kellinator: (Happy Noodle Boy)
kellinator ([personal profile] kellinator) wrote2004-08-03 03:10 pm

Nosy poll of the day

[Poll #330498]

My current answer is "Maybe, but I've never seen it."

Yes

[identity profile] legolastn.livejournal.com 2004-08-03 12:15 pm (UTC)(link)
But not always in the way you (or, sometimes, they) expect or desire.

[identity profile] mamaluna.livejournal.com 2004-08-03 12:16 pm (UTC)(link)
I answered no - why? because I like your answer. I know only two people who have changed. Me & my hubby. ANd it took YEARS of counseling to do it. it was the hardest thing we have ever had to do, but it had to be done.

the others that I know.... they either don't want to change, or if they do - have Many Hard YEARS ahead of them... and who knows if I will know them then? I am not sure I want to know them now.

[identity profile] deza.livejournal.com 2004-08-03 12:16 pm (UTC)(link)
Nothing says the change is always for the better.

[identity profile] streamweaver.livejournal.com 2004-08-03 12:18 pm (UTC)(link)
Of course they can, but it's usually not in on a short enough timescale to effect our relationship with them.

[identity profile] soshesays.livejournal.com 2004-08-03 12:22 pm (UTC)(link)
I agree with you.

[identity profile] hugs.livejournal.com 2004-08-03 12:23 pm (UTC)(link)
I have changed a LOT!! every year I make sure that I do.. it the only way any person can grow and learn...

anyone who doesn't change isn't learning

[identity profile] dorei.livejournal.com 2004-08-03 12:23 pm (UTC)(link)
Sure. They can change underwear, socks ...

[identity profile] phinnia.livejournal.com 2004-08-03 12:29 pm (UTC)(link)
Sure, they /can/. Will they? Rarely. It happens, but more often than not it doesn't.

change

[identity profile] jenbibi.livejournal.com 2004-08-03 12:50 pm (UTC)(link)
people rarely do unless they:

1. really really want to
2. have to due to extreme circumstances (jail)
3. have a tramatic event in their life

i was never the same after i was raped. i was a stronger, happier person. i learned to let a lot go and what is really important in life.

but that's just my opinion...you rock!

[identity profile] m0usegrrl.livejournal.com 2004-08-03 12:53 pm (UTC)(link)
of course they can. but only if THEY want to. what WE want them to do rarely figures into the equation, and waiting around for someone to change is generally an exercise in futility.

[identity profile] ariedana.livejournal.com 2004-08-03 01:01 pm (UTC)(link)
I think people can change if they truly want to, and if they remove bad influences/old habits from their lives. However, most people don't want to change that much.

[identity profile] 10dimensions.livejournal.com 2004-08-03 01:06 pm (UTC)(link)
Too bad you didn't know me a few years ago...then you would be able to say you've seen it.

I think the dismissive "oh people never change" idea is just a bad attitude being used as an excuse not to try.

"The world we have created is a product of our thinking; it cannot be changed without changing our thinking."
~ Albert Einstein

[identity profile] relevantpink.livejournal.com 2004-08-03 01:49 pm (UTC)(link)
people can change their choices. i think we are all fundamentally good initially, it is learning to make choices that serve others as well as yourself, and learning to make the harder decisions instead of caving to the easy, hedonistic and immediate ones.

[identity profile] bethynyc.livejournal.com 2004-08-03 02:09 pm (UTC)(link)
I think so, but getting other people to accept the change is a different story. I know I've changed. I changed away from my true self, and have been working at reclaiming that smart, sexy, brave, creative person. That made some people uncomfortable. Sad, but true.

I think, though, that in order to change, a person has to really want to change.

Re: changing

[identity profile] wolfieboy.livejournal.com 2004-08-03 02:19 pm (UTC)(link)
But they probably won't.

2 thoughts on the matter

[identity profile] daoistraver.livejournal.com 2004-08-03 02:37 pm (UTC)(link)
1. If they can't, then we have no grounds for holding them responsible for anything.
2. How did they get to be how they are? They must have changed at some point.

[identity profile] leopard-print.livejournal.com 2004-08-03 03:05 pm (UTC)(link)
I know they can because I've done it. Several times.

[identity profile] sassysmile.livejournal.com 2004-08-03 03:31 pm (UTC)(link)
they can, but will they? in order to truly change, i think people have to be ready...otherwise, they are just reacting...

[identity profile] moongarden1971.livejournal.com 2004-08-03 06:00 pm (UTC)(link)
I think they can, most just don't want to.

[identity profile] jphthebachelor.livejournal.com 2004-08-04 06:37 pm (UTC)(link)
I believe people change all the time. Life is change. Usually it’s not monumental or life changing or even permanent, though sometimes it is. Unfortunately, these types of changes are rarely by choice.

Sure they can!

[identity profile] not-hothead-yet.livejournal.com 2004-08-09 07:39 am (UTC)(link)
the ex-asshole changes into a non-addict about every three months. Then he changes into a caring father for about three days. Then he changes into secret agent for about a week. Then he changes into (surprise!) an addict for another three months. Then he changes into wait - hmm.

Well I watch my children change every day. As a consequence, I watch myself change as well. And I wouldn't be marrying Baph if he hadn't made some changes, while I made some changes and we promise to always help each other continue to change.

So, yeah. One of my (many) mottoes is
change is good. You may not like it, but it's good anyway
THe other (related) motto of mine is
Everyone changes. Now, whether or not you wanna accept this or not is your business, but change is gonna happen whether you like it or not