Nature vs Nurture

I tend to believe that there are those who have the ability to learn easier than others. The intelligence factor. I have dealt with many people over the years and have found that it is easier to teach certain concepts to some than it is others. But alas i agree that education is the solution. Educating people that they do infact have alot of differnt choices in how to act in any situation and that those choices will have an effect on the desired outcome. I try to learn something new everyday as well as pass on something that I have learned. I learn more in the passing of information sometimes. It is up to the individual to make the most out of life as you say. We however can give them the tools they need to succeed.

Education is very important, but I disagree with the idea that everyone gets a fair share of fortunes and misfortunes. And there truly are some people out there who are just born into a bad situation and are not able to get out of it, not for lack of trying.

This is a difficult decision to come to. I believe in personal responsibility and personal choice, yet I have experienced being brought up in an unstable household where violence was normal as well as lying, cheating and conning. Children are very impressionable. I had to learn to eat, speak and an assortment of other things via my parents. They also taught me to swear, smoke and an array of bad traits. They never taught me about personal responsibilty as they never took responsibility for their own actions. They always blamed some outside source. I learned the better qualities that I have developed over time from others who cared enough to try and understand why I was a bad apple. Those same people also helped me understand why my parents were the way they were. I have learned to forgive in the process. Healing is a long process and is only hindered by blaming, complaining, nagging, etc. Good food for discussion. I appreciate your post.

I guess one would first have to decide if peers (which would be environment) are considered nature? Is the nurture only from the parents? I agree, in that I think both roles play a part.

Which do you think has more of an effect on the outcome: the genetics or the people who surround the child?

By being able to turn around and do the exact opposite. If I were genetically programmed to be mean and hateful I could not in turn become a loving and kind person.

How can you be sure that everything you do is not somehow defined by genetics?

But maybe some people are genetically unable to tell the difference or even know whether they are being mean or kind...