3 ms·

How does being a victim imply that nothing can be done? It seems to me that the opposite could be the case. For example: If I'm the victim of a crime, the firs

by tdeck 6y ago

How does being a victim imply that nothing can be done? It seems to me that the opposite could be the case. For example: If I'm the victim of a crime, the first step to reporting the crime is acknowledging that fact. Certain categories of criminals (con artists and sexual abusers) rely on the fact that victims are often reluctant to acknowledge their victimhood, even to themselves. This allows those individuals' behavior to go unreported so they can prey on more people.

WalterBright 6y ago
> How does being a victim imply that nothing can be done? Because if you had no role in the matter, you couldn't have prevented it.
- harimau777 6y ago
  The fact that something in the past couldn't have been prevented doesn't mean that there's nothing to be done in the present. There's also the fact that often you couldn't have prevented it.
  - WalterBright 6y ago
    Being a victim is what reaction a person takes to events. If they believe that nothing could have been done, then they believe they are powerless.
    - juve935 6y ago
      This doesn't make sense - often times we are powerless. No amount of "not being a victim" is going to bring back your husband who died in a car accident, or a soldier who died in war, nor is being a victim either.
  - tailrecursion 6y ago
    It can be made less likely. It's the victim mindset that makes the victim believe it can't be prevented, which in turn prevents the person in question from making changes that will prevent problems in the future. Chicago cops frisking you all the time -- wear skin tight pants. Car accident -- use defensive driving techniques. Being shot and killed for sleeping at a Wendy's -- don't resist arrest. Wife divorced you, took your house and kids -- don't get married, OR, learn to discriminate. Sexist manager won't promote you -- join a company run by females, OR, start your own company. Pandemic -- move to the country. On the other hand, if you prefer not to solve your problems yourself, you can say "Why should I change, when other people are the ones doing something wrong", fold your arms, and wait for a man to solve your problem for you.

by tdeck 6y ago

WalterBright 6y ago

> How does being a victim imply that nothing can be done? Because if you had no role in the matter, you couldn't have prevented it.

harimau777 6y ago
The fact that something in the past couldn't have been prevented doesn't mean that there's nothing to be done in the present. There's also the fact that often you couldn't have prevented it.
- WalterBright 6y ago
  Being a victim is what reaction a person takes to events. If they believe that nothing could have been done, then they believe they are powerless.
  - juve935 6y ago
    This doesn't make sense - often times we are powerless. No amount of "not being a victim" is going to bring back your husband who died in a car accident, or a soldier who died in war, nor is being a victim either.
- tailrecursion 6y ago
  It can be made less likely. It's the victim mindset that makes the victim believe it can't be prevented, which in turn prevents the person in question from making changes that will prevent problems in the future. Chicago cops frisking you all the time -- wear skin tight pants. Car accident -- use defensive driving techniques. Being shot and killed for sleeping at a Wendy's -- don't resist arrest. Wife divorced you, took your house and kids -- don't get married, OR, learn to discriminate. Sexist manager won't promote you -- join a company run by females, OR, start your own company. Pandemic -- move to the country. On the other hand, if you prefer not to solve your problems yourself, you can say "Why should I change, when other people are the ones doing something wrong", fold your arms, and wait for a man to solve your problem for you.