Influence People: Overcome Challenges & Find Support

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the challenges of influencing others and the feelings of isolation and rejection experienced in social situations, particularly during school years. Participants share personal experiences related to bullying, peer pressure, and the struggle for acceptance, exploring the dynamics of social influence and the complexities of interpersonal relationships.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses feelings of powerlessness to influence others, citing experiences with bullying and a lack of support from peers.
  • Another participant suggests that if one is morally right, they should naturally attract support, questioning the need to influence others.
  • Concerns are raised about the negative impact of violence and aggression on social relationships, with suggestions to evaluate personal behavior that may alienate others.
  • Some participants share personal anecdotes about overcoming social challenges and the importance of kindness, while noting that kindness can provoke negative reactions in some individuals.
  • There is a discussion about the effectiveness of private conversations in diffusing conflicts and changing perceptions among peers.
  • One participant highlights the commonality of feeling unsupported even when one is right, suggesting that fear often prevents others from voicing their support.
  • Another participant reflects on the inevitability of facing blame for others' mistakes and the importance of addressing such situations constructively.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of views on the nature of influence and support, with no clear consensus on the effectiveness of personal strategies for overcoming social challenges. Multiple competing perspectives on the role of aggression, kindness, and personal responsibility in social dynamics remain present.

Contextual Notes

Participants' experiences are influenced by their individual backgrounds and social environments, which may limit the applicability of their insights to broader contexts. The discussion reflects a variety of assumptions about morality, social behavior, and the dynamics of peer relationships.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in social dynamics, personal development, and the psychology of influence may find the shared experiences and perspectives relevant to their own situations.

  • #31
Office_Shredder said:
I will give several examples of college bullying that I have seen. At a frat house, the house rule was that if you lost a game of pong without getting any cups yourself, you had to run around the house naked as punishment. It was generally understood this rule only applied to people who actually were experienced with the game of pong. My friend and I beat a pair of freshmen girls at the game, at which point a member of the fraternity comes over and starts demanding the girls strip down and run around the house. We tell him to back off, he informs us that he is a member of the fraternity and that his word is law in this basement. He then goes back to harassing the girls, while everyone else just watches. They decided to leave at that point

I have a hard time defining this as bullying. This is what happens at frat houses... and yes, his word is law in the house. If you don't like (in this case the girls) then leave (like they did). Going into a frat house to play beer pong, you have to realize that pretty much anything goes and the house members do make the rules.

Office_Shredder said:
Another example (for balance I'm the bad guy here), I was with a group of classmates at a bar, one of whom was an older student doing a graduate degree. We were egging him on that he couldn't drink as much as us because he was too old, and kept getting him to drink more and more (giving him drinks that we bought at the bar so they couldn't cut him off). Eventually he left because he was tired of taking our crap, and we learned the next morning that he had gotten so drunk that he passed out on a bench and was picked up by an ambulance in the middle of the night.

Again, I guess this could be considering bullying...but c'mon the guy was dumb for drinking more than he can handle just because his friends "egged him on". Good grief, I've been on both sides of this one hundreds of times. Me being with a group of friends trying to get me to drink a bunch with them even though I'm not feeling it that particular night, and vice versa. Just man up and say "Nah I'm good bros". Unless they're literally holding you down and pouring it down your throat, this shouldn't be a huge issue.
 
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  • #32
Rick21383 said:
I have a hard time defining this as bullying.

There's something seriously wrong with you then. God I hope people don't confide in you.
 
  • #33
WannabeNewton said:
There's something seriously wrong with you then. God I hope people don't confide in you.

Clearly you've never attended a frat party. I'm not going to sugar coat things. That doesn't work in the real world, my friend. Manning up and gaining some confidence will resolve these issues, not writing lengthy screeds about the mean bullies.
 
  • #34
Rick21383 said:
Clearly you've never attended a frat party. I'm not going to sugar coat things. That doesn't work in the real world, my friend. Manning up and gaining some confidence will resolve these issues, not writing lengthy screeds about the mean bullies.

Thanks for the life lesson. If I ever travel back in time to meet the Neanderthals I'll keep your advice in mind.
 
  • #35
Time to put this thread to rest.
 

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