Value and value systems Part 1
Building and Maintaining Value System
Values reflect a person's sense of right and wrong or what "ought" to be.
A value system refers to the order and priority an individual or society grants to ethical and ideological values.
A person's standards and self-discipline set.
Let us consider this short story in parts. This is part one.
Kindly post your views in the comment section and let us learn from you.
A group of children were playing near two railway tracks, one still in use while the other disused. Only one child played on the disused track, the rest on the operational track.
The train is coming, and you are just beside the track interchange. You can make the train change its course to the disused track and save most of the kids. However, that would also mean the lone child playing by the disused track would be sacrificed. Or would you rather let the train go its way? -Story by; Leo Velski Julian
Some critical questions here:
How would you describe the value systems of the boys that chose to play on the operational track, and also leave their friend to play alone ?
How would you describe the value system of the boy that chose to play alone on the disused safe track?
What decision would you take as the train driver and why?
We would love to read your views below!
This is a very interesting story! If I was the train driver, I would go the direction of the group of boys. Why? That's the operational track and the boys should know that, there's no reason why the boy playing on his own should have to suffer the consequence of their actions. This could also be avoided because if they chose to play with that boy, they'll all be on the same track making it easy for the train driver to just go on the other track.
ReplyDeleteThe value system I can get from the boy playing on the disused track is that he's not a crowd follower. Although, all of them were playing on the other track, he knew trains go that way and he didn't put his life in danger. Whether he had someone to play with or not. For the other boys, they didn't value their life and they think about now instead of the future. They saw the track was free and decided to play on it without thinking of the possibility that a train might come. They were careless.
Hope to read your views in the concluding part
DeleteHummm, this really got me thinking. Some loss their value system in other to please the crowd. We need to maintain the right attitude whatever the situation we find ourselves. That was exactly what the lone boy did by playing on the unused track and not joining the majority in playing on the operational track. And as the driver, we must maintain our integrity by making use of the operational track and not the unused track making the innocent boy to pay for the foolishness of others who has no value for their lives. In our present generation, there are lots of wrong doings that are seen as the new normal. We have to be careful to maintain our stand for the right and God will surely reward us for the stand we take for Him.
ReplyDeletePowerful opening. but do you think one can loose value system or the value that they have which imbedded them would not manifest until they come to a point to make decsion. So ...let us see what the end of the story is. I look forward to read your views. Thank you.
DeleteDefinitely as the driver I'll use the operational track. Obviously because the boys there know it's operational and will be at alert for oncoming train. The boy on the disused track knew its abandoned before playing there and might not be conscious even at the loudest blast of horn. He might just feel the train is on the operational track and so feel safe. What a wonderful lesson.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this!
This is so insightful. Let us see how you will judge the end of the story. Joe. it will be interesting to have your views on it again. I look forward to reading it.
DeleteThe boy on the lone track chose not to follow the multitude to do evil. He preferred to stay alone on the right track without compromising his integrity. If I could stop the train, I would try as much as possible to do it but if not, I will not allow myself to deviate from the target and goal I have to reach. Also, I believe the train has a horn somewhere, I will continuously and persistently blast the horn for a warning and if they refused to vacate my track, I will move on my designated track. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteMove on ! Interesting. Would like to see what the story author said on this point. I love your position of not following multitude in doing evil. How would you explain that in the context of our present world? Thank you Cath. I look forward to read your views in the concluding part.
DeleteA group of young children- where were their parents? As the train driver, the operational track is the way to go with the blast of the horn!
ReplyDeleteValues! !! Where? Who? What? Hmm. Let see where we belong. Thank you. Watch for the next part soon.
DeleteThis is an educational story. For the train driver, the operational track is the right way, it leads to the right destination and the boys are just in the way, to get them out of the way, it's best to use the horn and the boys will run away from the track to a safer zone. Also, it will be wrong to even think of changing the tracks because the other boy chose this old particular track because he thought it safer and may not be attentive to hear the train coming but the others on the other hand may be very much aware and alert to jump away, if there is a passing train. These boys value system is to take risks and excitement over comfortable and safe just like the youths of today. They'd rather go to clubs, party, drink, hangout with bad friends than follow that one believer who is rather to boring for them. Perhaps, the other little guy warned them but they thought him foolish, i mean the operational train tracks would look better than an old rusty train track, so why not? This shows that the little boy's value system is to stand for what he believes in when others do not or when they turn their backs on him.
ReplyDeleteThis is a piercing truth. Thank you for connecting this with our real life situation. I am pleased to learn this details from you. See the concluding story may be you will agree or disagree. And Ilook forward to learing more from you. Thank you.
DeleteAs the train driver, I would stay the course. I would blare the horn as loud. Life is about consequences for our choices and only God can alter that.
ReplyDeleteSo what is the end result in this scenerio and the values of the players as it is in our world today? See the next part. Thanks.
DeleteAs the driver, I will keep on the operational track because that's the track that is known to be functional. The non-functional track might have/pose a danger or threat further down the track. The group of boys definitely know they are on a functional track and will be on alert to vacate the track as soon as possible, but the lone boy will not expect any activity to happen on the abandoned track. The boy playing alone has a value not to follow the crowd to do the wrong thing. Standing for the right cause takes you farther than you can imagine. Though it may be a very difficult/strenuous path to thread, which needs serious focus and determination, but it makes you stand upright, shoulder high before Kings, princes and not before mean men.
ReplyDeleteGreat insight to analysis of value. Watch out for the 2nd part. If what your view is what happens. Watch out on this same space, Thank you.
DeleteStick to your values, believe in them strong without unwavering. Sometime(most times) you may be a loner and even be laughed at but keep at it and it will pay off for you....you'll see!
ReplyDeleteThe train should go on the operational track hopefully the boys will run off the tracks.
Or
The train goes on the unused track as it appears that the loner boy is the only wise one and not reckless amongst the boys and use the hoot(horn) to alert the boy , hopefully he is not deaf/ blind /both ( it may be the reason he was there in the first place)
There are always two sides to a coin.
Very interesting views. Love it.
ReplyDeletePlease watch out for the second part. Maybe you will still hold on your views. Just in few days.Thanks.
As the driver, I'll use the operational track and blare the horn as loud as I can and continuously to alert the boys.
ReplyDeleteTrue, Why would you do this?
DeleteI look forward to read your response to the concluding part as we share the story author's position. Thank you.
I must confess this is intriguing and the comments are as well stunning. Nevertheless, I don't think I will do anything outside what has been said in the comment section so far. Use the operational track while I salvage the life of the innocent lonely boy. Also, I want to believe that none of the children making use of the operational track is blind. Also, none of them is deaf. Somehow, one of them will see the oncoming train or hear the train horn and raise an alarm of the upcoming train. Moreover, they are more conscious of the consequence of their action than the other boy. So, why jeopardize the life of that lonely child????
ReplyDeleteAnd the value system of the boy!!!! Actually, I don't know the reason behind his action but I believe the allegory is clear to all........
Sure, would like to see what you come up with in the concluding story. Wht is making them to do what they are doing? I look forward to read how you will discet the truth here
DeleteGoing through this thoughtful story, the value system of safety and taking precautions is brought into question. I would rather the train driver continues along the operational track and someone could warn the kids(or the train driver could give a loud horn to alert the kids). The child on the unused track definitely takes the instruction and knows that safety is a shared responsibility.
ReplyDeleteThank You for this Post.
The lesson we want to pass here to ourselves and others would be just what you have explained here. But how would someone take some decisons that are very hign in risk and with a deadly consequnces. I will like to have more of your input in the concluding part. thank you prof/poet/engineer
DeleteThe loan boy simply knew what other boys were doing was wrong. He did not joine them to do the wrong, not minding their population to his.
ReplyDeleteThe booy has the right value for his life. The did not allow the peer pressure to influence his division to stand alone. He should not suffer the wrong doing of others.
However he will do well to advice his friends to leave the used track because he knew what could happen.
The train driver should have the right sense of judgement. If he veered to the unused track, what about the presenters in the train, the açcident may be more fatal
His value system should be consenteated on the number of persengers on board if he veered out of the usable track. The driver has a lot to battle with to make the right decision.
Deep thoughts here. Thank you. I will like to read more of your views in the concluding part.
DeleteIf I was the train driver, I would stay on the operational track. Going on the disused track could prove dangerous to everyone on the train as it is no more in use. To prevent anything happening to the boys, I would also use my horn to send them packing. The boys playing on the operational train have values that involves staying with the multitude and taking unnecessary risks. They know that track is operational but they still decided to play on it, regardless of its consequences. The boy that is on the disused track has a strong virtue of not being a "people pleaser" He knows what is best for him and does it regardless of how people view him.
ReplyDelete