“In some circumstances, the refusal to be defeated is a refusal to be educated.” (Margaret Halsey, novelist 1910-1997)
Here’s a question. Is it really possible to force a person to do something against their will? It’s relatively common for one to put another person down in order to feel powerful. It may not even be a conscious decision, but essentially a large percentage of our actions are dedicated towards self-preservation and we all know that only the fittest survive.
What about when you’re forcing someone to do something that’s in their best interest? In cases such as taking a knife away from a child or trying to keep someone with hypothermia from falling asleep- you and your adversary’s wills are fundamentally one and the same. In situations when you’re arguing to convince someone of your way of thinking it’s turns into a power struggle. Taking into consideration that violence and physical strength aren’t being used as manipulators, the victor will be whoever has the mental stamina to hold on longer.
Mental endurance is a mixture of person’s conviction in his morals and values, arrogance, and stupidity. Being able to impose your will on others doesn’t necessarily have a positive connotation. Winning isn’t everything and admitting your wrong is arguably the best way to prove your intellectual supremacy.
I submit myself to reading your comments below.
A wise man once said "experience is something we gain just after we needed it". Many people who try to teach others are just trying to impart wisdom gained from years of mistakes. The problem is many believe that they are just trying to control them and not allowing them to grow up.
ReplyDeleteThe real question is how to perfect the balance between teaching and controlling
The Baze