In the book, City of Ember, some of the characters become quite selfish when they are scared. What do you think causes us to become selfish when we become afraid? Are we really selfish people or is it a gut reaction?
Breaking Ranks in the Middle™
-
At Rider University we offer a one-credit course entitled: Structure and
Culture of Middle Level Education. As our text we use Breaking Ranks in the
Middle...
17 years ago
11 comments:
When people are scared and they have limited food and stuff like in "City Of Ember" they get selfish/greedy, because they think that they are more worthy of the stuff. This shows in the book by the mayor, when he hides the goods & food, from the rest of the town. To answer your question for most people its a gut reaction, but unfoutntly some people are actully selfish!
There are selfish people in the world, deedee, that is very true. I do think though that the world is full of many very good people. I think most of us, even if we were scared, would be sure to make certain that our friends and family were safe. Sometimes too, people don't know what to do. Several years ago, my little cousins were playing by the Neshaminy. One of my younger cousins, Matthew, fell into the river. He couldn't swim. For a split second, I looked around at the other people that were standing closer to him. No one moved because they were scared. I dove into the water and saved him. I didn't realize the enormity of the situation until after Matthew was taken back to the house. I started crying because it was only afterwards that I got scared. People react in all kinds of ways. I don't consider myself a hero or anything like that...I just did what I thought was right. I didn't think twice before I jumped into the river after him. Thanks for your comment!
When people get scared, they forget about being kind to other people and are mostly concerned with their own survival and the survival of those they care about. They become selfish because since they want to survive, they do everything they can to do just that, no matter what the cost to other people. Fortunately, some people are still concerned with those they care about, and it's usually only a reaction to fear. However, for some people, fear only contributes to selfishness and they are just selfish by nature.
In this case people get really scared because supplies are running out. People do get selfish like the mayor so that they can survive. We try to get what we can when we're scared to save ourselves and that's what makes us selfish. An example, is when a snow storm is coming people get so much supplies to save themselves.
Honestly it's just a reaction to what happens when people get really scared.
I think that when we become afraid, we become selfish because we are living in a crazy world and a lot of people put their own needs before other peoples needs. When we become selfish we are just thinking about ourselves. Deedee, I think that it might just be a gut reaction because a lot of people are really nice. But, there are a lot of really baad people in the world that think of themselves as kings/queens and think they are better then other people so they think that they should just save themselves. But these people are really just afraid but their gut is telling them that they should just save themselves and forget about everyone else.
well just the aspect of being afraid is enough to make someone selfish. if someone was afraid they would probably do anything it takes to not be afraid even if it means hurting another person in some way shape or form. for instance, if you were afraid that the loch ness monster (i have no idea why i'm using this as an example:p) was about to come and attack you and a friend and one of you was allowed to live, first instinct would most probably be that you'd want the monster to eat the other person. its human instinct
When people get scared they take everything they can get and hide. They hide and don't care about anyone else and they just want to live. What they don't realize is that eventually they too will perish, but they just don't care.
I think it's a gut reaction as a result of our natural instincts to try and survive. for an example if it was the last piece of bread and that was the rest of the food for the week some people might grab for it immediately unlike others who would break it into smaller pieces and divide it equally. but there are many different factors to this as well. such as how you grew up and the lessons or rather behavior your mother taught you when you were a kid. but now I'm diving more into psychology where i could go on and rant about for hours but ill just leave my post as it is.
Great post shealiss. Yes, this is definitely true. I do think our "fight or flight" instinct is very real, but equal to that is exactly what you said...how we are raised. My dad always taught me to take care of others and he taught me that by example. I know that if I were in this situation I would make sure everyone else ate first. If it was bread, I would take a piece if there was any left...if not, I would rather starve and allow others to have the sustenance. That's just the way I was raised. THanks for the comment...you made a very, very good point.
In any of your lifetimes, did you ever have to make a decision (about anything) to put someone or yourself first? I shared my story of my rescuing my little cousin from the river...has anyone else had a similar experience? It doesn't have to be this dramatic, but have you ever done something for someone else without thinking about yourself?
If you are nervous that you won't have anything, you go all out to get whatever you can get. It comes into play when everyone wants what is running out. In the book, "The City of Ember", light and food are very low along with other miscellaneous things. People can go all out to get what really matters. For some it was pencils, others it was food and light bulbs. You never know how people can change when a life source is draining away. Some people become more caring, but others turn inwards towards themselves. When a crisis like the one in the book hits, people show what they truly are and their facde comes away. Some people are selfish and others aren't.
Post a Comment