[mindmadness]

I stumbled across something on Reddit about a woman who didn't check the prices, bought 50 tons of newspapers about 50% higher than the price they were selling, and almost caused her business to fail. This made me more upset than I'd been in a long time, even when I read about rape. Because at least a rapist has a biological reason to do it, but why on Earth would someone make such a big business decision without checking the prices?

[TishaBuv]

Stupid is as stupid does.

There are a lot of people who read the news and get very upset about the goings-on. Why do you read news stories and let them upset you? Is it that you are trying to understand people?

The person that sold her the inflated papers, was motivated by greed and counting on other's stupidity. And they found someone. They say "There's a sucker born every minute." The woman who made a business decision that showed she had no idea what she was doing, fails at her business because she didn't do her due diligence in learning how to be successful at her business. She was just irresponsible, naive, a failure right out of the gate.

[dexter]

There are people who say "why do I have to learn math in school?" and then they go into business and fail because they can't do the math to figure out what 50 tons of newspapers should cost. And they will then blame it on anything but their own reluctance to embrace the skills they need to be successful in their life choices.

Some think they are entitled to success without research or work or understanding of what is involved. I think this is common in the business world... Folks see people making it really big and assume they can do the same without realizing all of the hard work and knowledge and perseverance that has to go in to it.

Sorry you are finding these stories so disturbing and disruptive. I find my depression often draws me to strange things (strange because they are unusual for me) and makes me obsess over them. Sometimes I can identify the reason.

[Frankbtl]

Hi mindmadness

I may be wrong but I can throw some thoughts out e.g. lack of business knowledge, having bad advice from others, intense pressure or stress from running the business causing "a slip up"............

But you say you are drawn to stories you find upsetting...........so maybe it's more important to think about the things/feelings in the stories that you can maybe identify with from your life or your experience??
When we've been "hurt" or are "hurting" sometimes we look for connections with others in similar positions.............so perhaps working more through some of the things you've experienced/are experiencing could help in you detaching yourself from those stories just enough not to be so personally hurt??
I'm not saying enough to stop caring or empathising but........just enough not to be so personally hurt...........

So what in each of these stories (and you don't have to answer on here!! ) pulls you too them/resonates with you specifically.............feelings of vulnerability..........feelings of powerlessness........feelings of being violated by others..........feelings of being cheated..........feelings of "getting things wrong"...........feelings or fears of loss...........something else...........??

So...........here's hoping things work out better in the future for/with that woman............but if we can help you with what you're going through..........we're here

Alison

[mindmadness]

Thanks, Alison. I'm bothered by supposedly good people doing things that are uncharacteristically bad. Adultery is always a good example. If you have an affair, do you really love your spouse? If you really loved your spouse, would you have had the affair? It's trying to figure out why on Earth someone would make a big decision involving loved ones without bothering to do basic research.

[Frankbtl]

Originally Posted by mindmadness

Thanks, Alison. I'm bothered by supposedly good people doing things that are uncharacteristically bad. Adultery is always a good example. If you have an affair, do you really love your spouse? If you really loved your spouse, would you have had the affair? It's trying to figure out why on Earth someone would make a big decision involving loved ones without bothering to do basic research.

Well the adultery question is one that can lead to massive debate with people and a lot of very conflicting opinions!!
So........I'll just say with that one.........I'd judge each case separately, bearing in mind all the circumstances.............and there may not be a "right" or "wrong" answer to that in every case.............it can be open to personal opinion.

Otherwise..........good people doing bad things...........again I'd say it can be a case by case thing and there can be as many different reasons as there are answers...........and unless it's really clear why, or we're up-close and personal to the situation we might never know all the contributing factors...........sometimes not even then..........
Some reasons though could be...........adverse personal experiences, having negative influences or factors in their lives, the effects of anxiety/stress/frustration/anger/depression, not having enough coping resources, misinterpreting situations, substance abuse or mental health issues (not saying that even the majority of people with these issues are going to do bad things though!!!)............and there will be loads more..........but sometimes even the best people are going to screw up from time to time (depending on the definition of "bad").............

But..........it's the fact that you're so bothered by this that's the biggest issue right now, yes??
Is it that you don't know how fully you can trust those around you, you're worried about unpredictability or things happening out of your control that could hurt you, you're worried about how fragile "goodness" can be, you feel the world can be a "scary" place, you're worried about how well you can "read" people..........???

Because some things you can defend yourself from, reduce possible hurt, or avoid finding yourself in the middle of............especially if you know that person well, and there are signs, and you know what to look for...........not always but...........and sometimes when you find out the specific reason that person has done something and if you can truely understand it/empathise they/it may not seem as bad as it first seemed.........sometimes...........
Some things are always going to be bad...........others..........maybe not so bad.......

Just some thoughts..............



Alison