What happened to taking responsibility?

@ParaTed2k (22940)
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
December 14, 2010 11:10pm CST
Hmmm, I'd say 20+ years now of not keeping score in little league, "no fault" divorce and accident insurance, parents who think their job is to keep their kids happy all the time, a society that considers failure the end of the world... That last one I think is the most important. Failure has become so feared that we are willing to do anything to avoid the very word. We're willing to lie to ourselves, our spouse, even our kids to avoid admitting to failure. Not only do we seem willing to lie to our kids, we are willing to sacrifice their future, as long as their present stays nice and pleasant. Why did little leagues quit keeping score? Because WEAK adults wanted a simple response to little Johnny's tears when his team lost. "Oh, your team didn't lose, there wasn't any score." Do we really think little Johnny is so stupid he doesn't know the score? All that did was absolve little Johnny of the idea that losing sucks and if he worked harder he could get better. People love "no fault" policies. It means they can lie to themselves and get away with it (at least financially). But in reality, it costs us all more. There are very few actual accidents. Most "accidents" are the consequences of bad decisions. But we don't want to hear about that. We don't care that changing the radio station at the wrong time cost a life, we want someone to tell us that is was "just an accident" and there was really nothing that could be done to prevent it. Yes, there are some accidents. Black ice (for example) happens, and there is really nothing you can do to prepare for it... so yes, that is an accident. The fact is, we have taught responsibility out of our society. We have made the very word a taboo. We have turned failure from a teaching opportunity to an excuse to throw up our hands and turn our lives over to someone else. We can't play these silly games anymore. What next, we'll celebrate when the government micromanages our lives to the point that we let them decide the proper temperature in our homes and how loud tv commercials should be?
1 person likes this
4 responses
@sender621 (14889)
• United States
15 Dec 10
I believe that a lot of people associate responsibility with obligation and blame. So many people don't want to fall under that label. it is easier to run away from responsibility than to face it and be blame for things turning out wrong.
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
15 Dec 10
True, and blame seems to be all people care about when they get in trouble. That's why I taught my kids that if they were in trouble, and the first words out of their mouths was another person's names, they were in Big trouble.
@josga2008 (320)
• Canada
15 Dec 10
On this one I would have to agree with you. No fault insurance may make some sense in a few situations (such as severe weather events when people suddenly loose control of their vehicle to to flash freezing or some other such events), but most of the time someone IS at fault and they have to take responsibility. If a spouse cheats, then they should take responsibility. I have worked as a teacher in several schools. I even had one school tell me that it was their policy to not use red ink for grading a test. It appears that red ink is too psychologically disturbing for some students. It apparently is harsh on them for glaringly letting them know that they failed the question. But, they have failed the question. Why can't I tell then that in no uncertain way? Anyway, yes, I agree. More responsibility needs to be taken.
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
15 Dec 10
What those "leaders" are saying is that failure cannot possibly have any positive aspects and must be avoided at all costs. In other words, a gentle lie is better than the truth.
@irishidid (8687)
• United States
16 Dec 10
The no-fault divorce is the one that confused me considering my ex was allowed to contest the divorce. The court did, however, ask me why I wanted the divorce and didn't let him talk at all. But if it's no fault why did they even need to know at all?
@matersfish (6306)
• United States
15 Dec 10
I don't really understand what's in it for society when you essentially pad life to force everything and everyone to be equal. Having the opportunity is something I understand. Equal opportunity employers, not discriminating due to race, gender, weight, height, sexuality, disability, etc - all good with me, and something that's needed. But that doesn't mean someone less educated or not equipped for the job should get the job. That's not what "equal opportunity" means at all. Equal opportunity in sports, allowing all races and religions and cultures to compete - all good with me, and something that's needed. But that doesn't mean you should get put on the team if you can't play worth a damn. That's also not what "equal opportunity" means. If the we're-all-equal-no-matter-what crowd actually wins, and everybody gets the exact same ride just because they're living on the planet, wouldn't the world be worse off by leaps and bounds? Logically, you need smart, driven, successful people to achieve and to create. Do people really want that taken away? And if so, can I call them stupid without hurting their feelings? What would exist if mediocrity was the mountaintop? I don't know. Maybe they know something that I don't. But I just don't see how a scoreless game and the same trophy for every person translates into a driven person. To me, it seems like it would create the exact opposite. Speaking for myself only - I don't think I would have ever tried for anything if I "won" no matter what. No better time in history to be a politician, though. They're loving every second of it.
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
15 Dec 10
Equality of outcome celebrates mediocrity and abhors success.