A conversation through a beer glass or three brought me to an interesting thought; "Do people deserve second chances?"
I argue that there really is no such thing, that life isn't so black and white.
A 'new chance' constitutes a clean slate, and as all memories and actions follow in one's wake, I find it impossible to believe that there is such a thing.
To put it bluntly, a 'second chance' is a fairy-tale notion.
Actions, reactions, memories, and all sorts of other attributes will continue to follow a person through any subsequent decision and action, regardless of the circumstance.
Well, complete amnesia could provide a second chance, but that all depends on circumstance.
Regardless; I feel that a 'chance,' so to speak, comes from the very beginning, and it is all one continual 'chance,' up until the day of death, if that makes sense. Every action is a reaction to a previous occurrence, and every decision is influenced by former ones. It is impossible to start over, to truly have a second chance, as life is a series of events without a singular breaking point. A second chance would require an absolute breaking point, severing all ties, personality traits, habits, and what have you.
Even if it was possible to have a 'second chance,' most of you assholes wouldn't deserve one anyway. I'm bitter.
That, my friends, is my two Cents on a current existential crisis.
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"Getting a second chance" is a figure of speech that is human. What I mean is that it is a chance to gain respect. Obviously we cant give murderers a second chance because well, that is beyond a persons respect level. But to give someone another chance at being a respectable human being (that have not committed insidious and evil doings), we can grant that. After all, compassion is an admirable human trait, and to have such makes us a very civilized society, especially when it is used to learn from our mistakes. Obviously what makes us a living, thinking human is our curiosity, and that we cannot deny. I believe there is a somewhat universal idea of human moral standards as far as what we should not do and what we DEFINITELY should NOT do, but for the most part we can see what is worthy of a second chance and what is just plain evil. Being a dumbass can be tolerated, staying a dumbass cannot be respected.
ReplyDeleteI suppose the conversation was taken slightly out of context. The conversation was on the premise of a second chance being a complete clean slate, being able to completely start over.
ReplyDeleteFor example, a drug addict. Does a drug addict deserve a second chance, a clean slate? Depends. All on circumstance. What I am trying to say is that regardless of the euphemism of a 'second chance,' the qualities that one picks up being a drug addict will, more likely than not, follow the individual through recurring choices. Do people deserve an opportunity to change? Most of the time. The 'second chance' that I am referring to is that of a complete do-over so to speak, and I feel that is more or less impossible.