Can People Truly Change?

BlackWidow · #1 (**permalink**) 02-29-2008, 07:36 PM

Are you the same at 31,41,51,61 and so on as you were at 21? or even 18?

I would have to say NO you are not. Obviously you have went through life experiences and changes over the years to allow you to grow up and develop into a responsible adult, or a least I would hope responsible.

So for example if you at 21 or 18 made an bad error in judgment because of lack of knowledge and experience should you still be punished for it or judge for it when you are 31,41,51,61, and so on? Or should it be chalked up as lack of knowledge or experience?

I know that if someone at 21 told me what they believe in and why I would not toss it aside and completely disregard it, but I would think "if you were my age you may think different"

I read about a 21 yr old making a mistake and getting charged for it, doing the time for the crime, but not able to pay the restitution in full as of yet because of many reasons and because of such they have not yet been able to get a pardon, but even to this day they are still judged for what they did back then as a young and ignorant adult. Just to let you know this person is now over 31 by some years.

I did not explain what they did for a reason, I do not want biased opinions. I simply want to know, are you the same now as you were at 21 or 18?

and if not why? and if so why? and should you be judged for it now?

Sharon Tate · #2 (**permalink**) 02-29-2008, 11:04 PM

Depends on the crime, but yes, I do agree that someone should not be punished for something they did years ago, especially if they have changed and are not the same person. They should not be held back because they made a mistake in the past.

Blade · #3 (**permalink**) 03-01-2008, 12:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackWidow

Are you the same at 31,41,51,61 and so on as you were at 21? or even 18?

I would have to say NO you are not. Obviously you have went through life experiences and changes over the years to allow you to grow up and develop into a responsible adult, or a least I would hope responsible.

So for example if you at 21 or 18 made an bad error in judgment because of lack of knowledge and experience should you still be punished for it or judge for it when you are 31,41,51,61, and so on? Or should it be chalked up as lack of knowledge or experience?

I know that if someone at 21 told me what they believe in and why I would not toss it aside and completely disregard it, but I would think "if you were my age you may think different"

I read about a 21 yr old making a mistake and getting charged for it, doing the time for the crime, but not able to pay the restitution in full as of yet because of many reasons and because of such they have not yet been able to get a pardon, but even to this day they are still judged for what they did back then as a young and ignorant adult. Just to let you know this person is now over 31 by some years.

I did not explain what they did for a reason, I do not want biased opinions. I simply want to know, are you the same now as you were at 21 or 18?

and if not why? and if so why? and should you be judged for it now?

Mistake = crime.

I've changed in many ways over time, but not regarding what is a crime, and I doubt many people have. People know soon enough that certain things are illegal when they are still children.

hendrixpujols11 · #4 (**permalink**) 03-25-2008, 03:49 PM

look up Stanley "tookie" Williams.

Silent No Longer · #5 (**permalink**) 03-25-2008, 07:45 PM

There is no doubt that people can change. The years and our life experiences shape us. As for crime and punishment, it really depends on the situation. For some transgressions we can be redeemed in society and for others we can not. If you kill a person in a car accident for which you are guilty of negligent driving you may be forgiven. If you commit robbery of an elderly woman and murder her in the process; how can society forgive that?

marko.t · #6 (**permalink**) 03-26-2008, 11:52 AM

The society can not forgive anything.That is the bigest problem.

sunnyside · #7 (**permalink**) 03-26-2008, 01:58 PM

People can change. However for some crimes society isn't going to take the chance, or they feel there should be a signficant punshment. If this person was a serial killer at 21 I wouldn't let them go at 31 if they'd had a change of heart.

Also some things should and do stick with you to varying degrees. For example a crime in the past will still be in your record. This doesn't mean you shouldn't be able to get a job, but it should be up to your prospective employer and your references to figure out if you have changed.

Tarheeler · #8 (**permalink**) 03-26-2008, 05:59 PM

People are constantly changing; some for the better and some for the worse.
But, that doesn't change your past. You might be different now, but you're still responsible for your past actions.

hendrixpujols11 · #9 (**permalink**) 03-30-2008, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tarheeler

People are constantly changing; some for the better and some for the worse.
But, that doesn't change your past. You might be different now, but you're still responsible for your past actions.

In India, during the time of the caste system, if you were born into the "untouchable" caste, it was impossible to break free, and you were literally COMPLETELY dependent on people of a higher caste and were viewed as having no value to society. According to the Hindus of India, your caste depended on your past life. Therefore, the Untouchables generally accepted their position in society, assuming that they were responsible for their past actions. Gandhi fought for this to be outlawed, even though he himself was of the merchant class. This mentality is dangerous. The point of imprisonment and punishment of any sort is to take the people off the streets, and to "teach them a lesson". If they learned their lesson and are not dangerous, why imprison and punish them?

Tarheeler · #10 (**permalink**) 03-30-2008, 11:34 AM

Because you still owe something to either society or someone for your crime. Even if you have changed, you have caused someone to become a victim. The example of restitution in the original post comes into play here. Whether you have changed or not, you have still committed the crime.

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