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user-inactivated  ·  2070 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: Reasons why I'm glad I'm not famous, part 2 (James Gunn edition)

I only know about this particular instance from the fringes, so I can't comment too much on it. I feel like gossip has become an overwhelming part of our public discourse and I don't think gossip is healthy in general, so I'm trying my best now to avoid conversations like these.

In general though, I think we're starting to lose sight of the idea that people are capable of growth and development. Whether we're talking about public figures, people with criminal histories, people with poor credit, or even friends or family members who might have done us wrong, we're so quick to condemn people and almost treat them as if they're irredeemable. I think this is wrong and unhealthy.

On the one end of the spectrum, people can learn from their past mistakes and realize what they've done wrong and genuinely embrace their guilt and regret to motivate themselves to change for the better, to improve. We need to realize the importance of supporting and encouraging each other when this happens. On the flip side though, sometimes people can slip into some very negative thought processes that lead to unhealthy behavior. It's equally important to try and recognize when this is happening and try to counter balance it.

I think it's important to be able to learn how to forgive people who have messed up, who have acknowledged it, and who have shown an earnest attempt to change their ways. That's not to say that there shouldn't be any consequences for the actions someone has taken in the past, but I think that if we look at people's past actions as unredeemable, then we run the risk of not enabling each other to change for the better. We also run the risk of being tempted to paint people as monsters with their character etched in stone, instead of human beings with a future full of potential ahead of them.

In short, sometimes good people make bad decisions, but those decisions don't necessarily make them a bad person. Sometimes people made horrible decisions in the past, and while our pasts are inescapable, they shouldn't be irrevocably damning. As often as possible though, we need to be their for each other, to help each other grow, and encourage the best out of everyone.