Cults use peer pressure a lot to get their people to conform, but my mom always reinforced to us that if someone else was getting ready to jump off a bridge you might try to stop them, but you shouldn't go and do it with them, just because they are your friend and they are doing it because they have been told or think it is good for them.
I think we have a lot of double thinking going on and have been accultured by the mass to not think for ourselves a lot. I also think that we are all pretty much in general agreement on this, some may not be? That it would be wrong, and some may think it is right. That is on them.
Yet, many will fight for things that you know are just as bad for them and yourself as jumping off of that bridge and when you try to stop them they will give you 25 reasons why if you are a friend you should do it, or accept them doing it, and even urge you into it, and then say it is just because they are your friend or they care about you. Why is this?
2007-03-12 00:16:17 · 19 answers · asked by Friend 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Other - Society & Culture
What a friend should do is...offer to take her for help,
What if the "help" that you are getting ready to take her too or push her into is the "bridge" that she is getting ready to get on and jump from or be pushed off of?
do what you can to keep her from jumping
what if the so called "treatment" is the landing, what if it kills her soul?
the fact remains, she may jump anyway. There would be no purpose to you following her...she is lost. It would serve no purpose for you to jump also.
Does this explain what I am speaking about metaphorically enough? How do we change it?
2007-03-12 05:28:19 · update #1
"yea i guess" No you shouldn't, be who you are and love yourself!
2007-03-18 15:25:43 · update #2
yea i guess
2007-03-18 09:41:16 · answer #1 · answered by donielle 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
When people make a decision to do something really stupid - like jumping off a bridge - they know it is a wrong decision but decided to do it anyway because everyone else is doing it. That person turns to you and says "should I jump?" and "jump with me". What they are looking for is a validation from you that it is okay to jump and to prove it - they want you to jump too.
Peer pressure is really tough on young people who haven't developed that good sense of "self" you referred to in your other question. Everyone wants to fit in - be a banana (one of the bunch), doesn't want to stand out in a crowd. These feelings should pass with maturation - at least by the time one is a Junior or Senior in high school. The unfortunate fact is that some never move beyond that stage.
What a friend should do is try to reason with the jumper, offer to help, offer to take her for help, do what you can to keep her from jumping - even pulling her down if you can. But, the fact remains, she may jump anyway. There would be no purpose to you following her...she is lost. It would serve no purpose for you to jump also.
Does this answer some of your question? - Metaphorically speaking, that is?
2007-03-12 12:06:48 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I also was taught to try and help people who have troubles in there life, If that person is ready to jump off a bridge, Yes I would try to stop him, I think it is our moral duty to help. If this person tries to get you to join them, then I would say, If you are my friend you would join me, and let me show you there is a better way to run away from your troubles. If someone does do this with them,not only are they weak, but they too needed help. I feel people in this type of mind do not like themselves, have no self confidence in anything they do. They are also good at trying to put the guilt on you, you can let them,or you can stand up and not except it.But if you succeed in getting them off that bridge, then continue to be there for them, as much as you can. Try getting them the help they need, If it doesn't work out, at least you know you tried.
2007-03-15 17:02:09 · answer #3 · answered by lennie 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I believe if a person is so weak minded that they have to jump off a bridge to make things easier for them and don't care about the ripple effect it will cause,then let them go.Dying is easy the ones who have to clean the messes up of the dead and keep on living are the workers and people who truly care.
2007-03-12 07:24:20 · answer #4 · answered by one10soldier 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That was my Mother's favorite expression "if they jump off a bridge are you going to as well"? Not grasping the big picture of her comments I would reply "no, you know that I cannot swim"
I am responsible for my own actions, if I can assist or help you I will, but no, I do not follow the masses.
2007-03-19 04:09:16 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Some people are followers, others are leaders.
The followers, in my opinion are lacking in self-esteem.
I would not jump off a bridge if somebody got down on their knees and begged. But I would definitely try to talk them down ! Life is so complicated sometimes, when it can be
so easy and logical.
2007-03-13 14:28:44 · answer #6 · answered by ? 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would not jump off with her, but I would try to stop her for as long as I could. I'd dial the police number, and if I can't talk in front of her, I'd give hints to the police while talking to the person about to fall. Wow this is a tricky question.!!!
2007-03-12 13:43:28 · answer #7 · answered by Magic 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Ya, that is man. He'll rather be part of the mass than to stand up for himself. Maybe it's because it takes a lot of guts to do that. Perhaps they are suffering of a low self esteem.
However, your mum taught you good, for one should always follow your own conviction and stand up for yourself, lest you be destroyed by following others. I abhor that in people and does not allow otyhers to think or decide for me.
This could be dangerous, for each man will have to give an acount for himself/herself, not for a group.
Stick to yer mums good advice
2007-03-12 09:07:10 · answer #8 · answered by godshandmaiden 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Some people, can't or won't do, what is wrong, by themselves. And no, never jump off a bridge to prove something to someone else!
2007-03-12 10:10:32 · answer #9 · answered by grandm 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Common sensically speaking, no, I'm not going off that bridge with you. Peers try to pressure others because they want to rationalize to themselves that what they're doing is OK if someone else is going to do it with them.
2007-03-18 16:22:20 · answer #10 · answered by Lettie D 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
you can toss the metaphor off the bridge and they might feel bad for the other metaphors but usually the greater the number of people the less intelligent the individual in their ability to reason logically and for themselves
2007-03-13 16:21:20 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋