Can People Change?

[RighteousRob]

Now I already have an idea what people are going to say about this but I think it could be fun to debate so lets see where it goes.

Do you believe people are capable of changing a part of themselves COMPLETELY. notice completely is emphasized. Lets take alcoholics for example. Sure i'm not arguing that people can't stop drinking, but even if an alcoholic doesn't have a drink for the rest of their life maybe it is just because they didn't live long enough. There are different degrees of change, and most of them are attainable but to me it seems that regardless of how much a person changes there will always remain a small part of the person they used to be.

[Draconda]

I belive anyone can change themself, if they'd want to. In my own expirience i have changed a lot in the past years. I'm not the same person as i used to be. I'd explain how ive changed, but its bit of a personal matter and i don't want to go into details ^^ V

[uekipheonix]

Yes they can. In-fact I believe it in this way.

People change day by day. You are not the same person you were yesterday and you will be a different person tomorrow. The change might be so insignificant that its barely noticeable but still people slowly keep on changing for better or worst.

the frequency and phase of those changes depend on these reasons

1. Environment you live in
2. Aging ( this has alot to do with change in mental growth and understanding )
3. random people you meet
4. people around you ( family, friends, lovers )
5. sudden events / accidents

and so on.

tho I assume this topic is about people who wants to change in the sense of " turning over a new leaf ".

That is very possible. for example a person who is addicted to drugs can re establish himself/herself as a better person with a strong will. Only problem will be the attitude of the society towards them. but even if that is negative as long as you try hard nothing is impossible ^^

[RighteousRob]

yea I had meant more along the lines of a drastic type of change, a change in which part of your personality changes. Of course there are mental illnesses that have this affect, and psychological trauma can also, but I meant through sheer force of will, not from some outside interference.

most addicts say that they will always remain addicts, even when they have stopped using it doesn't really mean you've changed psychologically, it just means you have gained some control over your own urges or desires, but you are still the same person you were before.

[SamUzumaki]

of course peaple can change sometimes you even will think about what you will do in the future and think a lot when you got nothing to do and some peaple are forced to change because they dont like their attitude every1 thinks about their lives sometimes xD. its up to your self what attitude you will get xD

[x-pan]

Can people change? some can and some can't. The more normal or boring someone's life is the less likely they are to change because they feel happy. Then again, there are people whose lives are not happy, but they are content or just don't have the strength to change their lives or themselves. Then those that do change, change only on the surface (i.e. are able to control their vices) or genuinely change (i.e. someone becomes a monk).

[Candy_Romance]

No they cannot completely change. What they have done or did long ago will always be a part of them. We change all the time but every change becomes a part of us and so no you can't change completely. You may have learned from that lesson or action but you were still that person long ago. Once you've done something I doubt you can take it back....It's just my opinion but deep down there's gotta be that person you used to be....it may not be someone you were proud of but yeah....

[Deekle]

I think people can change, but it is gradual. Change is possibly with a lot of time. Sudden drastic change usually is too fast and puts the changer in a bad situation. But yes, people can change.

[Kaiser7]

no. no. just no. you may say you have changed and it may look that way, but you are still the same person from before. i used to cry all the time and now i don't, but i'm still one of those who gets stomped on from time to time. i just don't cry anymore, but i still feel the same...

[Draconda]

You have to make these kind of changes happen. Nothing won't change by itself.