NationStates Jolt Archive

This is a favorite catchphrase of motivational speakers and whatever. Do you think that an individual can make a significant difference to a whole society? In what situations:

- Will an individual make a large impact on the whole human society, even without much effort.

- Will an individual make practically no impact even in his/her tiny community, despite a lifetime of heroic efforts.

I think this is an interesting topic for all of us to consider, especially young and impatient people (such as me, I am embarrassed to admit) eager to make their mark on the world.

Can one person make a difference?

Yes, but probably shouldn't.

Yes, but probably shouldn't.

What do you mean? That significant differences that individuals make tend to be negative?

Or that the act of individuals trying to make a difference is itself wrong, and that all people should conform to the same-old same-old?

A person in the right place at the riight time can make a difference.

An exceptional person can make it the right time and be in the right place intentionally.

All others must plug along trying to make a difference and hope that they accidently happen to end up at the right place and time.

no they cant so dont try. And guess what, your vote actually doesnt matter because all politicial parties are the same so there really is no choice.

What do you mean? That significant differences that individuals make tend to be negative?

Power corrupts. Sometimes the one man making the difference is a Bin Laden or a Hitler. Sometimes it's a Ghandi or a King.

It's why I said "probably" shouldn't.

Power corrupts. Sometimes the one man making the difference is a Bin Laden or a Hitler. Sometimes it's a Ghandi or a King.

It's why I said "probably" shouldn't.

It's not always about power though, what about a paradigm shift, like a Galileo or an Einstein?

no they cant so dont try. And guess what, your vote actually doesnt matter because all politicial parties are the same so there really is no choice.

I know that no one vote can make a difference. Sure, many votes make a difference, but no one is a "many people".

There are more effective ways to make a difference.

Yes if you happen to be JFK, Hitler, Alexander the Great, or people like that.

For your average person, speaking of true difference on a global scale? No, probably not.

Yes if you happen to be JFK, Hitler, Alexander the Great, or people like that.

For your average person, speaking of true difference on a global scale? No, probably not.

But who's an average person?

What do you mean? That significant differences that individuals make tend to be negative?

Or that the act of individuals trying to make a difference is itself wrong, and that all people should conform to the same-old same-old?
I think he means +1

No single person can affect the political system or government of an entire nation. Not without violence.

However, the thoughts and inspirations of a single person can easily make a difference on a society, and it is that changed society that may eventually change government and politics.

There are different responses to that question for different ways of looking at it.

Politically: Yes, if a man runs for office and wins, he can make a difference.

Socially: Depends. If you mean in a positive sense, he can influence behavior of his peers by setting a good example, and being a good leader.

Militarily: Absolutley. One man in a line with a gun can save an entire battle if he does what he's supposed to.


see?

Yes. One person changed an entire forum's outlook on mud.

This is a favorite catchphrase of motivational speakers and whatever. Do you think that an individual can make a significant difference to a whole society? In what situations:

- Will an individual make a large impact on the whole human society, even without much effort.

- Will an individual make practically no impact even in his/her tiny community, despite a lifetime of heroic efforts.

I think this is an interesting topic for all of us to consider, especially young and impatient people (such as me, I am embarrassed to admit) eager to make their mark on the world.


No, no one person can change anything. I realized that today. Reality finally kicked in today. I realized that no matter how good one's intentions are, or what dreams one may have, that person will not make even a dent on the world. That is why I have given up on life. Meh, stupid life.:headbang:

Oh, btw, for those that read the white. This is my last post. wanted to go out silently, not with a goodbye thread Have fun!

No, no one person can change anything. I realized that today. Reality finally kicked in today. I realized that no matter how good one's intentions are, or what dreams one may have, that person will not make even a dent on the world. That is why I have given up on life. Meh, stupid life.:headbang:

Oh, btw, for those that read the white. This is my last post. wanted to go out silently, not with a goodbye thread Have fun!

How did you arrive on this realization?

No! don't go!

no they cant so dont try. And guess what, your vote actually doesnt matter because all politicial parties are the same so there really is no choice.
Ah, good old American apathy. It's people like you that are the reason we have Bush in office in the first place. You, sir, are ruining our country. If you love America, fine, make it a good place. If you hate America, do something to fix it. But if you don't care, just wander around until you find your way out.
_________________________________

It's really quite simple for an individual to make a difference. If you don't believe that, we have Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr. and Mohandas Gandhi and Thomas Jefferson and a host of others to prove you wrong. Granted, the most obvious way to make a difference is to blow things up and kill people, but in the end nobody ever loves that legacy.

Here's the thing about people: There are certainly a lot of them, and you might think that that means your voice simply gets drowned out in the general static of it all. But if you have a message worth hearing, people will hear it and join you. It snowballs, for lack of a better term.



And Xisla, Zilam wrote in the white text that "This is my last post. wanted to go out silently, not with a goodbye thread Have fun!" I don't think he'll answer your question.
EDIT: Actually, he sounds suicidal.

Yes
:)

I think one person can make a huge difference, but the "without much effort" part is probably wishful thinking.

Not just in politics or militarily, but also in medicine and other scientific fields. There have been quite a few medical advancements that've come down to one person's determined persistence, and sometimes that one person has to override the entire rest of the scientific community before his/her theory is so proven that it cannot be blindly denied anymore.

But, it generally takes a lot of effort, even when the rest of the professionals in the field are accepting of the idea.

Vaccines and germ-related work have quite a few individuals of note, like Salk, Pasteur, that guy who proved (despite initial ridicule) the connection between H. pylori and ulcers, and others whose names I forget right now.

Being a pioneer in medicine has the added advantage of the fact that those who won't listen may end up sick(er) due to their closed-mindedness, too :D

Sure, if you're greedy, immoral, evil, ambitious, kind, lucky, or skilled enough.

The rest of us mere mortals can only hope to be part of a movement.

If you mean that can one person alter the world the world in some drastic way, then, clearly, the answer is yes -- Bill Gates, Osama Bin Laden, Hitler -- history is littered with such individuals. Further, an individual can alter the more micro world in which they live -- i.e. in their own communities.

Yes, but probably shouldn't.
What if it's Michael Knight?
http://people.monstersandcritics.com/article_1176972.php/David_Hasselhoff_injured_while_shaving

What if it's Michael Knight?
http://people.monstersandcritics.com/article_1176972.php/David_Hasselhoff_injured_while_shaving

All that training as a life gaurd and he couldnt wrap a wound!

muppet.

All that training as a life gaurd and he couldnt wrap a wound!

muppet.
I'd wager he was utterly and fatefully distracted by terrible plot lines and ample bosom in tight swimsuits. Or ample junk in tight swimsuits. And himself.
http://www.zahrielomega.net/hasselhoff-charmingdevil.jpg

I'd wager he was utterly and fatefully distracted by terrible plot lines and ample bosom in tight swimsuits. Or ample junk in tight swimsuits. And himself.
http://www.zahrielomega.net/hasselhoff-charmingdevil.jpg

And his trademark hair do - the Hoffman is in

And his trademark hair do - the Hoffman is in
Abbie? You mean Michael "Savage" Weiner's ol' buddy? The guy who gets blamed in the new Tool album?



Oh btw, on topic ... yes, i believe one person can make a difference.

“Be the change you want to see in the world.”

No, no one person can change anything. I realized that today. Reality finally kicked in today. I realized that no matter how good one's intentions are, or what dreams one may have, that person will not make even a dent on the world. That is why I have given up on life. Meh, stupid life.:headbang:

Oh, btw, for those that read the white. This is my last post. wanted to go out silently, not with a goodbye thread Have fun!

but what if your view point so influenced an individual to make a fundamental impact on the world and they had the drive and tenacity that you lack they could make the difference that you were striving for. And that is the meaning of life :)

This is a favorite catchphrase of motivational speakers and whatever. Do you think that an individual can make a significant difference to a whole society? In what situations:

- Will an individual make a large impact on the whole human society, even without much effort.

OF COURSE!! Just Look Bush. :D

He spent half of his first presidency on holidays, and look what a fuss kicked up!

Are you kidding? Just look what I've done to this forum! :)