POLL: What CAN change the nature of a man?

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Basically, to cut my choice short, I chose love as I personally think that love is tied in with most of the other options. If this doesn't make sense, say now and I'll try to ellaborate.

 

I think the 'real' one isn't on the list, according to a very wise person, who shall remain nameless, fear could change a man.

fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to SUFFERING

 

Suffering changes the nature of people.

Also drugs can - not neccesserily the bad type medicine can and electric shocks

 

Probably all of the above. Depending on the individual.
In my case, love and death both changed me profoundly.

 

8people - do drugs make a permanent change or are they a temporary fix? What happens then the medication is stopped?

Love takes many forms. Look at what happens to perfectly reasonable people when they become parents! Guilty as charged, BTW...

 

Definitely suffering.

 

Rallymama: Drugs do change the nature of the man permanently.

I doubt stupidity changes TNotM, because stupidity is everlasting, and stupid one does not change. It is learning and experience that enlightens a man. I also agree with all the love opinions.

Ssometimes I entertain the thought that everybody's nature is in him or her and all these events only trigger (not exactly the right word, sorry) some parts of his or her nature. For example a same experiences (holocaust) will change two men differently.

 

ArrynMorgerim, I recognize how addiction can change one's priorities and motivations. If that doesn't color your behavior and choices, not much will.

However, with my question I was thinking more of "therapeutic" psychotropics, administered under medical supervision. What happens when they're taken away? Are you left with someone different than the person who started the therapy? If not, can you say that the person truly changed under treatment or had a change forced upon them?

Thanks for pointing out the imprecision in my question.

 

What DOESN'T change the nature of a man? Every little experience, no matter how meaningless, changes you in at least some small way. I guess from the type of answers presented here that the common interpretation of the question is "what changes the nature of a man in a dramatic, obvious way?"

Of course, what's dramatic or obvious is kinda subjective, at least in my eyes.

[ December 17, 2002, 03:57: Message edited by: Judas ]

 

So I'm the only one that picked death?

By death I thought you meant a near-death experience. That can really change your outlook!

 

I believe that nothing can really change you without love - it can be love destroyed or love begun, but love is the center of all other dichotomys.

And no, I do not mean "eros," or romantic/erotic love, but the deeper love of the utmost soul of man, or the lack thereof.

 

Sex. No, not love, sex.

before: virginal man
after: non-virginal man

seems like a change in nature to me

 

*I* believe that it is hatred. Hatred is the most powerful force in the universe. It stems from greed, betrayal, understanding, knowledge, stupidity, and, most of all, from love. All things, on a long enough time line, lead to hatred. It is the single most powerful force on Earth, aside from God, but I won't go into that. Hatred built America, the hatred of unfair taxes, regulations, and a belief of superiority. Hatred almost lead to total genocide a number of times, most notably WW2. Hatred leads to death and suicide every day. I can't think of anything more powerful.

[ December 19, 2002, 17:57: Message edited by: Slith ]

 

But hate causes blindness, and paranoia so that the "hater" will trip over his own feet (Hitler to name one)

Suicide is not cause by hate, suicide is caused by fear and weakness

 

Well, the kind of person you are is affected by more than just love. The more ingredients the better, I say. Makes a deeper person out of you. And love is not the chief emotion, either. Far from it... Love is a lucky affair, for an astounding many. But anyway, due to some stuff I am working on, I can safely say suffering is huge. Suffering--whether it is a loss, a stumble downward, or a lonely, long hermitage, is enough to empty a person of all their warmth. You can inflict suffering on yourself, too, if you examine your inner self too much (and you can examine yourself too little, and you will suffer from ignorance).

And do not label something you have so little knowledge of and no wisdom for.
Quote: Arthur Schopenhauer
They tell us that suicide is the greatest piece of cowardice... that suicide is wrong; when it is quite obvious that there is nothing in the world to which every man has a more unassailable title than to his own life and person.

 

Every one of those things can. For me, it was love and growing up that made the biggest change in my life.

I can see suffering as the other big one, read Night by Elie Wiesel and you'll see my point there.

 

In a similar vein, Paingod by Harlan Ellison. That more then any other convinced me that suffering can change a man. Even though I did vote for love. (I think.)

 

@William
I didn´t say suicide was wrong, I said suicide was caused by fear and weakness, not by hate

If you associate fear and weakness with the concept "wrong", then you should not label something you have little knowledge and no wisdom for

[ December 20, 2002, 20:53: Message edited by: Morgoth ]