(adj.) cruel remark, intended to mock fish.
One more week until exams, and finally I'm starting to feel a bit of the stress? It's only when I get to a time where I estimate I might not be able to fit all the things that I need to read, that I get a sense of urgency. So, in order to relieve this stress, which may potentially reduce my capacity to undergo effective study and learning of concepts, I will go out tonight. And tomorrow.
Lately, there have been a few family issues around (luckily not involving our own), but it has nonetheless drawn my parents into it. Despite the intention of them having a holiday, the latter part of their trip ended up with them trying to resolve other people's issues. So, a few weeks ago, a few days before coming back to Melbourne, they ended up counselling people, doing diplomatic talks, and general political manouvres. The reason for this is probably because they were seen as relative outsiders, with some level of impartialness, as well as their general rationality and people managing skills. So I, fresh out of my psych term, got to thinking - should I teach them anything? Would it be helpful if they got taught CBT, relaxation techniques, or just some general theories of the mind and psychology? I'm sure that there could at least be a bit of use for these tools, if not only to support what they were already doing. The question arises of whether this should be done - or i guess, whether it is ethical to use these techniques on people you know personally. I know at least that I have met some people, or people's parents, with behaviours and attitudes that I disagree with. Is it worthwhile for me to suggest ways in which people around them might go about changing that behaviour? Or perhaps they just need to make those relatives aware of their problem? Or perhaps just talking with them and just saying what they think. Should I, as an outsider, say anything to the person whom I disagree with, on their relative's behalf? Or just for my sake?
3 comments:
lol... it's funny, over the years my parents have been 'marriage counsellor' to quite a few of our family friends... I can't say that I completely agreed with all their methods though! But anyhow, not really any of my business...
With regard to your final comment, perhaps you can teach your friend some techniques if they ask you to or if they complain to you about the other person's behaviour. Otherwise, just because it's a behaviour that you disagree with, how do you know that the other person also disagrees with it? They may be perfectly okay with it, or for some other reason not want to change the behaviour for the time being... and if you speak out in such a case you may be accused of sticking your nose in where it's not wanted. ;p
:-) Sally
yes, that's exactly what I was implying. What happens, though, if you can see that your friend also disagrees with the behaviour, but for various reasons, has not done anything effective against it. Should I, as a friend, intervene because I think I can, as an outsider, affect some changes? It does not matter to me how I am seen by the relatives (I have my own opinion of myself - it don't care what they think of me) but if in some way, I could make a change, even if in raising awareness of an issue, should this option be pursued?
In summary, it is no skin off my nose, but it may make a change for someone else.
I would - but only if my friend complains to me about it first. :-)
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