Wow- this may be a long one.

Maybe I'm the only person who does this, but here's the deal: Everyone has searched up old friends from HS on myspace, right? Good, so have I. Too bad every time I find them, their lives have turned to shit. Seeing as how my life has gone a much better path, I feel obligated to help these people who have been friends to me in the past. I don't know what it is-

So far, I've helped 5.

The first was my boy Phil, he was a huge coke addict.. I convinced him that he had alot going for him, and wasting himself on his habit wasn't any kind of good use of his life.. I got him to join the Army, where they've taken great care of him. Some might argue that joining the Army isn't exactly the greatest choice- but they've given him all the essentials he'll need, as well as money for college when he gets out.

The next was a girl from my freshman spanish class, Dani. Her life was one big sad story. She grew up in the stereotypical "happy" mormon family, and was utterly miserable. She took up a really bad life of partying and irresponsible sex. It caught up with her- and she had a kid. She knew I was something special when I came back to her, telling her that she had to fix something- getting drunk and not caring for her child wasn't going to cut it in life.. I enrolled her in a local community college for night classes, and even handed in her job application because she couldn't do it herself. I called her parents up, and told them what was happening to her, and they had a long heart to heart.. She's now working, and going to school to actually make something of herself..

Then there was a good friend of mine from recently.. Two years ago, he went to prison for assault with a deadly weapon (He was getting beat to shit by three other guys, and he pulled out his knife to defend himself. Apparently he was in the wrong.) and got out.. Prison changed him- my old friend was gone. Somewhere underneath though, I could tell he wanted help; he had nothing. He heard about how I joined the Air Force, and wanted it for himself.. Unfortunately, the Air Force doesn't smile on felons.. But, once again, the Army does. (No, I'm not a recruiter.) He joined, and is the happiest he's ever been; he's gotten his life on track..

Finally, there was my ex girlfriend. After breaking up with me (for good reason), she jumped right into another relationship. I could tell that she was so sad- so unfulfilled in the later months.. After the flames had died out from our breakup, I decided that it was time for me to do for her what I couldn't do while we were together: Help her discover what she really is. For months we talked, and I poked and prodded at her heart.. She came to realize that she didn't even like the guy she was with, and was doing it only to avoid the pain of our breakup. She started going to church again, and now, her heart is finally healed..

These are just a few of dozens of these stories- But here's why I'm posting this..

I'm sick of it- I'm sick of feeling this obligation to find these people and fix their problems, because they are incapable of fixing them themselves.. I don't know why I feel this, and I don't know how to stop.. I've already found five more.

That myspace search link is such a burden.

~Saint947

I don't know what you're expecting from this thread. Whether it's a medal, an e-handjob whatever.

Personally I think you're wasting your time.

One time I convinced someone not to inject synthetic oil into his face in an attempt to self-medicate for a skin condition. Not sure if he was going to do it anyways.

Other than that I don't think I've done much. If helping people makes you feel good though then by all means keep doing it. If it doesn't, stop looking for problems. Really, what are you saying; "help me stop helping people"? If you want to stop then just don't do it. I would advise abandoning your sense of obligation towards them though, simply because responsibility and expectation leads to pain more often than not.

Oh, but I noticed this; "These are just a few of dozens of these stories" and "So far, I've helped 5. " contradiction.

All you're basically doing is directing people to rely on established social institutions to fix their problems. Maybe you should actually do work for some of these rather than just tell people to go to them for help, if you believe in their value so much?

I don't think I've ever helped anyone out with anything.

That sounds pretty cool. I give you a thumbs up.

If you have any more drug addicted freinds buy them a years subscription to WoW , atleast you'll know where to look after you find the malnurished decaying body.

It sounds like you have an overactive sense of responsibility. Taking credit for the choices of others is regularly wrongheaded and accomplishes nothing.

I have two obligations in my life at the moment; one to myself and one to an impressively amazing girl. I never oblige myself unless I see rhyme or reason; because of such consideration, these things are never less than a joy.