Some people can change if they really desire to and work at it. Its been my experience the majority of people won't. (not can't). It is the harder path to take.
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Can a person change?
- Thread starter JAUQO III-X
- Start date
john turner
You don't want to do that. Trust me.
yes, i think they can. i know many folks who have - a few of my friends have, in fact.
it's hard though. it's very hard. nobody is born scum, although they may have an inborn tendency toward that kind of sociopathy. still, it takes a conscious decision to turn one's self so bad, to disregard decency and morality so utterly, to earn the badge "Scum". most folks couldn't do it - they could be, and often are, bad, or do bad things, but to be "scum"... that takes a more "Specialized" individual, someone who is so willing to embrace their selfish desires at the expense of others, so able to rationalize or just ignore the consequences of their actions, that one would have to assume that such an individual is biologically flawed in their fundamental makeup, at least from a social perspective.
"redemption" would almost require a biological "miracle", or, in other words, the internal rewiring of the individual's brain through no mechanism other than their own desire.
like i said, not impossible, but pretty darn difficult, and exceedingly rare, due to the fact that such a "miracle" needs to come from within - it cannot be externally forced or imposed. scum can be rendered impotent, not a danger to their society, but they are not absolved from being scum until they internally move away from it, in the opposite direction, and to find that kind of selfless willingness to sacrifice and "repent" in an individual who was so consumed by selfishness is going to be very unlikely, i think.
my opinion.
In my opinion, the whole point of our being here is to change, to evolve spiritually; to overcome our negative karma.
In my opinion, not everyone is born with a soul; Jeffrey Dalmer is an example.
That's a cop out. While it may be 100% true, and having been 17 once I know for a fact that there is a LOT of truth in that statement, if you honestly feel that way you should probably refrain from making statements like that and opt to either ask a question or simply pay attention to the discussion and see if you learn anything.
Saying "I believe this, but what do I know?" is only leaving yourself a wide open back door for the inevitable instance when you are indeed proven to not really know.
I don't mean to be harsh - but in a way that reflects directly on the topic at hand. You are 17 and unless you're very unfortunate, you will change significantly in the coming decades. Some of what you do today may be judged by some as qualifying you as "scum" as the OP states. If you're like many, you'll change.
Personally I have changed significantly as I've gotten older. I was actually hit square between the eyes this morning with a memory of something I did as a kid - around 17 years old - that I am VERY ashamed of and wish I'd never done. By my measure - and many other people's - what I did was very scummy and therefore I, as the person who did it, was scum. That point was significant to me in my development and I began changing almost instantly.
So I know for a fact that the answer can be yes.
But my answer to the OP is that the question needs to be either framed more specifically or it simply cannot be answered.
In the sense that it takes a strong internal motivation to break, I think you are right. But drug addictions may influence a "scumy" personality in the first place, and I don't think any innocent person who finds comfort in a high had any intention of becoming "scum."
But then again, it does take selfishness to become addicted to drugs in the same way that scumy personalities generally revolve around appeasing the self at other people's expense. I'm sure most people have family or someone that loves them.
I would be careful with that. I learned in DUI school that some states, like here in Florida, you can still be charged if your BAC is lower than a .08. It's a lesser charge here it's a DWI. (Driving while impaired) I haven't researched it lately so it may have changed. I'll research when I get home from work and if I'm incorrect I'll repost accordingly.
Roy Vogt
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I have seen (and experienced) a spiritual transformation and awakening. When you have that happen in your life, everything changes....
Many people (I'm thinking of members of AA, NA, Al-Anon, etc.) undergo a personal change by practicing the 12 Steps.
Many people (I'm thinking of members of AA, NA, Al-Anon, etc.) undergo a personal change by practicing the 12 Steps.
Some times ago I simply realized that I haven't saw an infinitely small fraction of what this world has to teach me, I plan onto making that change. I'm 17, I do not have near as much life experiences then probably 90% of the people on this board. So yeah, I do know nothing if I compare it to "what can be acknowledged".
As for this particular situation I left that comment there because I find that in this kind of topic, opinions of younger people are often over-looked, it was in some way aimed at these people that would of probably pointed out stuff like "You're 17, what do YOU know about this"? Which tends to happens. So yes, in some way, it was sarcastic.
Desire to change is only part of the answer. The right circumstances....an absence of genetic or psychological factors....a helpful partner....ah, the complexities of mankind.....
john turner
You don't want to do that. Trust me.
i would also not equate drug addicts with the "scum" folks, manly because there are many folks who "Self-medicate", i.e. use drugs in an effort to address existing imbalances in their brain chemistry. this is not an excuse, it's just a fact. these folks can't be accused of being full-on "Scummy" since, imo, the term is predicated on the individual choosing to follow the antisocial path consciously, and such individuals (the self-medicators) aren't not completely in control of that choice.
again, that doesn't absolve any of the responsibility, it just, imo, sorta lessens the "Scummy" element of their nature.
some may disagree.
My question was very specific.
Your personal experience allowed you to answer the original question.
You even admitted that you felt that at one point in your life that you yourself was scum. And you even said that you changed.
Two Rules of "Richard":
1.) Once a "Richard" always a "Richard".
2.) Human Being = "Richard"
Face it... you're always a "Richard" to someone in life no matter your goody-two-shoe (or not) tendencies.
Sorry... those are just the rules... I can't be held accountable...
1.) Once a "Richard" always a "Richard".
2.) Human Being = "Richard"
Face it... you're always a "Richard" to someone in life no matter your goody-two-shoe (or not) tendencies.
Sorry... those are just the rules... I can't be held accountable...
I understand and I really didn't mean to single you out and pick on you, but in a way your post was illustrative of the point at hand.
I could easily do the very same thing and say, "But I am an old fart and it's my job to pick on you young whipper-snappers and point out all your mistakes! Now get outta my yard!"
And to your point - I have seen the very same thing - I want to believe people can change and on more than one occasion I've been disappointed - but that's definitely not the rule.
Roy Vogt
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Jauqo, with all due and great respect and affection, you are proof positive.
So are good friends like Anthony Wellington.
But I've also known people who behaved as scum, lived their entire lives that way and died before they had a chance to change. So in their case the answer was 'no'.
Can a person change? Sometimes. It depends on the person and the change required.
I have to agree with you here. Many people who are addicts were once responsable, respectable people. It's only after they became addicts that they became "scum" because they gradually became less responsable and only caring about getting high.
I'm not so sure about this part and have mixed emotions on that argument. I think everyone is a little selfish. I don't think anyone chooses to become addicted either. Between tolerance, the psyiological factors that are associated with most drugs, and not to mention some people have addictive personalities I can see how even the most unselfish person can become addicted. . After the addiction sets in I can see how they are selfish because the drug almost always comes first.
