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comment by user-inactivated
user-inactivated  ·  3382 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: How do you convince a completely miserable person that the world isn't such a terrible place?

    Convincing people is hard. You can do whatever you want. But I'm going to create.

And let him jump?

    build, rather than destroy; and use your life to make humanity better in some small way.

What if the guy's convinced that his actions won't have any impact on the world? Learned helplessness, perhaps. Maybe he'll try and even persevere once he has the momentum, but right now, he has none. Will you convince him otherwise? why? how?





briandmyers  ·  3382 days ago  ·  link  ·  

"The world" in this context is really "other humans".

If you can't imagine any way you can make even one other life better in some way, then you really haven't thought about it enough.

It is through these small acts of kindness that the world is transformed - as rob05c said above - it's how we made civilisation in the first place.

user-inactivated  ·  3382 days ago  ·  link  ·  

    If you can't imagine any way you can make even one other life better in some way

"Well, I guess I can, but to what point? They're probably going to be hit by a truck afterwards, or something... Then, they're going to die. So why do it?"

briandmyers  ·  3382 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Everyone's gonna die. But if you do something to make someone's life better, there's a good chance that they will do the same, before they die. That ripple can extend to infinity, to a kind of immortality, and it's the only way we can build the Star Trek future that we all want. You don't have to do it - but you can.

[edit] I am reminded by this of a wonderful quote from Harry S. Truman : "It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit."

rob05c  ·  3382 days ago  ·  link  ·  

    Convincing people is hard.

    And let him jump?

No; I meant, I'm not really going to try to convince you. Of course I'd try to keep someone healthy from committing suicide. The vast majority of suicidal reasons are transient. But I'm not a counselor. If I didn't know the person, I'd try to get them help. If I did, I'd do everything I could as a friend, and still try to get them help from a professional.

    What if the guy's convinced that his actions won't have any impact on the world…Will you convince him otherwise? why? how?

I gave you the logical argument. You're asking for social and persuasive skills now. I am gifted with neither. Sorry.

user-inactivated  ·  3382 days ago  ·  link  ·  

    You're asking for social and persuasive skills now.

No, I'm asking for your opinion on the situation, and how you'd act. You've already told me what you'd do for suicidal thoughts. Will you do anything towards the feeling of helplessness, of powerlessness? Whether you will, why?