Make the Call
You’re about to make a decision. What is one thing you should consider before acting?
Consequences, other people, risks, feelings, rules, goals, etc.
Someone makes a decision without thinking about what could happen afterward. What is this called?
Impulsive decision-making / acting without thinking.
If someone says "stop," what should you do?
Stop.
What does it mean to "hit the pause button" before making a decision?
Creating time/space between the impulse and the action so you can make a more deliberate choice.
You're hanging out with friends and someone suggests doing something you know you probably shouldn't.
Plot twist: Everyone else thinks it's hilarious.
Does that change what you should do? Why or why not?
No. Other people's reactions don't remove your responsibility for your own decision.
Your friends want you to do something you know could get you in trouble. What are TWO things you could do before deciding?
Pause; think about consequences; ask someone; consider whether they actually want to; remove themselves from the situation.
You make a choice that gets you in trouble at school. Name one possible consequence that could happen after the original consequence.
Loss of privileges, parent involvement, more school consequences, damaged relationships, loss of trust, falling behind, etc.
Everyone is laughing, but the person being joked about isn't. What is one sign that the joke might have gone too far?
They're not laughing, becoming quiet, moving away, saying stop, looking uncomfortable, trying to change the subject, etc.
Name two signs that you might need to pause before acting.
Strong emotions, feeling pressured, wanting to prove something, feeling embarrassed, friends encouraging you, knowing something could get you in trouble, etc.
You're joking around with someone.
Plot twist: They suddenly tell you they don't like it.
What should change?
Stop or change the behaviour and respect what the person communicated.
You’re angry at someone and have two choices: react immediately or take some time before responding. What could be a benefit of waiting?
Gives time to calm down, think clearly and avoid reacting impulsively.
Someone skips something important because they don't feel like dealing with it. What is one problem that could show up later because of that choice?
Falling behind, more stress, attendance problems, missed information, having to catch up, bigger consequences later.
Your friend says, "It's just a joke," but the other person clearly isn't enjoying it. Who gets to decide whether the interaction is okay?
The person involved. Consent/comfort matters more than the group thinking it's funny.
You're angry and someone says something that makes you want to react immediately. Name three ways you could create some space before responding.
Walk away, count, breathe, get water, talk to someone, wait before responding, put your phone down, change the situation, etc.
Your friend wants you to skip something you were supposed to attend.
Plot twist: You know you'll probably get caught.
What factors should you consider before deciding?
Consequences, whether they actually want to do it, what they're giving up, how it could affect others, and whether it's worth it.
You know a choice might be fun right now, but could cause problems later. What should you think about before deciding?
Short-term vs. long-term consequences; who could be affected; whether the choice fits their goals/values; likelihood of getting caught.
A person makes a choice because it seems funny in the moment. Give three things that could happen afterward that they didn't expect.
Could involve someone getting hurt/upset, getting caught, losing trust, disciplinary consequences, someone recording it, friendships being affected, etc.
You're joking around with someone and they suddenly become quiet and stop participating. Name two possible reasons this could happen.
They may be uncomfortable, embarrassed, upset, tired of the interaction, unsure how to respond, etc.
Why can it be harder to make a good decision when you're angry, embarrassed, excited or trying to impress people?
Strong emotions can make people focus on the immediate moment rather than consequences and can make impulsive reactions more likely.
Someone makes a decision because they think, "Nobody will find out."
Plot twist: Someone starts recording.
What should they think about now?
Potential consequences become more significant; privacy, reputation, school consequences, impact on others, etc.
You’re with a group of friends. Everyone wants to do something, but you’re not sure it’s a good idea. Give three questions you could ask yourself before deciding whether to go along with it.
Possible answers:
A decision takes 10 seconds to make but creates a problem that lasts several weeks. Give an example of how this could happen.
Any reasonable example demonstrating a short-term decision → longer-term consequence.
You're in a group and something starts as harmless joking but gradually becomes uncomfortable for someone. What are three things you could do to change the situation?
Stop/change the behaviour; check in; redirect the group; apologize; give the person space; move on.
You're already halfway into doing something and suddenly realize, "This is probably a bad idea." What could you do right now to change where the situation goes?
Stop participating, walk away, tell friends you're out, apologize, undo what you can, get help, etc.
You're frustrated with someone and you're about to react.
Plot twist: You find out later that you misunderstood what actually happened.
What could you have done differently before reacting?
Pause, get more information, ask what actually happened, avoid reacting based on assumptions.