Do you think is better to correct wrong attitudes or you think is better to let things to be as they are?

Question

Example 1:
You have a foreign workmate who has a very poor English.
Would you tell him something like "man, you have to improve your English" or would you ignore his mistakes?

Example 2:
Your father has the habit of making things fast and badly for many years, would you tell him something like "Dad, the food you made does not taste well because is too fried" or would you ignore his mistakes?

Would be interesting to see comments on this as some people have a philosophy of having a good relation with everybody where being tolerant is essential and on the other hand some people have a philosophy where to correct wrong behaviours/attitudes is important to improve the world that you would like to build.

Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

Correction is desirable unless it is incorrigible.

Answer 2

You are being honest here, so I shall try to give you a good answer to your question. As I was doing my shift at work today (I am a care worker) a woman came over for a shift who was to take over from a colleague who is off sick now. As this person was allocated to my unit, I had to take responsibility over her and tell her about her tasks while on duty. The problem with this person was the stink she had on her. The smell was very offensive, you really could not stand it, but I did not know what to say about it. I did of course comment on this to other fellow co-workers while I was on my break, but I am sure she never knew how uncomfortable I was because of this. A service user said to me “don’t let that woman touch me”. I know I did the wrong thing though (perhaps I should have said something) but I just could not gather the strength so as to be able to do it. I do not know pal, when you come up with this sort of problems you always know what the right thing to do is but you hardly do it do you? A different issue is though when, as you call it, bad attitude means “bad attitude towards the world in general”. Many people hold wrong believes (at list not the ones that will make you happy) but they stubborn on keeping them regardless. Say someone who knows a particular idea put over by any particular political party is wrong but accepted anyway due to the fact it does belong to the party you siding with. For all that I care, this is like hitting your head against a wall, but be as it may, for we need people of all sorts in this world. When this is the case I say be and let be. I just do not bother myself when money is not involved or the repercussions of an action won’t have undesirable consequences for me. Just do not push it on me and everything will be alright.

Answer 3

the word "wrong" may mean something different to me than it does to you. we humans do not agree on many issues and we all have our unique way of doing things. the fact is we can not all get along. it could easily be said i have an "attitude"

example 1: if you work in a nuclear power plant and you're told that during a melt-down "you can't use too much water" does this mean it is impossible to use too much water? OR using too much water is not permissible? while you're thinking about this the power plant is still melting.

example 2: if your father likes the food he cooks that's fine, but if he serves food to others, or opens a restaurant, then he might have to "change" lest friends and customers will not return to eat and he will not have his friends nor his business very long. he will, however, have plenty of food... for himself.

i simply make self-improvements to make the world i live in more correct for me and if others benefit, all the better. if this means i have to point out the "mistakes" of others, then so be it. one cannot fix something, especially if one does not know it is broken.

Answer 4

I once had an aide whose English(and she was American) was so poor that most of us just stood there and looked at her when she was talking sometimes. I had the opportunity to be alone with her, so I gave her a copy of Pygmalion and talked to her about the effect her speech was having on her life. Unfortunately, she wouldn't listen, and a few months later, was rejected from nursing school for exactly that reason.

Unless I were still living at home, I would not criticize my Dad's cooking. If I were, I'd just offer to take over the cooking duties. Maybe he'd learn from your example.

So I would say if it's something that you feel is holding a person back, you can try gently to talk to them, but only in private. And if it's something that's a habit of theirs and doesn't really affect anything else, I'd let it go.

Answer 5

Its not that we are seeking to be friendly dear. Many of us just realize that the way we see things is only one given way of doing and being. We do not see ourselves in the role of
reformers. You may always express an opinion or a preference. I hear the beginnings of totlalitarianism in the old lets correct everyones attitude saw. I train my children with what I think are proper attitudes. Thats the only time I have a working ethic for attitude correction.

Answer 6

If I were asked my opinion, then I would be honest and tell them what I think is wrong.

If not, then I would keep my opinions to myself BUT if it was getting to the point of negatively effecting myself or others, I would say something, i.e. if the fried food was raising my cholesterol or the foreign worker was making mistakes which reflected badly on him or the company.

Answer 7

One thing should changed first and that is "Thoughts". Make them positive, beneficial for others. Don't comment but suggest that this should like this.
For example, You can say room mate, This sentence should like this. Or you need to improve your language and that will realy give you benefits and save from difficult time such as in business communication.

I can easily and comfortablly tell my father that if this thing make in such way thenit will be more tasty and heathful. That's it.

Answer 8

Correcting the wrong attitude would be a start. Life is what we make it. No one should be blamed for making our lives hard when we allowed them to do it in the first place.

Answer 9

Be open and honest. Most people would be pleased to get feedback on how they and their efforts are viewed by others, as long as you don't do it thoughtlessly.
The guy's English is a bad example tho, how good is your command of HIS native language?!

Answer 10

I'd do my best at being polite when 'trying' to 'correct',I'd never say it directly like in your example 1.Personally I'm tolerant of individualistic shortcomings because am not perfect myself!

Answer 11

I endeavour to HELP people's 'wrong attitudes' - but only where it can be universalised in the words of Kant. But ultimately - it is usually futile because people don't want to change or who is to say the attitude is wrong? - it's only wrong according to the individual.