be silent and those times are when your input hasn't been asked for, when what is happening is none of your business... we've got enough in our own pots not to mind someone else's pots too

all bets are off though if someone is in imminent danger of harm of a significant kind... abuse, drugs, neglect... that is the time to accept responsibility for your fellow man and step up even if you are in a rush or squeaked...

Answer 3

No it wouldn't, everyone would kill themselves. I don't know, if the world was constantly full of things people hate to do and hate to be told, the world wouldn't be too happy. If we scolded every single bad thing, it wouldn't be as significant when we tell someone they did something really bad. Criticism isn't always constructive, and most of the time it just stabs self esteem instead of building.

Answer 4

If they are doing something wrong that only hurts them let them be. If they are doing something that harms someone else physically, taking someone else's property, or costing someone else money, you should tell someone. That is not tattling, it's being mature and responsible!