OT People can be idiots

[Anonymous]

The night before last I was sleeping and was woken up by what sounded like a mortar going up in the air, followed by a loud bang. In my half asleep state, and with panic setting in, I managed to convince myself that it was a bomb or a meteorite and that I was going to die.

I went downstairs to discover my step-dad and step-brother outside holding the remains of a firework, a rocket, that someone had decided to fire at the house. The offending people had fled the scene before they could be spotted.

So that night and tonight I've been unable to sleep properly. I keep waking up feeling panicky. I feel foolish for my initial assumption, but I wasn't exactly in a state to think logically. I'm prone to panic attacks anyway. If it happens again I'll know it's just a rocket, but I know that waking up like that again will put me into a state.

It doesn't fill me with much faith in humanity.

[Zenon]

that's nothing man.  have you ever come back to your car to see your window smashed?

[NachtSorcier]

I can relate.  Sometimes people's idiocy frightens me too.  In fact, I've been bothered so many times in 19 short years that I'm often stressed, moody, and often have muscle twitches.  I'm handling it alright, no need for therapy or medication, but I still hope for a nicer world someday.

[mermdotcom]

that's nothing man.  have you ever come back to your car to see your window smashed?

... or your car covered in eggs?!  We came back from our wedding (and 2 week vacation in Georgia) to find that my car had been egged in the apartment complex parking lot.  We had no idea when it happened or who did it because we'd been gone so long.  I wasn't TOO bothered by it, though, because I hate my car and it's beat up anyway!

Then yesterday, Dan went to his car to go to work and found that his car the the two others parked near it had been egged.  We had to use our last few dollars till payday to wash the egg off the car before it corroded the paint.  This one pissed me off because we like this car... we just bought it in February and it's the first major purchase we've made together.

This used to be a safe and uneventful complex before Hurricaine Katrina.  Now it's full of FEMA moochers who won't discipline their children and refuse to get jobs because they make more a month off the government in a month that I do working 40 hours/week.  < /soapbox >

I hate people.

[Zenon]

People want to do some kind of evil to you, and they do it to your car it seems.

It's actually great that they don't attack you directly, but they do it to your automobile.

The burden is that one spends so much cash repairing windows, repainting, etc.  it's such a f&%$&& hassle.

I really hope we run out of oil soon, and we have to use something other than cars.

[Anonymous]

that's nothing man.  have you ever come back to your car to see your window smashed?

Well, I see that as another example of people being s***ty to each other, but, though it's a more expensive problem, I think it takes less malice than doing something that could potentially injure someone.

Overall, I think incidents like this are good examples of how people can just victimise people at random. The thing that really annoys me is that there's no use in calling the police because the people fled the scene so quickly.

[Gryphon]

I am sorry for all the yucky things that people have done to you all. Just remember that these were only a few people. Most people are good and do care about their neighbors and property.

I too have had to deal with fire crackers aimed at my home, I was only 12 when it happened and home alone, I have had cars stolen, and been held up at knife point and one time Red's car was written all over with the word witch.

Remember, look for good and you will find what you seek. If you spend time focusing on the bad, you will find that as well.

[Anonymous]

Remember, look for good and you will find what you seek. If you spend time focusing on the bad, you will find that as well.

This wasn't really supposed to be a focus on the negative. Everyone has times when they just want to have a bit of a moan about things that have happened.

[Anonymous]

Luckily, where we live, everyone pretty much behaves themselves and there is a good sense of village community.   But if you venture into the inner cities in England where there are serious drug problems, poverty and unemployment ..... the kids get bored and these thing happen.    

Should we blame the parents ?  ...... to a certain extent, I think the answer is yes.   Bringing up children correctly from the very begining, instilling a sense of good morals and responsibility would go a long way to decrease the problems we have in society now.

Unfortunatly, nothings going to change the way people are bringing up their kids and living their lives.

[Gryphon]

Should we blame the parents ?  ...... to a certain extent, I think the answer is yes.   Bringing up children correctly from the very begining, instilling a sense of good morals and responsibility would go a long way to decrease the problems we have in society now.

Blaming the parents is like blaming the kids. After all, we raise our children in ways we are familiar with. If the parents were raised with certain attitudes by their parents, then their children will also be predisposed to the same pattern. It takes a very strong individual to break the learned habits of generations of parents. It also takes education about different parenting techniques. If a child isn't exposed to a "correct" upbringing, how will they know how to "correctly" raise their own children?

[Zenon]

I think what is important is to teach the meaning of "morals without condition".

That is, being a moral and responsible person is not about receiving something in exchange.  It's about humanism and quality of living.

If people understand that through responsibility and respect the human condition will evolve for the best, based on a respect for the individual and respect for freedom, society will get better socially and why not even psychically.   I think all of us who study magick know the importance of this.    You can't be all well if the person next to you is miserable.  Well being and freedom of thought are more valuable than anything.

[Anonymous]

Blaming the parents is like blaming the kids. After all, we raise our children in ways we are familiar with. If the parents were raised with certain attitudes by their parents, then their children will also be predisposed to the same pattern. It takes a very strong individual to break the learned habits of generations of parents. It also takes education about different parenting techniques. If a child isn't exposed to a "correct" upbringing, how will they know how to "correctly" raise their own children?

I think that people have to be seen as more than programmable robots. People aren't just taught things, they learn things, and also develop their own ideas. It's kind of like the argument that someone will abuse children if they were abused as a child. To me that's an excuse. The people I know who have experienced child abuse have said that if it's taught them anything it's that they don't want to put their kids through the same thing.

There are some learned behaviours, but it's down to the individual what they do. I had a bad experience as a child, but if anything it's taught me no to treat people that way. The reason for that is because I, as a human, have the ability to work things out for myself.

I'm not saying parenting doesn't have a hand in shaping the development of a child, I'm just saying it's not the only factor.

[Gryphon]

Please re-read what I said, pay close attention to the part about education...

Blaming the parents is like blaming the kids. After all, we raise our children in ways we are familiar with. If the parents were raised with certain attitudes by their parents, then their children will also be predisposed to the same pattern. It takes a very strong individual to break the learned habits of generations of parents. It also takes education about different parenting techniques. If a child isn't exposed to a "correct" upbringing, how will they know how to "correctly" raise their own children?

I think that people have to be seen as more than programmable robots. People aren't just taught things, they learn things, and also develop their own ideas. It's kind of like the argument that someone will abuse children if they were abused as a child. To me that's an excuse. The people I know who have experienced child abuse have said that if it's taught them anything it's that they don't want to put their kids through the same thing.

There are some learned behaviours, but it's down to the individual what they do. I had a bad experience as a child, but if anything it's taught me no to treat people that way. The reason for that is because I, as a human, have the ability to work things out for myself.

I'm not saying parenting doesn't have a hand in shaping the development of a child, I'm just saying it's not the only factor.

[Anonymous]

I got the same impression as the first time. You said 'It also takes education about different parenting techniques.' If someone is educated about something they're taught it. My whole argument was about people learning things for themselves as opposed to having to be taught it.

Have I missed the meaning of what you said? I apologise if I've misunderstood.