Just because others do it - is it right?
When I've had a snoot full of scotch, I've frequently remarked about my mom's comment when I wanted to do something egregiously stupid with the excuse, "Everybody's doing it, mom!"
Her response:
"Just because somebody jumps off a bridge, does that mean you should?"
She sure didn't say, "If you do that, I'll punish you." She appealed to my "common sense" (a theme from another thread) and I usually rethought my plan. (Note this doesn't mean I never did anything stupid, it just means I thought about it before I did it.)
Extrapolating: Roxane's acquaintance went through the thought process and made her decision. She evidently thought being a good citizen was more important than the "itch" on her conscience if she wasn't.
My mom and Pavlov: My mom and Deming had more in common - "remove fear!" When I did stuff right, it was not for fear of being caught if I did stuff wrong. I don't remember too many "NO! NO!" statements as much as an explanation that there was a safe alternate which I could choose to follow or suffer the consequences of the unsafe route. I remember some hard lessons when I found out mom was right more often than not. (bike ride down the tallest toboggan chute in the midwest is an early and painful memory)
Greg B said:
Do folks have ethics because it's the right thing to do or because they are afraid of punishment if they get caught?
Wes,
Is this not the way we teach our children (to some degree)? They start to act in the wrong manner (unsafe practise or misbehave) and we discipline them so that they understand that it is wrong or dangerous. Will they not then think twice about repeating the action because of possible punishment? It is only as they grow and mature that they discover the reason behind the reprimands or discipline. This is a bit of a Pavlov Dog reaction isn't it?
Greg B
Wes,
Is this not the way we teach our children (to some degree)? They start to act in the wrong manner (unsafe practise or misbehave) and we discipline them so that they understand that it is wrong or dangerous. Will they not then think twice about repeating the action because of possible punishment? It is only as they grow and mature that they discover the reason behind the reprimands or discipline. This is a bit of a Pavlov Dog reaction isn't it?
Greg B
Her response:
"Just because somebody jumps off a bridge, does that mean you should?"
She sure didn't say, "If you do that, I'll punish you." She appealed to my "common sense" (a theme from another thread) and I usually rethought my plan. (Note this doesn't mean I never did anything stupid, it just means I thought about it before I did it.)
Extrapolating: Roxane's acquaintance went through the thought process and made her decision. She evidently thought being a good citizen was more important than the "itch" on her conscience if she wasn't.
My mom and Pavlov: My mom and Deming had more in common - "remove fear!" When I did stuff right, it was not for fear of being caught if I did stuff wrong. I don't remember too many "NO! NO!" statements as much as an explanation that there was a safe alternate which I could choose to follow or suffer the consequences of the unsafe route. I remember some hard lessons when I found out mom was right more often than not. (bike ride down the tallest toboggan chute in the midwest is an early and painful memory)