There are some dangers when it comes to joining a group, and a wise man knows the problems ahead of time. It is important to recognize that not all groups are as good as they may seem, and that while they may have the good of the group as a whole in mind, they may not be so worried about the interests of the individual. Because of this there are any number of potential issues that need to be worried about when joining a group. These usually come down to hazing, illegal acts, and immoral acts.
Hazing is one of those debatable practices as every group engages in it to some degree, but if it gets out of hand it can create bigger problems than it is worth. Hazing allows the person to prove himself to the group by taking some abuse, usually in the form of some verbal abuse and doing the more obnoxious duties, usually until either the person figures out a more effective way of doing things or someone else fills the role of the newbie. However, there is a limit to that abuse, and it can be hit really quickly. The general rule is that if the abuse is genuinely embarrassing, constitutes sexual harassment, or has a decidely physical aspect to it, it may be time to debate running from the group, and possibly to some authority.
Illegal acts pretty much speak for themselves. If the only way that the group will accept you is if you do illegal acts, even those that you consider victimless, then it may be not be the group for you. There is no such thing as a victimless crime, but that's an argument for another time; the bottom line here is that a organization that expects you to commit crimes, and possibly do time, even community service, for the group is not one that you want to join. Again, if it involves any serious time, possibly committing a felony or worse, you need to run, preferably towards an authority. Keep in mind that your youth will not always protect you, and your records will not always be completely sealed when you turn 18; what may seem important to you may have repercussions you don't want to deal with later on.
There are any number of acts that are not necessarily illegal but are against some sort of moral code. Consider this a catch-all category; it covers acts that you don't feel comfortable doing but are forced to do any way. There are always going to be those that push you outside your comfort zone, and that's fine as long as it's necessary. After all, you can't grow up if you allow yourself to be treated as a kid. However, an area that will catch you almost every time is when it involves doing something you want to do anyway or when dares or bets come up; the absolute worst combination is anything involve a dare or a bet and sex, and that includes something as simple as you losing even a T-shirt.
Ultimately, you are the one that decides how much punishment you will put up with. Too many jerks take advantage of their leadership positions to abuse those underneath them. Others think that enforcing tradition is a good thing even when they hated the abuse themselves: tradition is more important than being a leader. How you handle it is up to you, but keep in mind that if the abuse gets to be too much an authority should be brought in, even that person is outside the situation. You need to define what you are willing to put up with, and that decision, that chain of decisions, will define you for the rest of your life. Make that decision carefully.
Hazing is one of those debatable practices as every group engages in it to some degree, but if it gets out of hand it can create bigger problems than it is worth. Hazing allows the person to prove himself to the group by taking some abuse, usually in the form of some verbal abuse and doing the more obnoxious duties, usually until either the person figures out a more effective way of doing things or someone else fills the role of the newbie. However, there is a limit to that abuse, and it can be hit really quickly. The general rule is that if the abuse is genuinely embarrassing, constitutes sexual harassment, or has a decidely physical aspect to it, it may be time to debate running from the group, and possibly to some authority.
Illegal acts pretty much speak for themselves. If the only way that the group will accept you is if you do illegal acts, even those that you consider victimless, then it may be not be the group for you. There is no such thing as a victimless crime, but that's an argument for another time; the bottom line here is that a organization that expects you to commit crimes, and possibly do time, even community service, for the group is not one that you want to join. Again, if it involves any serious time, possibly committing a felony or worse, you need to run, preferably towards an authority. Keep in mind that your youth will not always protect you, and your records will not always be completely sealed when you turn 18; what may seem important to you may have repercussions you don't want to deal with later on.
There are any number of acts that are not necessarily illegal but are against some sort of moral code. Consider this a catch-all category; it covers acts that you don't feel comfortable doing but are forced to do any way. There are always going to be those that push you outside your comfort zone, and that's fine as long as it's necessary. After all, you can't grow up if you allow yourself to be treated as a kid. However, an area that will catch you almost every time is when it involves doing something you want to do anyway or when dares or bets come up; the absolute worst combination is anything involve a dare or a bet and sex, and that includes something as simple as you losing even a T-shirt.
Ultimately, you are the one that decides how much punishment you will put up with. Too many jerks take advantage of their leadership positions to abuse those underneath them. Others think that enforcing tradition is a good thing even when they hated the abuse themselves: tradition is more important than being a leader. How you handle it is up to you, but keep in mind that if the abuse gets to be too much an authority should be brought in, even that person is outside the situation. You need to define what you are willing to put up with, and that decision, that chain of decisions, will define you for the rest of your life. Make that decision carefully.
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