I have to draw the line when seeing something troubling: am I seeing something that I'd simply recommend against, or am I viewing a life changing event--or even a crime?
A very recent example was in a parking lot. A young dad was walking his two or three year old daughter toward a store. He nicely said, "Hold Daddy's hand." and took the offered hand by the wrist and clutched her, guiding by the wrist and forearm. Who hasn't done this?
But I went through the American Conservatory Theatre's Advanced Acting Training, and they taught us couple of things that applied out in life. We did an exercise where each student got on our knees beside a classmate, in a parent-child walking together mode. We were directed to hold hands, and we all held hands in a friendly, appropriate way. Then the "parent" was directed to take the hand of the "child" in such a way that the kid can't get away. The grips changed, and the kid became a prisoner. The adjustment had a profound effect on the kneeling
actor. The actors traded places and repeated the exercise. The funny thing was, there seemed virtually no difference to the "parent." We were all oblivious to the non-loving, tactile feelings of the kid, except from having been there.
Do I step up and try to enlighten a passing dad? When his wife joins him on the way back to the car, and she is holding the daughter in the same controlling grip, should I step up and pass along my ACT training tip? I just want to make everyone's experience of life as pleasant as I can.
What do you think I did?
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