Of Eleanor Havig's second husband, Robert Anderson tells us that:
"Sven Birkelund meant well." (p. 21)
A fellow Lancastrian suggested "She meant well" as an ironic epitaph for a common acquaintance!
When I was training as a Careers Adviser, I observed two interviews conducted by a qualified Adviser. The first was with an ethereal girl who wanted to "help people." The second was with a focused young man who wanted a well-paid job. We enjoyed the contrast. Our job was not to make any value judgments but to help each of these clients to achieve their aims. Maybe the first client needed more help with clarifying aims.
Later, I had to help pupils who wanted to leave their Catholic school as soon as possible "to get away from the religion" and another who wanted to attend Cardinal Newman College because it was Catholic. We learned a measure of objectivity and neutrality. We helped the well-meaning and the self-interested.
7 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
That ethereal young lady could have studied nursing if wanting to help people was her goal!
Ad astra! Sean
Sean,
There are several kinds of caring jobs. We would have to discuss them all with her over a period of time.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
Of course, I thought of nursing simply off the top of my head.
Ad astra! Sean
Causing harm because you want to cause harm and doing so inadvertently while wishing the opposite is not exactly the same thing. OTOH, to the subject of the harm, the difference is academic.
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
And we both know what the road to hell is paved with!
There are times I'm so SICK of well meaning people who cause far more harm than not!
Ad astra! Sean
As the old saying goes, if someone has the fixed intent of doing you good, shoot the bastard dead.
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
I find it very hard to disagree with that! (Smiles)
Ad astra! Sean
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