re: Does the Modern Left Confuse "Empahy" with "Excuses"?

quote:

---

This should be obvious to any thoughtful person.

---

You never know around here.

All I'm saying is I made my fair share of bad decisions. Firstly, I'm lucky alot of these bad decisions didn't really backfire. Secondly, I'm lucky that, when I made some of these bad decisions, I had parents who would slap the hell out me to let me know these were bad decisions. If not, I probably would have kept making the same bad decisions.....

quote:

---

So where is the genesis? At some point someone DID build that.

---

Yea but I didn't, they did. But I still reap the benefits of it, thank God. Very good chance I would be shite today if I had shite parents. But I had immaculate parents so I'm a total boss.

quote:

---

OTOH, you are where you are because you did follow thier advice. You did make good decisions. You are forward thinking. You don't live in the moment without regard for the future, or consequences.

---

Yea but I did all those things bc if I didn't I would have gotten my arse beat (metaphorically speaking of course) or not been able to watch the playoffs or not been able to play on my bball team, etc. Again, right back to mom and pops.

quote:

---

Another outcome was possible.

---

Maybe, but I have one other sibling and shes a PGY-1. I don't think thats just a coincidence.

quote:

---

What century are you from?

---

20th.

I could personally introduce you to no less than five women who have illegitimate children from multiple fathers - all in their mid twenties.

What do you suppose their future and the future of those children will be?

Nope.

V&S.

Glad you survived. Is the liquor cabinet empty?

quote:

---

As a quick example, two 20 yr olds decide to drink and drive. They both get pulled over and arrested. 20 yo "A" is the son of a wealthy senator. 20 yo "B" is the son of lower class, yet hardworking, parents in the rural south. A's dad uses his connections to get the charges dropped. B doesn't have such luck and now must try to get a job with a DUI on his record. Same decision, very different outcomes.

---

that's a very, very extreme example

i work in criminal justice and no matter what, if you're a first offender on a misdemeanor, you can get it off your record. the judges and DAs do what they can to help you get it off your record, even.

the problem is the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, criminal offenses...or felony offenses

quote:

---

Glad you survived. Is the liquor cabinet empty?

---

Almost, 1 unopened bottle of tequila left. Saving that, depending upon how my fantasy team does today.

quote:

---

I just think there are some clear pitfalls. I am not arrogant enough to believe I am where I am today simply due to my hard work, my responsibility, my work ethic, my motivation etc.

---

look random bad shite happens to good and bad people

good, hardworking people get hit by cars that frick them up...or good, hardworking kids defying the odds in bad areas get hit by stray bullets.

pieces of fricking shite will succeed, too. things like terrible criminals will get out of it because cops fricked up. shite happens.

there will be individual anecdotal outliers...both ways

quote:

---

At least 90% of my success I attribute directly to my parents hard work, my parents responsibility, my parents work ethic, my parents motivation, etc.

---

i agree this has a lot to do with it, but we're not going to do anything to break the cycle of bad parents making bad kids (who will become bad parents, likely at an early age) without being able to point the finger

if you try to do that in a typical discussion with a liberal, they will say you lack empathy to understand their situation. they bend over backwards to dismiss criticism or analysis of their decisions.

you're making a similar argument, just slightly up on the totem pole (expanded from individual analysis to a larger picture view)

not necessary.

No you didn't