When has the common sense and decency left America?
Ah, I see. Do all Americans have the same values?
Come on, Stefan. You're better than that. You know better than that.
You remain silent when your colleague drinks and drives.
What I said was: I don't lecture them about how many people they are going to kill or how dangerous it is. How did you get from there to 'remain silent'?
There are questions I would ask. With substance abuse, there is a technique called motivational interviewing which has a well-validated record of success. There are other techniques for dealing with people who are very angry and unreasonable; I know some of these, though many are outside my scope of competence or practice. I am eager to learn more, though the more advanced techniques are difficult to master.
Imminence is a factor in threat assessment. Is the person going to do something right now? Or are they just talking? The OP said he has ridden his bike at 60 MPH, not "I am going to go do this right now." Right now, he's riding his bike at 30-40 MPH.
What got him to slow down?
That is what you would want to find out. Once you know that, you have something to work with. If you are thoughtful and persistent, it may be possible to change someone's behavior in a meaningful, long-lasting way.
If a client or a colleague is
right about to get in their car when they are drunk, I still do not lecture them. I don't quote statistics to them, or call them a killer because
it is pointless to try to reason with someone who is intoxicated, or with someone who is very angry or otherwise unreasonable.
In this situation, what I would do is stop them. In most situations, I would call the police. If I were physically able to take their keys, and could do so without injuring myself or someone else, obviously that is what I would do first. In a clinical setting, we will get private security to take the keys, and then call a cab or Uber.
If you behave impulsively in these situations-- as you did when you responded to my post-- you are likely to make the situation worse. The first step is to avoid getting worked up yourself! Think first, then act (or post.)
When was the last time you were in America to see this happen? Your generalizations of what happens here is being clouded by what the news seems to be feeding you versus the rest of us normal caring Americans that try to do the right things and help our communities. Please stop getting sucked into the propaganda.
edit. My Polish Grandmother that survived Hitler would be so ashamed of you.
I understand the sentiment, and I agree it could be anti-American propaganda, but we don't know if that is why he's being even more oppositional than usual! He may not know himself. I consider Stefan a friend. I don't know why he's behaving this way.
