CHILD BRAVERY +
Studies have shown that children as young as age 8 can display bravery. One girl, (not sure what country) protected her younger sister from a knife wielding thug. There were school children who held the door open for other children as a gun toting adult was shooting at others. We know that children can and do hold their own against wild animals, protecting younger children from attack. Two children working together lifted a car enough that a man trapped beneath it could escape. In the US a teenager confronted a gunman who attacked pupils at a high school in Colorado in September 2025.
Just a few instances of child bravery. I’ve never seen it, nor heard it from those I know, but there are instances of classmates yelling down bullies who were making other students miserable.
It makes sense. Although children are not merely small adults they do have the beginnings of their adult personalities. For instance, I knew a boy who loved puns (ugh, right?) who, as an adult still loved puns. He was difficult to talk with both pre- and post- age of majority. And we’ve all seen the videos of children who had bad personalities (aggressive, offensive, cheaters) who as adults were exactly the same. They had criminal histories of multiple crimes over many years. So, why shouldn’t a person have the beginnings of heroism at an early age?
The experts seem to suggest that extroverted children are more likely to stand up in the face of danger. I’m not convinced. I knew a very reticent and shy child who did the same when a friend was in trouble. He cared. On the other hand I have met many extroverts who just did not care a bit about their fellow humans. So, I suggest it is a different factor at work; not extroversion but disinhibition (something altogether different than extroversion). I use the term as a personality trait, not as a diagnosis. I find there are times and circumstances when “lil’ ol’ me” becomes disinhibited, steps out of his shell, and takes on a life bigger and stronger. Gomer Pyle was a story of just such a person. That was only a story, but it opens a door in your mind and you have to admit “it resonates.” We are not all “rebels without causes” who perform heroic functions in this world.
There are thousands, if not millions, of examples of those who went above the call of duty during war. They weren’t all extroverts, but each one stepped up the moment the circumstances called for action. I expect there were indicators of such bravery when they were children. They refused to allow the cruelty of others or the risk of pain to stifle their concern, and thus, action.
CAR ADVICE for YOUNG DRIVERS
Several driving experts were asked for the ONE piece of advice they would give. They all said: “Wear Your Seat Belt.” There was the story of the young man driving an older F-150. It went off a cliff. After a quick 150 foot drop and some rolls the young driver survived BECAUSE he was wearing his seat belt properly.
Back when I was in High School (when dinosaurs roamed the earth), some class mates were making noises that seat belts were dangerous. They said things like, “You can’t get out fast enough in an emergency.” However, as an adult I attended several funerals of people who died in accidents. Most of the deceased had not been wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident. There were only two of maybe a dozen who were. The nature of those accidents where they were wearing a seat belt were so severe that they would not have survived no matter what. The air bag deployed. The seat belt held. But the driver space was crushed. Gruesome! Your best chance of survival is to always wear a seat belt properly.
My second piece of advice comes from seeing the mistakes young drivers make. They have little experience and they are trying to control a heavy machine. The best way to stay safer in such instances is stay under the speed limit until you have 4 years of experience in all kinds of weather conditions. An accident at 55 is survivable. At 65, the same accident is NOT. You have less time to react or brake. While braking at 55 you can stop in a reasonable number of feet; at 65 you are still traveling at 30 mph where you would have been stopped if going slower. Speed is a killer. In the rain, ice, fog, or snow go slower. Plus, you’ll get better gas mileage. When taking our kids out for their required hours of supervision we made them drive on gravel roads, through residential areas where there were no stop signs, road construction areas, and in icy conditions. We allowed them to make mistakes at low speed so they would know how dangerous things could be and how it felt differently than smooth dry roads.
Third, get new wipers. They are cheap and easy to replace. New wipers will make a huge difference for purposes of vision.
Fourth, leave the funny stuff for TV programs. Don’t try to impress your friends, tailgate, or brake check other drivers. Someone I know would still have his new car if he had only allowed 7 more feet between his bumper and that of the car ahead.
Finally, NEVER drink if you are going to drive. Take an Uber.
Many accidents are preventable and many car accident deaths are preventable. So, … prevent them!
Copyright 2025 Donald Whelpley
[PLEASE NOTE that Don is always open to discussing the thoughts and opinions he shares here and welcomes comments as shared in the comment section. He doesn’t use other social media platforms and won’t see whatever you’d like to share with him if you post it elsewhere.
ALSO, Don is always open to offer his thoughts on various topics. If you have a specific request, you can let him know in a comment; he reads – and replies to – them all. ~ Sherry]
See more GUEST POSTS from Don
Comments