Dealing with

BY RODRIGO M. SALON JR

BSED MATH II-A

GEC 108 - ETHICS

1. YOUR FRIEND HAS A GREAT SENSE OF HUMOR. HOWEVER,
SOMETIMES HIS JOKES INVOLVE MAKING FUN OF OTHERS IN
INAPPROPRIATE WAYS. HE WILL POINT OUT A PHYSICAL FLAW OR LOOK
FOR SOMETHING ODD OR DIFFERENT ABOUT A PERSON AND MAKE AN
UNKIND COMMENT. YOU FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE WHEN YOUR FRIEND
DOES THIS. DO YOU SAY SOMETHING OR JUST LAUGH ALONG WITH
HIM?

Step 1: GATHER THE FACTS

The situation implies that due to my friend’s excessive sense of

humor, it reach the point that he is blurting out words that may hurt the

people he is talking to. Likewise, I am aware that as he make those

unpleasant commentaries, the people around him could think of him

indifferently and eventually left him out.

On the other hand, as his friend, I am being in between of either

supporting him with his hilarity or putting up a hint of respect and

discipline with his attitude.

Step 2: DETERMINE THE ETHICAL ISSUES

In this circumstance, sympathy, righteousness, integrity, acceptance,

and the audacity to support our loved ones are being considered. Given

the scenario, we can comprehend that the extremity of how long we can

tolerate someone close to us is being challenged. In contrast with this,

our affirmation towards being proper and kind is being questioned,

specifically when it comes to taking a stand against the improper

manners manifested by my friend or the guy portrayed on the moral

dilemma stated above.

Hence, we are dealing with the context of supporting my friend

despite of his improper actions or correcting him with the possibility of

losing him as my friend.

GEC 108 - ETHICS

Step 3: IDENTIFY THE PRINCIPLES THAT HAVE A BEARING ON THE
CASE

Principles:

1) Everyone have the right to have liberty in terms of our actions.

2) People are free to feel insulted whenever they feel so, hence, they

have the right defend themselves.

3) One shall take actions on the things that is erroneous in his

perspective.

Crucial Question:

Is the jokes and comments of my friend worst enough for me to confront

him about this?

Some may claim:

His statements are mere jokes and we shall not look on it seriously.

Worst Scenario:

I would be able to tell him the the things that he need to understand,

however, he might be offended and throw away our friendship. On the

other hand, if I support him we will remain friends but a lot of people

would be hurt by his words, and no one will ever want to socialize with us

again.

Step 4: LIST THE ALTERNATIVES

As an assessment to the situation, we can came up with two varying

solutions.

1) First, I should confront my friend about his actions and try to make him

understand that it is so uncomfortable to watch him disrespect others.

2) Second, I could just let him do his thing, and support and accept him

with all I can as his friend.

Other Solutions:

l Tell him to not joke about someone’s physical characteristics in

general, and instead, laugh about other things.

l Talk to the people he is talking to and tell them to compromise or

ignore the side comments of my friend.

GEC 108 - ETHICS

Step 5: COMPARE ALTERNATIVES WITH PRINCIPLES

If I choose the first solution, I would violate the principle one. While,

if I pick the second solution I will fail to fulfill the second and third

principles. However, the option that can accomplish all the principles is

to just warn my friend about making jokes out of one’s physical features.

Step 6: ASSESS THE CONSEQUENCES

Since the ideas above are immensely opposite, their results are also

known to be diversified.

1) I should confront my friend about his actions and try to make him

understand that it is so uncomfortable to watch him disrespect others.

The action to be taken could result our friendship to be over because

he might be offended with my opinion about him.

This solution could also knock some senses out of him and he can

finally realize that he is wrong and insensitive.

There would also be a possibility that he will now stop with his

extreme sense of humor.

2) Second, I could just let him do his thing, and support and accept him

with all I can as his friend.

The second solution could result to us being best buddies as I

support him with his thing.

However, the repercussions of our misdeed could lead to a lot of

people being hurt.

People will avoid us for our attitudes.

3) Tell him to not joke about someone’s physical characteristics in

general, and instead, laugh about other things.

He would be aware of his mistake, however, the possibility between

him stopping his immense humor and him continuing it is fifty-fifty.

We will remain friends.

There is a huge possibility that less people will be affected.

GEC 108 - ETHICS

 Step 7: MAKE A DECISION

In this case, I can see no barriers between the possible options. As a

person with integrity, I will rely on the first solution. It is the best thing to

do because as a friend who values our relationship, all I want to do is to

always guide and direct him to what is right. By being true to him and to

my perspective, we can both be indulge with our actions and somehow

change it for ourselves and for other people. I always believe that if

someone is truly dignified with your friendship, he or she will never be a

bad influence to you or let you be someone unethical. Nonetheless, if

taking this decision would mean that he will end our friendship, I will

wholeheartedly accept and settle for it. At least, I would not have any

regrets of not trying to correct him.

GEC 108 - ETHICS

1. OVER THE SUMMER, YOU BECAME FRIENDS WITH A PERSON WHO

MOVED TO YOUR TOWN. YOU HAVE THE SAME INTEREST, LIKE THE SAME

MUSIC AND MOVIES, AND HAVE HAD A GREAT DEAL OF FUN. HOWEVER,

YOUR NEW FRIEND IS NOT ATTRACTIVE AND VERY LOUD. WHEN SCHOOL

STARTS, YOU ARE EMBARRASSED BY THE WAY YOUR FRIEND ACTS. DO

YOU REMAIN FRIENDS OR DROP THE RELATIONSHIP?

Step 1: GATHER THE FACTS

In the given situation, it is said that I have a new friend that has the same

interest as mine. But despite this fact, I am being bothered with his

loudness and physical characteristics. With this, I am going to choose

whether I will still accept him as a friend or will I drop our relationship

over my reasons.

This implies the fact that I am being stoned with a moral dilemma

because I am in between of siding with my own opinion and preferences,

or valuing our friendship and trying to accept his flaws.

Step 2: DETERMINE THE ETHICAL ISSUES

With this situation, some values will be involved like acceptance, respect,

self-control, and integrity. The first three values that I have said will

challenge me for it is the things needed to address my opinions about

him. On the other hand, I will face the last value that I have said which is

given to be integrity because as I continue to put up with my perspective

I might hurt or offend him eventually.

Thus, the conflict in this situation is my rights for my perspectives against

my obligations as his friend.

GEC 108 - ETHICS

Step 3: IDENTIFY THE PRINCIPLES THAT HAVE A BEARING ON THE
CASE

Principles:

1. Each and everyone of us have the rights to have our own likings and

preferences.

2. People are ought to be respected and accepted regardless of their

attributes.

Crucial Question:

Does my opinions are big enough to let go of my friend?

Some may claim:

My friend's action is natural and nothing should be shy about it.

Worst Case Scenario:

Once I’ve drop my friend due to my reasons, he might be extremely mad

at me for treating him like that. However, if I’ll continue to be his friend,

people might think of me hilariously for having him as my friend.

Step 4: LIST THE ALTERNATIVES

In this given circumstance, I only have two options to decide with.

1) First is to stood strong with my integrity and perspectives about him,

never minding the fact that he would be hurt and offended by my

actions against him.

2) In the other extreme, the second option is to wholeheartedly accept

his flaws and imperfections for he is my friend, regardless the fact that I

am in-violating my principles and opinions.

Other Solution:

I could avoid him in school and just talk to him whenever we meet

outside of the said vicinity.

Request him to change his self for me, specifically when it comes to

his appearance and loudness.

GEC 108 - ETHICS

Step 5: COMPARE ALTERNATIVES WITH PRINCIPLES

Given the said choices, we can understand that if I choose the first one, I

would be contradicting the second principle, since following my ideals

would mean disrespecting him as a person. On the other hand, if I will

accept him fully, I would then disobey my own standards and

conceptions which is in according with the first principle.

Moreover, the other solutions would not make a great result for I think

they are too shallow to address the problem.

Step 6: ASSESS THE CONSEQUENCES

The stated choices would give us a varying results.

1) First is to stood strong with my integrity and perspectives about him,

never minding the fact that he would be hurt and offended by my

actions against him.

For the first one, it would result to broken friendship with him, since I

am aware that he will be hurt by my thoughts and ideas about him,

he would probably feel betrayed.

Nonetheless, without him around, the embarrassment that he made

me feel will also be gone.

2) In the other extreme, the second option is to wholeheartedly accept

his flaws and imperfections for he is my friend, regardless the fact that I

am in-violating my principles and opinions.

On the other hand, if I will choose the second option, our friendship

will remain.

However, I think I would need to undergo the long process of fully

accepting him holistically.

GEC 108 - ETHICS

3) I could avoid him in school and just talk to him whenever we meet

outside of the said vicinity.

This would mean that I do not need to deal with the embarrassment.

My friend would be confuse with my actions and this can cause us to

drift apart.

4) Request him to change his self for me, specifically when it comes to

his appearance and loudness.

He might and might not follow me, which means that there is no

assurance that we can fix the problem.

He will be transformed into someone who is not him at the first

place.

Step 7: MAKE A DECISION

To sum it up, I am putting my whole bet to the second option. As I

weighed things out, I have understand that it is the best thing to do

given that I am his friend and there are baggages that are included with

our relationship. To be his friend is to fully accept him, by dropping him, I

just prove him and myself that I am not worthy of the friendship. Other

than that, we all live with the notion that people is made for others, if I

will not be accepting, respectful, and controlled, I will never be in

harmony with other people. This means that sometimes I will be in need

to break my principles so that I could be compassionate with other

people. Hence, as a solution to this dilemma, I will not drop my friend,

instead, I will accept and be proud of him.

GEC 108 - ETHICS