![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
the right to hurt oneself
Where does our responsibility to our friends and loved ones end?
If someone is engaged in behavior that is harmful to him, is it our responsibility to try to persuade him not to continue? Is it none of our business? If someone kills himself, is that none of our business?
How far does one go? Is it enough just to make him aware of the detrimental effects, or should one try to actively dissuade him? Does one have any right to bring it up in the first place?
If someone is engaged in behavior that is harmful to him, is it our responsibility to try to persuade him not to continue? Is it none of our business? If someone kills himself, is that none of our business?
How far does one go? Is it enough just to make him aware of the detrimental effects, or should one try to actively dissuade him? Does one have any right to bring it up in the first place?
Ask a hard one, why don't ya?;)
That is hard, because there really is a dividing line between giving someone the option to sink or swim on their own and watching them drown, or helping them...and helping and helping and helping... Personally I'm pretty damn bad at that line, usually on the helping side, which makes me frustrated and feeling bitter. I do agree with the guy on the bottom that it's important to tell your friend that you're worried and you care, and that you think he's hurting himself or herself. Part of friendship is gently kicking them in the ass when they need it. (Gently!)
Like I said, take my advice with a grain of salt, I'm not so hot at this myself, so how can I tell someone else what they should do?
Love, Ms Mausi.