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This is actually a serious question although I could have asked it a little nicer, I just didn't care to. *shrug*

Do you think some people are just born as pieces of shit, or do you think life and experience has shaped them into what they've become?

Curious to know what you all really think?
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FoxyGoddess · 51-55, F
I tend to think there are two causes:

Inherent and conditioned

Often, these two go hand in hand.

Inherent is genetic. There are gentic conditions that are passed down at birth. These are unavoidable

Then there are conditioned that are learned through example and environment.

Because of the genetic factor, you will find the environment one is raised in to foster the behaviors because the parent doesn't have any other resources to pull from.

You will find, also, that a lot of people who have become serial killers have had a significant blow to heead. While not proven as causation, it is a very common event and it is known that severe head injuries can change a personality.

I bring up serial killers because a lot of them would torture animals, knowing it was causing pain but would do it anyway. This, to me, illustrates that people do intentionally inflict pain, whether physical or emotional, intentionally. They know they are doing it.

One of the best lines I have heard about narcissists is:

"Do they treat every one the same? No. That means, they know on some level what they are doing and are choosing to do it."
LadyBronte · 61-69, F
@FoxyGoddess I agree with you - the answer is twobl fold and no situation is the same. It also comes to mind, that the old adage, "someone muat have dropped him on his head when he was a child", is quite possibly truer than anyone could have imaged when it was coined.
BrandNewMan · 61-69, M
I believe there are genetic or biological predispositions that can be either mitigated or exacerbated by experience or environment.

For example .. there is no cure for narcissism. The inherent nature of the disorder can make effective treatment a real challenge for many. However, some are able to affect meaningful improvement if so motivated.
LadyBronte · 61-69, F
I have to agree. Often the "so motivated" is the problem when there's desire to make a change.
I definitely believe a small bit of people are indeed born really messed up. The same way we can be born genetically "flawed" in other ways I don't think it's too hard to fathom that someone could simply be wired wrong. There's some people who think of themselves singularly without consequence of how the things they say and do effects anyone around them.

On the other side of this, there are those who have been bred into such things or learned to adapt to it to get by because it gets them what they want and they see that it works. Either by having to survive that way, never being given rules and consequences, etc and several other things. There's so many variables.
LadyBronte · 61-69, F
@DancingStarGoddess I too, believe that some people could be born flawed for one reason or another, or suffer with unrealized chemical imbalances, etc. And true enough, that learned behavior in child hood can shape someone's personality. There are so many variables to say for sure, but it was a question I was pondering upon last night.
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LadyBronte · 61-69, F
@StarLily It was just a question based upon trying to wrap my head around some recent happenings. Yes, I too think negative experiences can change a person - sometimes for the good, but more often than not, for the bad. And I agree with you again - as adults it is our choice to be a good person or not.
*It is a choice!!*
And of course I knew that, but I thank you for saying it. Reading it and then saying it out loud helped. They COULD help it if they chose to; they choose not to.
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LadyBronte · 61-69, F
@StarLily I wish you well in trying to make peace with recent events. Sometimes, accepting it and making peace around it, is all we can do.
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LadyBronte · 61-69, F
@ScreamingFox I was mostly referring to those who hurt others, knowingly and with intent or even while teying to be sneaky and pretending to be a good person. I personally don't think about different socioeconomic classes being 'less than', although I suppose some do. But you are right. People can be broken by bad experience and mental illness.
Justmeraeagain · 56-60, F
Not really sure people are born being horrible people.
I think they're born with some tendencies that if they conditions are right ,they're never checked or taught to control impulses you get some real messed up people.
LadyBronte · 61-69, F
@Justmeraeagain Gotta agree with you.
FreeorLonely · 51-55, F
I think it’s from life
LadyBronte · 61-69, F
@FreeorLonely In most cases I have to agree.
Adogslife · 61-69, M
Both. I think very few are “born bad”. The vast majority are the result of their home environment.
LadyBronte · 61-69, F
@Adogslife Yes, most probably so. I can agree with that.
JustNik · 51-55, F
At the root of it, I think we all have this seed of darkness or whatever you wanna call it, and the only difference is how dominant it is as to how much life experience is needed to activate it and how fast and high it can grow.
LadyBronte · 61-69, F
@JustNik I have no doubt you are correct. Most people, thankfully, rein it in before it takes over.
Wallflow3r · 31-35, F
I blame it on there parents usually.
LadyBronte · 61-69, F
@Wallflow3r Perhaps you are right. But it makes me wonder - at what point do adults stop blaming their childhoods and begin making their own better decisions?
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LadyBronte · 61-69, F
@deadmoon I dont think it is either. Too many things a ling the way can cause someone to be nasty and selfish.
pdockal · 56-60, M
Life & experience does shape people but if their core is rotten it's hard to fix them
LadyBronte · 61-69, F
@pdockal Agreed.
pdockal · 56-60, M
@LadyBronte

some people you just have to avoid if possible
LadyBronte · 61-69, F
@pdockal No truer words spoken.
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LadyBronte · 61-69, F
@whowasthatmaskedman I have to agree with you. It could be any one of a number if things including choice.
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LadyBronte · 61-69, F
@PatKirby Exactly!
ChipmunkErnie · 70-79, M
Some people are just born with the inability to think of anything/anyone except themselves.
LadyBronte · 61-69, F
@ChipmunkErnie Agreed!

 
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