Today you read the "Belonging" in class. Pleasse answer the following questions:
How important is it to you to "look right?" To "act right?" To "fit in?" How do you feel when you don't belong? How does it affect your self-esteem? When in a child's development is he or she most vulnerable to issues related to "in" and "out" group behavior? Are adolescents more or less vulnerable than young children? Would you have joined the Hitler Youth if you lived in Germany at the time? Why or why not?
26 comments:
I think that I would have joined the Hitler Youth if I lived in Germany at the time only because it was mandatory. I'd like to think that I wouldn't have actually supported it. I guess it is important to me to fit in but I don't think that it controls everything I do. I think that young children are more vulnerable because they don't know anything more than what adults tell them, while adolescents have the opportunity to believe what they want.
I also think I would have joined the Hitler youth groups. The reason for this is because ordinary citizens were so influenced by Hitler that they would do anything to help him. Most citizens felt no wrong doing when swearing an oath to Hitler, and I think it would be hard not to especially when your entire nation is doing so. I believe childeren are more vulnerable just because they don't have opinions quite yet. Adults develop opinions over time and use their consciousness to lead them to a decision. Overall, childeren are vulnerable, which was displayed clearly in Germany during the 1930's and 40's
I think it was only inevitable for children to join the Hitler Youth. Children don't know any better at their young age, but that's not the only reason. Hitler easily brainwashed the people of Germany. It really wasn't a matter of fitting in, if you were not like the Nazis wanted you to be in, they felt the need to shun you from society or harm you anyway, I learned this when reading about the Jew in school today. Hitler and the other Nazis certainly went beyond peer pressure. Fitting in for me isn't a big deal because I tend to be independent, but being independent during Hitler's rule wasn't permitted.
For me, I don't care too much about what I wear or how I act. At the same time, I put in enough effort to be accepted. And I feel that if it was either join Hitler Youth or be shunned, I might have joined. However, I believe that I would never actually know what I would decide unless actually living that aweful experience. Also, I think that adolescent kids are more vulnerable because they're starting to change and friendship groups are probably shifting. They're insecure, whereas kids are generally more accepting unless taught differently by their parents.
I don't think that I would have joined Hitler's youth. I am not one to join the crowd. I don’t really mind if I do not fit in. But I think that a lot of kids do certain things to fit in. I also think that there is pressure from a lot of kid’s parents to do things especially since children are very vulnerable. This is because when kids are really young they always do what their parents say. Children do not know what is right or wrong, they just automatically agree with their parents. This is displayed in the 1930's-1940s when the children of Germany joined Hitler's Youth, partly because their parents influence.
If I lived in Germany at the time I think I wouldn't want to join the Hitler Youth group, but because it was mandatory I would have had to like Alecia said. To me it isn't that important to look right, but it is important to act right in the sense of giving respect to certain people such as teachers, bosses, etc. I don't care about acting right around friends because you shouldn't have to worry about your friends judging the way you act. I don't think it makes that much of a impact on my self-esteem, I don't think you can let others make you feel a certain way about yourself. I believe that the Hitler Young group focused on the correct age group, young children who like Mackenzie said don't know the difference between what is right and wrong. The group took advantage of the children's vulnerability, because young children believe whatever they are told by an adult. If the group tried to focus on adults, the ideas Hitler was trying to spread would be put into question because adults form more of an opinion, and know the difference between what is right and what is wrong.
If I lived in Germany at the time of Nazi rule, i would have joined the Hitler Youth Group because it was mandatory and if i didn't i would be threatened to join. People were force to join these groups because they wanted to be just like everyone else and they wanted to be belong. During this time people did not want to join the youth groups becasue it would go againest their religous beliefs
I think I would have joined the Hitler Youth because there was so much pressure if you don't believe in their rules and ways of living you would be pressured even more to belong to this program. Eventhough I wouldn't agree with the beliefs of Hitler I would pretend to believe in what he said so i wouldn't get beaten. The frustrating thing is that Hitler controls the little kids minds by making them join this program and making them believe in his rules. I think that Hitler shouldn't be able to control these kids they should be able to believe in what they want to believe in without getting punished.
I don't think that I would have joined the Hitler Youth if i lived in Germany at the time because I think that I would feel guilty picking on one group of people and the guilt over time would get to me. I think that there isn't a perfect image to fit into. However, I think that it is important to me to look decent and too my standards. Also not to look extremely different than the rest of society. I guess its important for me to fit in. I think adolescents are more vulnerable than young children because of pressure and temptations that are new to them in society.
In the circumstances of today Im sure i would have joined the group as well. BEcause in society now-a-days it is imporatant to fit in and act the same in everyway possible. Usually the outsiders are looked at as outcasts and it was the same in that society. Kids and other people joined the youth group out of trying to fit into society as well i think i would have done the same because I feel it is important to fit in and be one with society so you feel wanted and feel as though you deserve to be part of that society and not torchered or be an outcast and made fun of because to a person that really gets to yuo and will hurt you as a person mentally and physically.
Although I would not have wanted to I think I would have joined Hitler's Youth. Everyone was joining it so I think I would have to fit in. It is pretty important to fit in if you do not you are an outcast and people look at you differently. As a kid I do not think you think about fitting in. However once you are older you become aware and want to fit in more. When you don't fit in like Nick said, it "will hurt you as a person mentally and physically." I think people should be themselves and not care about fitting in.
I think I would have joined the Hitler Youth if I were to go back and live in Germany during that time. The reason for this is because it was mandatory. I agree with Kirker when he says "To me it isn't that important to look right, but it is important to act right in the sense of giving respect to certain people such as teachers, bosses, etc. I don't care about acting right around friends because you shouldn't have to worry about your friends judging the way you act." Kids are usually more accepting of others unless taught differently by there parents. I wouldn’t want to have my life at risk if I refused to join.
I think it is fairly important to look and act right along with fitting in. When I feel that I don't belong, it makes me feel awkward and isolated. My self-esteem would be effected negatively because I am not in a comftorable situation. I think adolescents and children (for the most part) are equally vulnerable as long as there is a more powerful figure than them telling them what to do.
On an everyday basis, it is very important to me to always "look right" or "presentable" as my dad would say and also to "act right". First impressions, no matter what people say are based on how the person looks. Depending on how much time you take to compose an opinion of a person, the first thought comes from the person's appearance and following that is how the person acts, towards you and others. These two things are important to most people because they define you and shape your reputation. It is also important to me to "fit in" however not as much as the previous two things. It isn't as important to me because I want to be me not just act like the group. To put it bluntly, it just sucks when you feel like you don't belong. Nobody wants to feel left out, whether you're a little kid or an adult. People need company and friendship so naturally people try to "fit in" because when you feel left out you tend to feel sad and alone. I think all ages are affected by feeling left out of group but especially teens and andolescents because it's a very difficult age for a number of reasons. To be honest, I don't know for sure if I would've joined the Hitler youth because I am not easily persuaded, it would depend on many things.
-Jena Ward
I agree with Alecia and Eric and just about everyone else in that, I most likely would have joined the Hitler Youth Group. I think that even if it was against what I believe, I would be fearful of death and being removed from societies. It is unfortunate that I feel this way and this was the reality of many young children in Germany at this time. It is very important in our society and the society of that time period to fit in and look and act right. People were afraid to die and afraid to lose everything. You don't want to labeled as an outcast because then it is hard to get rid of that label as it is to get rid of any label. I also agree with Dan in that it was inevitable that every child would join the group. Even if they didn't want to, their parents may have made them because they wouldn't want to be outcast as well.
If I were living during the times of Hitler ruling, I would have definetly joined the Hitler Youth not because I would have wanted to but because of the influences around me of everyone joining. So many people are influenced by other because they care so much about what people think about, so they joined the Hitler Youth because they wanted to be like everyone else and because they have absolutely no choice. The Children of Germany listened to their elders because they were to young to stand for anything else they believed in so they followed the Hitler Youth.
it is easy for me to say that i would not have joined the german youth since i am half jewish and thus would not be allowed membership. However if i had been born "aryan" it would ave been much harder for me to resist the HY. peer pressure is a very powerful force and as much as we like to think that we are imune to its power everyone cares to an extent what others think of them.
I agree with many of the other posts. I believe that I would have joined the HItler Youth only becasue I would be too afreaid not to. I believe that teenagers can be more easily manipulated, and that Hitler used this fact to his advantage. Self esteme is low at these ages anyways, and teens would be more apt to do whatever is necissary to fit in. I believe that it is hard for me to compare my personal self esteme in different ages of life, seeing as I am still a teenager, but I can understand how teens would do a lot of things to fit in and be accepted.
It honestly depends on the day for how important to me it is to "look right", "act right", and "fit in". I think most of the time it's not that important to me. However, there are some days where it's hard to keep my sense of self and I find myself worrying about looking/acting right and fitting in. Not belonging is a terrible feeling. I think most people feel ashamed and alone when they don't belong. I think not belonging significantly affects people's self esteem in a negative way. I think adolescents are more vulnerable than young children because they have a better understanding of what is going on around them and what the consequences are if they don't conform to the the wants of society. I obviously don't actually know what I would do unless I was actually put into that situation but I wouldn't have joined the Hitler Youth if I lived in Germany at the time. I wouldn't join because I don't support Hitler in any way, shape, or form. Although there could be even deathly consequences of not joining, I don't think I would be able to live with myself knowing I was showing support for a man who I hated. I don't like being fake and there is no way I would be living a happy life pretending I agree with the ridiculous ideas and thoughts of Hitler. Also, I would try to get others to protest Hitler's Youth with me. Sometimes all it takes is one person to go against the norm before everyone starts to do the same.
I dont believe fitting in, acting right, or looking right are important to me. I like to be different from other people and not just be another brick in the wall. Young children and adolesants are by far the most vulnerable people. You can tell them anything and they will believe you. At the time it doesnt seem like people had any choice in joining the Hilter Youth program. In that case I would join the Hitler Youth because I had to but I would not be happy about it at all.
To me it is not that big of a deal to look right. However in some situations there is a certain dress code for respect that I believe should be followed. There is no right way to act, each person has their own interpretation of the right way to act. There is always some pressure to fit in, however everyone is different in and the same in their own way, so by being yourself you will fit in somewhere. Everyone is equally vulnerable to the pressures of fitting in.
i think that hitler was try to hard to have every one be the same all those camp for the youth to train and be like him thats to much for me
i think that hitler is trying to hard to have every one look like him. with all of the camps and every thing just to make the higher power happy, thats too much.
i think hityler was trying to hard to make people all the same. with all of those groups/ camp things to make the him happy. thats to mkuch for me
Children felt forced to join the hitler youth and they were. I wouldve been in it just to make sure I was safe and supported during this time. Young children are easy to influence or brainwash so the Hitler youth really screwed kids up.
post above this post is eric thomas'.
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