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Comment by john_strinlai

8 hours ago

>you cant teach these,

you can absolutely teach those

… but you can’t force them to learn. Explicit instruction that isn’t backed by modeled behavior isn’t going to be very effective, IMO.

regardless of how you teach them, the kids will grow up just like their parents

  • parents are a huge factor, yes, but what you've said is not an absolute.

    my dad was an abusive alcoholic. i have never laid a hand on my kids. i am not just like my dad.

    • I think "exactly like their parents" and "exactly opposite their parents" are indeed the two most likely outcomes.

      (And congratulations on breaking the cycle. It's not easy.)

  • Religions lose half their members every generation, I believe the evidence is robust kids can pick a different path than their parents. You can guide, support, and nurture, but their personality is theirs once they reach escape velocity. Empathy and curiosity is brain structure though (the amygdala, broadly speaking).

    Drop in U.S. Religiosity Among Largest in World - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48634883 (additional citations)

    (parent)