A Subtle Side Effect of Not Assuming Responsibility
life·@ofrbg·
0.000 HBDA Subtle Side Effect of Not Assuming Responsibility
<html> <h2>Giving Simple Advice Has Turned into a Legal Contract</h2> <p>Before I ventured into adulthood, I was well-known among my friends for my good advice. When people needed to clear their minds and get a second opinion on their situation, I was often the go-to. Needless to say, not every time I gave advice things turned out perfectly. When the advice I gave didn’t give the results I expected, I offered help, but it was rarely demanded. Perhaps the more sour people would resent me to a small degree, but in general things worked out for the best.</p> <p>Fast-forward to 2017 and I’m an active participant in a cryptotrader community with thousands of active users. Never in my life I had been surrounded by so many Americans, even if in a virtual sense. This helping spirit that I used to have was slowly drowned by people blaming me for their mistakes. Over a few months I was sucked into the lawsuit culture, so to speak. Instead of people working out problems, everyone had a hostile undertone. Any suggestion became financial advice. Any comment became a personal attack. Perhaps I didn’t make many people rich before my will to freely help others died out, but at least I seriously helped dozens. Now I basically help no one.</p> <p>That is a side effect of not sucking up to mistakes. Constantly looking to delegate fault to others will pushing them to shutting in. Being unable to accept the blame of decisions turns a community into a colosseum. The prisoner’s dilemma strikes yet again. A few users will backstab their community to cover for their losses. If they can’t win from the communal support, no one will.</p> <p>The worst part of this is that we are talking about anonymous internet strangers. I wonder how people in countries whose population sues over anything can have a normal life. You can’t have a conversation without being at risk of being held responsible for accidental professional advice. A physician can’t help neighbours because if he doesn’t perfectly cure them, they might cost him a few thousand dollars. Perhaps next time someone offers your honest advice, and it doesn’t work out, don’t immediately rush to blame that person. Rather than blaming someone else, think of a way to solve the issue, not to wipe your hands.</p> </html>