Taking Responsibility

How often these days do you hear someone say "It's not my fault"? I'd be willing to bet it occurs almost daily. It's the wave of the future. There's a reason for everything you do, and none of those reasons lead to personal accountability.

I am not sure when this started. All I know is that between the time I was a kid to when I became an adult, everything bad someone does can now be conveniently tied to a disorder, a disease, or some other external force that the person has no control over.

That's a load of bullshit.

Now, I'm not saying that there are not times when you are not in control of your behavior There are disorders that people literally cannot help being incapable of either functioning properly. But these disorders are biologically proven, and normally relate to a lack within the mind or body of the individual. But these days, everything is an addiction or a disorder.

Cheat on your spouse? Oh, you can't help it, you're a sex addict. Drink too much? Oh, you can't help it, you're addicted to alcohol. Can't focus on your work? Oh, you can't help it, you're ADHD. A nice pigeon hole for everyone's failures, but no one stops to think that all these holes are all within the control of the individual. Yet, we give them the excuse to shift their responsibility off to something beyond their direct influence.

The truth is that, barring some physical defect that creates the issue, the person is perfectly capable but unwilling to control their behavior. We, as a society, have to start holding people accountable for their own actions. Instead of blaming all around you, take ownership for what you contribute to an issue, and then assign blame only if something is truly beyond your control.

The passing of the buck extends beyond disorders now. It extends to everything we do. No one is at fault for what they do. They seek to pin blame on someone or something else. Those who do must be called out on it. We need to stop coddling the world, stop awarding mediocrity, and start having winners and losers again. We need to start making people pay for their choices instead of giving them an out. Consequences are a part of life. It's time to stop running from them.