"With Choice Comes Responsibility"

[Nelle]

I agree that ignorance is less of a valid excuse for poor decision making these days, but inexperience I think still is. Inexperience is what causes me not to listen to people or take advice or causes me to listen to the wrong people. I think that responsibility is something that needs to be learned. Ideally it's learned as we grow, but there are areas, perhaps for all of us, where we still need to learn responsibility. And sometimes to be responsible requires discipline, which I think is also a learnt quality. And because it's a learning issue, we all learn things differently. Some can learn from the hard lesson, others respond to gentleness and patience, some learn quickly and others make mistakes again and again before they learn.

I'm a good case of this, many things I learn quickly, but because I lack discipline I also lack responsibility in some things (ask anyone who has had to wait for me). I know that it's not courteous or thoughtful to make people wait, but I still choose to meet with people, and I am chronically late.
I think that life is grey, which makes this topic so grey - there are usually many aspects to each choice. Yes, I annoy people when I'm late (and OT but I have to say I'm so blessed with friends who are patient with me, hopefully they understand that I do respect and love them and am working towards discipline and change!), but it's also good for me and my children to go out. So one irresponsible choice also is a responsible choice.

Similarly, when I buy eggs, often I buy cage eggs - now I am passionate about free range stuff, so in terms of animal rights it's an irresponsible choice, but in terms of my family budget where things can be incredibly tight, especially after Christmas, my choice is financially responsible.

I guess what I'm saying in a rambly way, is that when a choice seems irresponsible to us, it's possible we're seeing it from a different angle to the person involved. Some people may consider an elective C/S the less responsible choice, but it's possible there is another angle where the choice could be viewed as responsible.

[Lolli]

Ok, I'm back, and my hair looks lovely

I agree that ignorance is less of a valid excuse for poor decision making these days, but inexperience I think still is. Inexperience is what causes me not to listen to people or take advice or causes me to listen to the wrong people. I think that responsibility is something that needs to be learned. Ideally it's learned as we grow, but there are areas, perhaps for all of us, where we still need to learn responsibility. And sometimes to be responsible requires discipline, which I think is also a learnt quality. And because it's a learning issue, we all learn things differently. Some can learn from the hard lesson, others respond to gentleness and patience, some learn quickly and others make mistakes again and again before they learn.

I'm a good case of this, many things I learn quickly, but because I lack discipline I also lack responsibility in some things (ask anyone who has had to wait for me). I know that it's not courteous or thoughtful to make people wait, but I still choose to meet with people, and I am chronically late.
I think that life is grey, which makes this topic so grey - there are usually many aspects to each choice. Yes, I annoy people when I'm late (and OT but I have to say I'm so blessed with friends who are patient with me, hopefully they understand that I do respect and love them and am working towards discipline and change!), but it's also good for me and my children to go out. So one irresponsible choice also is a responsible choice.

Similarly, when I buy eggs, often I buy cage eggs - now I am passionate about free range stuff, so in terms of animal rights it's an irresponsible choice, but in terms of my family budget where things can be incredibly tight, especially after Christmas, my choice is financially responsible.

I guess what I'm saying in a rambly way, is that when a choice seems irresponsible to us, it's possible we're seeing it from a different angle to the person involved. Some people may consider an elective C/S the less responsible choice, but it's possible there is another angle where the choice could be viewed as responsible.

Fair call Nelle. I guess, related to the original cereal example- saying "I didn't know Coco Pops were packed with sugar"- not a good enough excuse (for me). It's up to you to read the panel, compare, and do a little research into what it all means, especially if you are choosing for your kids, not yourself (given the value we all seem to hold that if you mess up yourself, that's your business, but you should have a greater sense of responsibility to your offspring). But saying "It was my first time choosing cereal", and choosing the coco pops, acceptable excuse, because it is overwhelming and how are you to know better?

And then enter the variables. "I know coco pops are high in sugar, but they were on super special/ the kids were screaming and I just wanted to get out of there/ I've got PMS, ok??" Which all influence the choice, and are not always immediately apparent.

Re-reading my OP, I sound very hard and harsh. I was actually thinking of more cut and dry situations- like "I didn't know it was past 2:30, so i shouldn't be fined for speeding in a school zone". Or from the sublime to the ridiculous "I am suing CityRail because I stuck my head out the train window to graffiti something and got hit by a pole". That was actually a court case in Australia a few years ago- the the guy believed City Rail had a duty of care to make the windows small enough so he couldn't stick his head out. Now I understand the purpose of litigation is often to provide funds for medical care and what not (say, after an accident with no insurance), but where does the responsibility end? You make an informed choice to stick your head out a train window, I think you should be responsible for the consequences...

[HotI]

I agree that ignorance is less of a valid excuse for poor decision making these days, but inexperience I think still is. Inexperience is what causes me not to listen to people or take advice or causes me to listen to the wrong people. I think that responsibility is something that needs to be learned.

Awhile back there was a thread on "Is ignorance bliss?", where it was discussed that some people actively choose to not research their options. For some, this worked out fine. For others, choosing not to find about options before an event (ie birth) led them to accept events that they may not have had they had time to consider all the possibilities.

There are people i have met in real life, and on-line, who choose not to read or research and i have been criticised by some (not here!) for 'reading too much'.

I then wonder if I am talking to someone who chose not to inform themselves on options, and later had regrets on how things have turned out, should i have the same degree of empathy or concern as i would have for someone who didn't have the opportunity to research and was experiencing sadness over how things turned out?

I guess it's hard to work out sometimes what is (chosen) ignorance, and what is inexperience in knowing where to seek info....

still thinking

[Ca Plane Pour Moi]

I thought spidey too!

But WRT birth choice: it ain't a choice if you're told that something will happen with or without your consent. It ain't a choice to be told "if you agree to a section you can push for another half-hour, if you don't we'll take you into theatre and just do it straight away." The choice is... be violated whichever option you choose and if you go for the first then hey, your choice, your fault. (If you've been in labour for over 24 hours you're not thinking about if everything you're told is true when you're threatened, believe me!) I'd rather not know than forget, because you really kick yourself for that one. It was my responsibility and I didn't live up to it. Rather than "I did the best I could with the information at the time." "I didn't know" is a nice excuse to keep!

BUT... I did make a choice. I did make a choice to enter the hospital. I forgot I could leave at any time and they couldn't keep me in, as they told me they could... but that was still a choice.

Also, I make choices about work, food, life... every day. My choices, my call so MY fault. It's my fault if my parenting style means I have a respectful, intelligent and kind son. It's my fault if he's a spoilt brat because of how I raise him. It's my fault if I skip lunch/dinner. Yes, there are other things to do... there are ALWAYS other things to do and not eating for 12 hours is a silly choice and that's my responsibility.

I don't understand people who always blame others for EVERYTHING... I know I do for some things (like, it's not my choice to feel upset because no-one buys me a house... when in fact it is, even if I don't know how to move past that). But some things, some actions... it's your own fault!

[Acacia]

One thing really in particular really struck me when I think about Bathsheba's original statement. It's about individuals and care. Most people take care when they are making important, life-changing decisions of course - who to marry, where to live, what they want to do with their lives, but I'm thinking more about the more ordinary, everyday, convenient decisions that individuals make and how care relates to this.

For many people, responsibility for the actions based on the choices they have will never come for the simple reason that they do not care. They don't care about the consequences of their actions-based-on-a-choice, they don't care that having the ability to make a choice is a privilege compared to others in our world. We live in a society that prides itself on - actually, it revolves around the range of choices we have for everything - that cereal aisle, the mobile phone plan, sparkling or still, boxers or briefs etc. etc. Everything in our often very cosy, capitalist's dream lives means that we are able make choices that have little perceived consequence to others as a result of what we choose for ourselves, and when we do have to make choices in things that really do matter - and by this I think I mean choices that have moral and/or welfare consequences - some people don't or can't view the seriousness of potential consequences and the effects on others as a result of our choices. The comfort and convenience bubble that they are in would be in danger of popping, and the reality of that is too confronting for some so they choose to ignore it by being apathetic, impassive or indifferent.

Perhaps I view it that many people have been desensitized from understanding that choosing and taking actions in their lives have consequences because of the overwhelming amount of choice that we have in our lives. It is viewed as a right and thus responsibility and care isn't of any consequence.

For those that understand that choice bears consequence - and can think about where the consequences are in relation to choices - this is where responsibility forms. Those that can *see* and understand the consequences from a moral/ethical/welfare POV from even the most simple choices and base these choices on this information take on responsibility it the truest sense of the word.

Whether it's the simple choice of which cereal product to buy (fairtrade, less sugar/salt for your child, recycled/less packaging, Non-GM) to which company supplies your power needs (which countries/people may they be exploiting, what is their carbon impact/offset, what interests do their shareholders have), to who to vote for (voting and democracy is a whole other discussion again), to decisions like whether or not to BF/FF** (what is best for my child's health, perpetuating and supporting a culture/companies that have a negative impact on life), c/s versus natural birth** (impact on my own and my child's health and life), each choice should have an equal amount of care and concern for the consequences given to it, no matter how big or small, whether you see it changing your life or not. In busy lives, this is not always possible, but those individuals that care enough to make as many of their choices possible bearing this in mind, being informed and educated about the options and consequences are doing their bit for bearing responsibility for choice.

I would love to be this person I describe above - I try to be as much as I can, but I wish it was as black and white as this. And I'm human LOL. I haven't spoken about how I see this "care" is impacted by financial, emotional and social conditions as I think that's a whole other discussion in itself. (As too is thinking about choice and responsibility with regard to corporations/organisations/the whole as opposed to the individual)... But in an ideal world where all (and not just some) of those who were privileged enough to have choice tried to exercise it responsibly as often as they could, with care and concerns for others, something tells me that the world would be a very different place...


**Please note, I am not talking about a situation where a mother may not be able to BF even when she wants to or needs a c/s in a medical emergency, just the situation where she has a choice.

[Mak]

Wow some really interesting thoughts, I hope my thoughts are not too simple. I struggle with the multitude of options available as I want to make the 'best' possible choices for my family. The struggle relates to the knowledge I may or may not have about the particular choice and the reality of my options.
I get really frustrated when people don't own their own choices and then choose to comment on mine. It is a tricky one - choosing cereal (great ex as I hate this one especially when the kids are with me) is a choice that can be rectified and changed the next time you need to go/as your knowledge changes, I guess you can do the same for subsequent medical visits/child birth if you choose - the thing that strikes me is that people DO spend more time researching/exploring their options about phone plans/cereal/clothing and almost none on other big events like childbirth. (I'd like to add at this point, that I was in this boat with my DD1 and I cannot believe it in retrospect). Everyone has different values that they hold important but I am astounded about the lack of genuine discussions about important issues - also the lack of responsibilty for the consequences. An example - spending money you don't have, then expecting others to fill the void for the basics.

[Bathsheba]

Great discussion people Acacia: very insightful! I agree completely that the root issue is people's innate "care factor". When I thinkabout it, I see a trend: the people in my lives with with often the greatest degree of care factor are those who have developed that learned responsibility (that Nelle made reference to) quite young. Often because they moved out of home in their late teens/very early 20's and had to fend for themselves. DH and I have observed a worrying trend of people who choose to live at home with their parents... until well into their 30's and remain oblivious to the broader consequences of things. I was listening to the radio about a phenomenom in Italy where (mainly males) are never actually leaving home until they find a wife to take over the role of parent. Men in their 40s still in child mode. This degree of sheltering is not only damaging to the individual but that individual's entire community. Society NEEDS each new generation to have learned responsibility and care factor. So I agree totally Acacia: responsible choice doesn't just emerge out of the blue when it comes to "serious stuff" like childbirth options. It's more deep rooted in a person's character. I worry about the young "soft fall" generation of today (insert tan bark imagery). In my day (LOL a new wrinkle just appeared) the monkey bars were built over hard compacted dirt. If you fell it was like hitting cement. A few broken arms didn't kill anyone... but they did develop more cautious natures

[*Ali*]

Society NEEDS each new generation to have learned responsibility and care factor.

This is something that I am passionate about- the younger generation and learning about being responsible for their actions and realising that there are consequences behind their actions. My classroom behaviour management is very much centred around this philosophy ie. you can choose to stop calling out and there will be no problem, however if you continue to choose to call out the consequences will be you will have to go to time out. Or you chose to punch someone because they called you a name, rather than walking away and telling the teacher, and a consequence of this is a detention.

The issue I am becoming more and more aware of is that parents make excuse of their children's behaviour and try and pass the blame off on someone else- "My child only got into that fight because there are not enough teachers on duty and I dont believe in consequences for actions like this" or " yes my child said/ wrote/ called someone a nasty name, but that is only because YOU are unfair/ biased/ racist and I think the consequences recieved are unfair" or " yes I know my child can be off task in class is far behind where they should be for their age, but all my other children aren't very clever and we are much to busy at home to do any extra reading/ spelling/ maths"

These attitudes infuriate me to the ends of the earth, because how are we ever going to teach our children to own their behaviours and be responsible for the consequences of their actions if we go around making excuses for them, rather then using it as a learning point. There comes times in life when we have to let children make mistakes, because sometimes the only way to learn is through dealing with the consequences that comes with the choices they make. And while it is hard to have to watch your children go through tough times, we really are not doing them any favours by always cushioning from consequences or making excuses for their behaviour.

All of this from somebody who has 4 types of cereal in the cupboard because she can never make a choice

[Oorki Galoorki]

"Choice is not always a product of will or desire. Choice is sometimes no more then an escape bid, which means that the place where someone ends up is wrongly regarded as his or hers favoured destination"

i found this in a book recently and it has hit SUCH a cord with me. We often make choices in a hurry with no thought of the consequences and not ready to take responsibility of those choices(even though the choice may be informed) so when the destination isnt what we hoped, thought we realise although one part of the decision making process was informed the other part was not. That part is usually the emotional side, rarely do we not know what the physical 'side effects' are.
So at what point does informed choice change to sole responsibility?

our care providers do have responsibility to us to INFORM us at every point. Product advertisers have a responsibilty to provide us with information yet they all Choose what information to give us.