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How much should someone's past influence something positive they've done in their life?

Example: if someone partakes in conversations that are racist during a time when rain was accepted or sexist when in a group of people who aren't offended by sexist comments, should their future actions be erased because they once did something we don't (and shouldn't) accept today?

Gilmore22 5 Apr 19
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We are all creatures of habit and at the same time prisoners of the moment. Things change. Something that was acceptable last year may not be kosher now. Everyone has to roll with the changes to a certain extent. People change like the weather and a society must allow a chance for redemption.

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The real issue is that, while the past may suggest issues in the future, people absolutely have to be allowed to change. If someone used to do something ages ago, but hasn't since then, we can assume they're not that same person any longer. If you are perpetually held guilty forever, and there's no path to redemption, where you can never change, then there's no benefit for changing. Why would anyone stop doing something if they're going to be punished for it forever? May as well keep doing the thing, whatever it is.

We absolutely must have a society that allows for people to be rewarded for having done the right thing, and for their good to matter. If all you can do is tear people down over the smallest infraction, especially something they obviously wouldn't do any longer, then we have no capacity for society to improve. The lack of improvement turns into a lack of hope because there's no hope that things will improve, and that leads to destructive tendencies. If you have no hope in your own life, you become suicidal or your body just gives out on its own, because you need to believe things will eventually get better. If you have no hope in society ever improving, then you destroy society itself. Which is exactly what we're seeing - the same people who want to remove all potential options for anyone to become better than they were, are the same people who want to completely destroy society at a fundamental level.

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depends on the severity of the act in question. Say If some random real estate mogul does a silly radio talk show where the shtick is irreverent, maybe even vulgar humor is used for laughs and ratings...and suppose in this silly interview this random real estate mogul says something like "...grab em by the pussy"....now jump ahead; lets say 10 years and this random real estate mogul somehow has taken up residence in the White House...who knew?! right? so, here he is sitting at his desk in the oval office and opens a news paper and much to his chagrin and surprise the front page lead story says something like this: President real estate mogul is a misogynist pig!..."grab em by the pussy!" Impeach him! I mean, who could've seen this coming, right? So should this guy be impeached or should everyone just cool their heals a bit, get a sense of humor and set their resources on something else...I don't know; like maybe Russian Collusion or some stupid narrative like that...

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I think you have to look at the whole picture of someone's life and public career. Society is not very forgiving but that doesn't mean that we can't be. The govt of Virginia is an example of someone that I think is a crap human being for his radical abortion views. That said, I doubt that he is an actual racist. One year book photo shouldn't define him for his life. Especially if he spent his life as a doctor serving under-served minority communities.

The problem is that the left in this country has staked out such wild positions when it relates to their treatment of those on the right that then they either have to ignore the issues with those of their same ideology or they must eat their own, and I have seen examples of both, but mostly the former.

I believe in public redemption, especially if it is sincere.

Agreed. Joe Biden is another example. He's a silly bastide but he didn't harm anyone. However, he promotes the kind of stupidity that is nailing him so it's really his fault.

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What. Since when being a realist is racist, sexist, homophobic, islamaphobic and any other crap excuse for a bleeding heart.

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I think we all know the answer. It's only racist if you're white and only important if you're not a leftist.

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If "they" want to build a case against someone, they will. If you refused to sit next to the little black kid in pre-school because he liked to pinch people, it will come back on you like a title wave and it will be because you are racist not because you didn't like to be pinched.

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Words are words and the average person throws ALOT of them around in MANY different social and political situations. Judge character by action.

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I think generally people are and should be willing to forgive a lot as long as you can demonstrate that you've changed and you understand why your past words or actions were wrong. Christian Piccoioini [en.wikipedia.org] and Derek Black [washingtonpost.com] come to mind.

What about someone who has since passed away?

@LaylaLee22 Not sure what you're referring to, but I think you need to accept the bad with the good. Accept people in all of their complexity and within the context of the times. Try not to demonize but don't lionize either. Learn from their mistakes. Even Gandhi had flaws.

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No influence whatsoever.
Other than the notion that past behaviour is the best predictor of future behaviour.
For your particular nuance, the frequency of displays of a given behaviour is an even better predictor for the future. Something done 10 times yesterday compared to done once thirty years ago is a major distinction. Also the opportunities someone has to display a given behaviour, compared to the number of times that behaviour was displayed, is a major determinant for the future. Is tiger woods a philanderer or does he just have more opportunities given his wealth and fame? Do you think he's slept with everyone woman that he could? I had a 25 yr faithful marriage but I can say accurately that I've slept with every woman that would let me.
Like most issues, this isn't yes or no, black or white - it has SIGNIFICANT shades of grey.

I was actually thinking something exactly on these lines and reminded of a comedy sketch on the exact Tiger Woods issue you pointed out. I will never know the level of temptation he had around women, money, drugs, or whatever else humans can engage in. I am not saying that we can't look and know but I am completely on board with what you said, context matters.

@DaddyBob It was Ron White. and he said it much funnier but I get a lot of my "material" from stand up... lol

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