Life Lessons from Minecraft: Are People Inherently Good or Bad?
Dear Son,
I'm sure you've been asking yourself the question, "Are people inherently good or bad?" a lot lately, given all that has been happening in the world. Unfortunately, there's no easy answer to this question, but as a dad, I don't like giving you "I don't know" as an answer.
Let's put the discussion on a level that you can relate to - Minecraft. Minecraft is a game that can be played online with both friends and strangers. This opens up the possibility to you meeting and interacting with all sorts of people - and from all over the world.
In playing the game, there's no particular incentive to be bad to others, while on the other hand, being good to others and cooperating can help you to accomplish some pretty cool things. The fact remains that some people on the online world of Minecraft choose to be bad for no real good reason. I think real life is like this in a lot of ways, actually.
So, Are People Inherently Good or Bad?
Both.
I know, still not really an answer, huh? I'll give you two answers, because I honestly do feel that people are both good and bad. Sometimes the bad in others brings out the good in us.
People Can Be Bad
History tells us that some people have the capacity to be very, very bad. There have been unimaginable events that have taken place in the past that have been started by one or a few bad people. Take the terror attacks in Paris and California as two examples. The casualties from these attacks, in my view, were all innocent people. There was absolutely no reason to take these people's lives, or anyone else that was killed or injured during the attacks. Bad people are often very selfish and they do things without thinking about anyone but themselves. Do they regret what they've done afterward? Sometimes, perhaps. But not always. Lack of remorse or regret is one of the worst things that makes them bad people, in my opinion.
People Can Be Good, Too
Sometimes the worst in one person can bring out the best in others. We see this time and time again, whether it's the attack on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001 or the recent Boston Marathon bombings. The good in people comes out in both large and small ways. It's too bad that it often takes tragedy for the good to come out, though. If we could only remember that feeling we have during times of tragedy that brings us together on ordinary days, can you imagine how much better of a place this world would be?
Good or Bad Is Up To Me and You
It's a simple truth - it's up to each of us to decide if we want to be good or bad. Some may argue that it's not a choice; that people are genetically bad. Or they were raised in such an environment that that would make it impossible for them to be good.
I don't buy that, personally. I've seen and heard of people that have gone through unimaginable personal tragedies in their lives and they made the decision to learn from their experiences. They grew from their experiences. They didn't blame others or "the world" on what happened to them. They took that negative energy and turned it positive. They became better people. We all have that inside of us.
Love,
Dad
