Journal Prompt #2----Human Empathy (Finish entry by mid-point of film)
Erin Gruwell teaches her students to be tolerant of each other. Why is tolerance such a difficult thing for some people but easier for others? Why do some people have such an easy time accepting others’ differences while other people can act so cruelly to others? When was a time when you were treated badly because you were different or not accepted for a certain reason? How did you feel and what did you do? Is it possible to teach human empathy or do some people just have it and others don’t?
Due Tuesday, January 24
ReplyDeleteMake that the 25th
ReplyDeleteI do think empathy is a hard thing to teach. I think it’s easier for others to accept different races because some people haven’t had bad experiences with them. Some people, like in the movie, have wars with each other just because one person might have looked at the other person the wrong way. Or it could be something a lot worse like killing your best friend or beating your sibling. I can’t remember a time that I was treated badly for the way I look. Maybe its because I like in a small town and in Iowa there isn’t a ton of different racial people around. I haven’t been called mean names, beaten up or even threatened by a different race and maybe that’s why I don’t have a grudge against any particular race. To me color doesn’t matter. If I don’t like you it’s because the way you act. If your mean to others or have a bad attitude then I wont like you as much people who are happy and want to be your friend. That should be the case for everyone…but on most occasions its not, and that’s a very sad thing in the world.
ReplyDeleteI think you can learn or teach empathy, by exposing someone to another's situation or life. When we experience something, it's easier for us to empathize with another who is in the same situation.
ReplyDeleteWhy are people cruel to others? I think it has something to do with the fact that we, as a the human race were born with a competitive drive where we strive to be the best that we can; or better than others are. We break other people down around us so we feel superior.
They say sticks and stones may break our bones, but words can never hurt us?
This is so untrue. Words are practically bombshells. They sometimes do the worst damage, because while an outward scar will heal, an emotional scar will gnaw at us, and spread.
Some people are just born with that in their minds. I think a lot of people are able to tolerate to other people being mean to them. Other people just can’t handle when people are mean to them. They are just mean back to them. While others just bottle it all up inside them and just unleash after a while and then no one bothers them anymore. I have been treated badly a few times when I didn’t fit into my group of friends. When I was younger I would try so hard to fit in but I never could. So I decided to find my own group of friends. Also when I was younger I know I treated some people badly because I didn’t want them to be in my group because they didn’t fit in with us. I think it is impossible to teach someone human empathy. I think some people act like they have empathy for others just to show like their parents or their friends that they can empathize. I think some people just have it, and some people don’t.
ReplyDeleteI think that the main reason it is difficult for people to be tolerant of one another is because they were raised to hate those different from themselves. The students in Mrs. Gruwell’s English class have all been raised and conditioned to hate those that are a different race from them, or are in different gangs, or have any differences from their own beliefs. A child is extremely impressionable during their early years, and if they receive bad influences, it can be very hard to get them to behave differently later on. People who live with parents and friends who are accepting of all races and beliefs, however, are much more likely to be open-minded about that sort of thing. This also deals with empathy, although if someone has none because they just can’t empathize with people, being raised well isn’t going to help. For example, a kid with a mental disorder that prevented him from being able to read human emotion, or one who had been completely desensitized to it.
ReplyDeleteWhen I think of Empathy I have to go back to my brother. When we were younger he annoyed the crap out of me. He still does, but I have learned to live with him. Him and me used to get in fights over the stupidest stuff. You wouldn’t believe the arguments me had. We would have fistfights over who would use the TV. Stupid I know, but now we tolerate each other. We have joke around and understand each other much more then we did. It’s like we went from enemies to friends in only a few years. I admit I’m mean to him sometimes, but he’s mean to me a lot more. Cause I have to be a big brother, and he has to be a annoying little brother. Empathy is not uncommon, just people don’t realize they have it, and some do realize they do. You should show empathy with all kinds of people, except for stupid people (here’s your sign). =)
ReplyDeleteI think that it is not easy to be tolerant of other people around you. Being tolerant of the people around you is not easy because if you do not get along with someone to start with, it is very hard to learn to get along with them afterwards. It is very hard to get along with people because of their beliefs, thoughts, actions and other things. For some people, the case is that they can accept other peoples differences really easily. I think that it is something that they are born with. I do not think that you can teach someone to accept other peoples differences. I do not remember many times that I was treated badly because I was different. I can not say how I felt because I do not remember any of those times. It is not possible to teach people human empathy in my opinion. I truly believe that people are born with empathy or that they are not born with it. I am grateful for those people who have empathy, they make the world a nice place!
ReplyDeleteI am one of those people that has a lot of tolerance for people. But it is hard for some people because they aren’t use to people being annoying to them or around them. People can accept others for there differences because they either don’t care or are nice people. Where as people who act cruelly to others could have a horrible life at home or they don’t like the person for something they did in the past.
ReplyDeleteI haven’t been treated badly or that i can remember but i can guess that it wouldn’t feel good. Your self esteem probably drops, and you probably think you have no friends. I think empathy might just be in you, but I suppose you might be able to teach it if your parents are good at showing empathy then you can listen and do the same.
Human empathy is a given trait the way I see it. I think its one of those things where you either have it or you don't. I know way to many people that look down on black people simply because they were taught that. I was treated badly and talked down to because I have friends from a school that nobody else likes and that made me different from the kids here. I was called a traitor and when I started dating my boyfriend dallas I got dirty looks and was told I disgusted them even though I have been friends with these people for years and I was dating there "enemy". I think if you have the effort to try and teach someone about human empathy then more power to ya. But the only true way to teach someone human empathy is to make them see that the people they hate are exactly like them. I also think another way to teach someone human empathy is they have to be put in the situation as that person and see what its like to be talked down apon and given dirty looks and to feel like an outsider. My theory is if someone is ignorant enough to look down on you for something like the school you go to or the color of your skin.. You don't need them and its a waste of your time and energy.
ReplyDeleteI think sometimes its how stubborn they want to be. But I understand them not wanting to be tolerant of each other because of all the gangs and fighting. If someone shot my friend, I wouldn’t really want to sit in the same class with them either. Its probably easier for others who are easy going or can just be two-faced with people. Projects and stuff for school, most people in this grade get along, unless it’s a really bad pair. Maybe some people are more sympathetic to others because they have been in that situation and know how it felt. Others just might be really spoiled and never might have had the opportunity to deal with the hardships that others have. I was treated badly when I was younger because I was really annoying, so I constantly fought with kids and stuff; But now I don’t really get treated differently. I just kind of dealt with it however I could and eventually it got better and now I am friends with everyone, There might be a way to show empathy and how you should deal with things, but if people don’t want to learn or care, I don’t think they will.
ReplyDeleteYour friends sometimes affect tolerance. If your friends don’t accept someone then you’re most likely not going to accept them either. I have a lot of tolerance for most people but some people can be difficult. I don’t really have that much tolerance for people who annoy me or are mean to me. I hate it when people pick on me so when they try to be nice to me, I don’t have any tolerance for them. My uncle used to pick on me all the time when I went over to his house to hang out with my cousin. He was starting to get my cousin in on it so I stopped going over there. It got to the point where I wouldn’t even talk to him. My mom snapped on him and he stopped being rude to me but now I just don’t even want to talk to him anymore because of the way he treated me for so long. He was always making rude comments and saying stuff that wasn’t even true. He was making up things and telling them to other people and I hated it.
ReplyDeleteTolerance is easy for some, because they have had to deal with it all their lives.. So it’s not much of a big deal for them. For others, they really haven’t had to tolerate much. So I can see where that would be difficult. The last group, to where as they have had to put up with so much crap that they just cannot take it any more, so they snap at anything that stands in their way. I am very accepting towards others, but in extreme certain cases people just make me furious. When I was in first grade, no one played with me at recess. So I just kind of stood there on the black top. Some rowdy classmates of mine thought that it would be funny to see what I would do if they ran down the hill and head butted me. So they did. A kid ran full speed down the ditch, came up, and head butted me right in the stomach. Just because I was vulnerable to pain of any sort.
ReplyDeleteI think human empathy isn't something you can easily teach. You are either born with it, or you'll have a very hard time trying to find it. I think the best attempt to teach is to do what the teacher did though. She showed them about the holocaust and had the survivors talk and it made them realize that they were doing the wrong thing by targeting each other. I think the kids want to change, they just aren't sure if they can. They grew up learning to hate each other. What would the gang members say if they didn't.
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ReplyDeleteI feel that it is hard for some to understand others because they don't try to place themselves in the other persons shoes. Race, color, and ethnicity are considered barriers, and some people do not understand that nothing really sets us apart. Almost everyday everyone is judged based on something, even me. I usually just ignore it. It's not worth your time worrying about an acquaintances opinion. I do believe you can teach tolerance; as always it's the students choice if they want to apply it or not.
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ReplyDeleteI think that how you learn tolerance all depends on how you were raised. I don’t really like to tolerate a lot of things but I was taught to always be patient. Some people were raised completely different then I was. I mean, that is just how it is. Nobody is going to be raised exactly the same way. For these kids it is probably a lot harder for them to be more tolerant towards the other types of kids. They were raised to protect their own and to hate the other groups and people. They obviously don’t like people outside of their group or gang. They usually do not have to deal with the other gangs, during school anyway. It all depends on what kind of person you are. Some people can just tolerate some certain things that other kids or people can not. Like being bullied, some kids can just deal like they would just blow it off and not care. While maybe somebody else being bullied would completely flip out on that person and could even be violent about it.
ReplyDeleteI think that it is good to be tolerant and that I am a good example of someone that is very tolerant. Empathy is something that can't be taught but it is something that can be shown as an example.
ReplyDeleteI think it is easier to be tolerant of others because people think different than others. Some people have been in different situations.
ReplyDeleteIt might be easier for people to forgive others because they want people to be there for them. Then others don't want to get close to others because they don't want to loose that person.
I have gotten treated rudely because people think I was annoying or dressed weird. I didn't tell anyone about it or anything. I just didn't let them get to me.
I think that you can teach empathy if you make them feel how they treat others.
In asking this question you are basically asking why everyone thinks differently. That is an impossible question to answer. But the reason for people having different tolerance levels when it comes to race and religion is because some people grow up with different races and religions and are used to people being different than themselves. Where as some other people grow up with different people but some of those people treat them in a bad way so the victim will grow up thinking that, basically they are mean because they are black, or they are mean because their jewish, or some other race/religion/ethnicity.
ReplyDeleteSome people accept others differences because they grew up with listening to other peoples problems and knowing their differences. People that would have problems with other peoples differences would be someone that grew up spoiled and didn't have to listen, or care, about other peoples problems. For the most part I have never had anyone treat me harshly for my race or religion (does atheism count as a religion)?
I think that someone could learn empathy if they spend enough time around empathetic people. Someone could only learn empathy from being in contact with others who are empathetic.
I think its hard to put yourself in someone else's shoes because if you dont know how it feels to go through certain things. For example when i was in middle school people would make fun of me because of the color of my skin. I also remember in elementary school kids would be really mean to me and exclude me because their parents were racist. i didnt know what that word ment back then. but now i do. and i dont care what others think of me. when people harass me today about my color i just let it go through on ear and out the other. also if a counselor trys to help some out with letting something go its difficult for them because they dont know how that person exactly feels, so you wouldnt know how much progress he/she makes. I try to be there for my mom when shes sad about my grandpa being gone. i dont know how she entirely feels because i dont really have a dad and i havent really lost a parent by death yet, therefore I dont know exactly how she feels. I would say that human empathy is hard. Tolerance is also hard because some people are very tolerant and then some aren't. Some people are have buttons that can be very easily pushed.
ReplyDeleteI think that you can have tolerance it just depends on how your raised and were you live to because you you ever watch a tv show and there is a person that is rich then I think that they well have a low tolerance level because they think they have to have what they want and when they want it.
ReplyDeleteTolerance just is something people can have and people can’t but I still believe that it depends on were your raised and were you live. Well I have got treated badly because i’m short but I have a high tolerance level I think but it just depends on what it is and how bad I take it.
When people tell me i’m short i just say okay whatever and if they don’t like me for who i am then thats there problem. I think that you could possible teach someone tolerance if you have a lot of it or not because some people can’t teach some people somthing if they don’t get after the like 3rd time or so.
It depends on what kind of a person you are. If someone thinks they are a badass they probably have a low tolerance. I think it is hard for people to accept others because they cannot relate to them. Other people are just rude or a bully and are just out to make you feel bad. Some people can accept anybody because they are nice and do not care about there features. I was never really treated bad it was my friends like messing around with me. They use to say how is the weather up there because I am so tall. They also would ask if I wanted to go skiing or boating because I have size fourteen feet. I did not really feel bad because its my friends and I know its a joke. I usually tell them to shut up. I really do not think it is possible to teach human empathy. There is always going to be a rude person and there are going to be nice people in the world.
ReplyDeleteI think that is good to be tolerant and that I am a good example of someone that is very tolerant. I think people can be tough if they are willing.I think it is the teacher that can make a difference. I think it makes a big deal how someone acts to other people and how they live. It is hard for people because people don't want to learn how to. The other reason is people they are hanging out with. I think it is easy for someone because they don't care a long they don' get made fun of. I don't think some one can tech someone that can tech someone to be kind to other people. I think i am not nice to people, but the people I am mean to they deserve it. I think that people make fun of people because it makes them feel good about them selves. I am accept for who I am. My friends are kind people that treat everyone kind. Some people learn how to be mean form their parents and friends. That is all I have to write even tho Mrs.Smith said this was due WEDNESDAY!
ReplyDeleteIf a person is raised from birth in a household where intimidation is seen as the surefire way to gain respect, then I imagine it will be pretty tough to change their mind. Their minds have been corrupted to the point where the color of someone's skin is exactly what determines whether they are allies or enemies. I believe empathy can be developed, however, it is completely dependent on the type of crowd people affiliate themselves with. If people are surrounded with the appropriate crowd, one that doesn't continue the cycle of hating and automatically casting judgements on people, they can eventually learn to understand other's emotions, and learn to place themselves in other people's shoes. However, like I said, it is completely dependent on their ability to add a variety to the people they speak to, instead of just the members of their 'gang'. A person being raised in a household of hostility will probably have trouble with tolerance of other people, but I still believe it can be taught. I mean, just look at the kids in this movie. It's full fledge proof of what can happen to even the most corrupt kids after having this woman introduced into their life. She taught them to tolerate each other, and eventually even respect each other, even with their different backgrounds. At the beginning of this movie, they absolutely despised each other, without hardly even knowing each other. The color of skin had already made up their minds for them, and Mrs. Gruwell completely alters that, causing them to actually understand the different lifestyles of their classmates, and that proves that empathy and tolerance CAN be taught.
ReplyDeleteI think it can take a lot to tolerate some things. Like I have a low tolerance for my little sister, but I can stand to be around other little kids. And a lot of people are stubborn. Everyone is different when it comes to tolerance; it's just like peoples' religious views, political views, etc. If I'm arguing with someone who thinks different then me, sometimes it's hard to not yell and I don't like it but sometimes it's funny if the other person isn't making any sense and they're freaking out. I think it can be hard to teach some one empathy, but it all depends on the person.
ReplyDeleteI think if you ever want to have kids you have to learn to be tolerant. Or else your kids will hate you and end up being mean. And I think that people that have multiple siblings or family members are more tolerant because they're used to having to wait and not having everything handed to you. And when you have multiple siblings you learn come across more problems and personalities which will help you be a better person.
ReplyDeleteThe main form of tolerance, I'm assuming, that's being discussed is racial tolerance. We like to think of ourselves as a society that everybody is equal, no matter what they look like or the things they like. That is, for the most part, true. The only thing that really sticks out to me as being unequal today is gay marriage. I don't see how we can say people these days are equal when gays can't even get married in most places. Another point is the difference between equal, and fair. There is a chance that in the future we will all be seen as equals no matter what, but I don't think it's possible for the world to be a fair place. It's because some people won't recognize that everyone on this planet is human, including them. There will always be something separating people, whether it's race, religion, or something else that shouldn't be made as a huge deal. Not everyone is necessarily 'bad'. Even that is separating society into two parts, even furthering my point. While it's not very good to think of, Communism seems rather logical when thinking of the world from the perspective that the only way to have peace is to make everyone the same. Enough of this, though. I can't really name any specific time that I've felt singled out because I did or didn't do something. I don't think I've ever been picked on or bullied. I guess I'm just lucky. Empathy is a strange concept to really talk about it being taught to someone. I think someone can learn it, but it's weird thinking about someone teaching it to people. Some situations it can be useful, but a lot of times I think if you want to teach someone how to empathize, they need to experience something that really changed their views.
ReplyDeleteSo tolerance can either be easy or hard for people. Some people are just more caring than others, while some people just can’t stand people who are annoying or ignorant. I guess some people just know how to brush it off and go on with their day. For others it just keeps getting deeper and deeper under their skin. I guess it can all depend on how you are raised. If you are raised to NOT be tolerant of anyone but “your own” then chances are you won’t be very tolerant of people that aren’t like you. If you are raised to treat people the way you want to be treated, then you will probably grow up to be tolerant of more people.
ReplyDeleteI do think it’s possible to change. I think the movies a great example of how people can change. The students grew up to only tolerate their “own,” but Erin made them realize there is much more to life than protecting your people. It is hard to go out in the world and not tolerate groups of people, because everywhere you go, there is going to be huge varieties of people.