Writer's Block: Take Your Chances

[velvetpage]

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Yes, I do, on one condition: that they're trying to improve the situation for next time.

I had a poster many years ago, an early version of an lolcat, that had a picture of a kitten in a difficult situation (peering wetly out of a watering can and looking miserable, I believe) that said, "Be patient, God isn't finished with me yet." So long as you're not writing off nasty behaviour as the "way you are" and claiming you can't help it, you'll get a second chance to fix it from me.

Now, heaven help you if you try to tell me that your bad behaviour is someone else's fault, or whatever. I can lecture as only a teacher can.

Comments

[morpheus0013.livejournal.com]

The kid you describe must have a tough life, if that's the way he approaches it. I feel bad for him, but I can also understand why people likely don't bother with him too much.

I'm always torn on these things. It's another of those issues many people seem to go all-or-nothing on: if you extend some understanding of circumstance, you're excusing behavior. If you don't extend any understanding of circumstance, you're a heartless ass. I think I'm more of a gradient type; there are differences between an excuse and an explanation.

[velvetpage.livejournal.com]

I try to use the gradient variation, too, and sometimes it gets me into trouble; I have more difficulty than some teachers getting kids to hand in work on time, for example.

And yes, that kid does have a hard life in a lot of ways, most of them not his fault.