PUBLIC CHANNEL - DAY 75

[mylastchance]

I... Need help with something. But I can't be specific.


How can you help someone if you don't understand what the problem is?

Comments

[insidescoop]

Ummm...

I mean, I could ask you the same thing with what you just said you know..!!

[mylastchance]

[He literally does not understand what she's saying.]

... That's not helpful.

[insidescoop]

You just said 'how do you help someone if you don't know what the problem is'...!

Well now I'm asking you the same thing, because if you want help I can't give it until you tell me what the problem is!

[forkedroad]

What a marvelous question.

[mylastchance]

The problem is that I don't know the problem!

[mylastchance]

Please don't.

[insidescoop]

How do you even know there's a problem then???

Are you sure you're not just too worried in that case?

[forkedroad]

Don't what?

[mylastchance]

I know something is wrong.

...If the sky turned green you'd know something strange was happening even if you didn't know what, right?

[insidescoop]

If the sky turned green the problem would be 'the sky is green'.

[mylastchance]

[Don't make him admit his own question is dumb.]

I know it's a stupid question.

But I don't know what else to do at this point.

[mylastchance]

...Then the problem is that... That someone is unhappy.

And not making any sense.

[Yes, no one will no who is talking about now.]

[forkedroad]

Oh, no! No. I was being sincere. I do legitimately think that's a wonderful question. It's tricky, and unconventional.

I find I sometimes feel the same way. It struck a cord.

If it's a stupid thought, then I suppose we're both fools.

[mylastchance]

[He's honestly surprised, but glad, not that he knows how to express it.]

Then, maybe it isn't that stupid.

But I still don't have an answer.

[insidescoop]

Oh!

Then it's time to think about that person really hard!

You need to think about what happened just around when they got sad-what happened that was different in any way, and make a list!

That way, you can start to find out why they're sad!

[forkedroad]

I wish I had an answer for you. I'm sort of new to it, myself.

I suppose... investigate obsessively around the elusive situation itself?

[mylastchance]

I've already done that. For days.

[mylastchance]

Well, I think I know why... But it's the way they're reacting that doesn't make sense.

I mean, it does, but it doesn't.

[Oh Eldath, he knows he's not making sense. He huffs in frustration before trying again]

Just... Give me a second.

If something sad happened, and someone was angry instead that would confuse you wouldn't it?

What if that person decided something arbitrary was the cause and wouldn't listen to reason? If that person is rash they might do something they regret. And if they can't see the logic of it, then they might just keep being rash getting in trouble! But... Why won't they listen to reason?

That's confusing, isn't it?

[spaghettimonster]

[Papyrus was about to give another helpful hotline tip, maybe with puns.... But he can't. The question is too sincere and, well. It's the question he's grappled with forever.]

I start by reminding myself... Helping someone, isn't fixing their problems for them. I don't need to understand to help. Though, it helps to help, if I do! But... The most important thing's being there for them.

Remind them of how great they are! How great they can be!! Give them an extra reason to keep going, to keep working hard!

And, if they're the sort to talk about their problems... it's worth it to ask? What the problem is? There's no better way to start to understand, than listening to them... Or already being familiar with the problem, by having it yourself!

[insidescoop]

Hmnnnn...

If something sad happened and someone was angry... ...I would think they're trying not to be sad! When you get angry instead of sad, that can still mean you're worried! But mostly, when you're angry like that... ...I think you're more angry with yourself, or with everything else for making things sad.

Because sometimes, you have to blame something for ruining it! ...even if it just made it worse.

That's why people don't listen to reason though. ...They just want it to be better, even if what they're doing does the opposite.

[forkedroad]

Hm.

I suppose in that case, the best way to be help is to be... generally supportive... even if you don't understand what's happening.

[mylastchance]

[He's quiet a moment or two thinking that over at first.]

That's... Good advice.

But if I don't step in, this person might end up doing something they really regret.

[puddingemote]

Ask them to explain.

[spaghettimonster]

Hmmm...

Yeah, they might. They might regret doing things... They might regret not doing things... There's just no knowing what will happen. The only thing you can do is doing what you can do!

You know the saying, you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it take a bath?

[That's not the saying.]

[mylastchance]

I don't...

[He still doesn't really understand. Why would someone blame something even if it made things worse?]

It isn't anyone's fault though. There's no reason for it... These things just happen.

[He sounds defeated, this only confirms there's nothing he can do to help.]