No, it's very relevant...
How do you help people to change how they treat others?
also, would you consider yourself an optimist or a pessimist/'realist'...
I think people will only change if they themselves WANT to change. Thus you can't directly initiate change, nor can you try to 'convince' them that your way is better; it may cause them to dig their heels in even further (and this also begs the question, how does one decide whether one way is 'right' or not? Ultimately a lot of this can boil down to individually constructed value systems as well as priorities). I suppose mbti could assist on some level...knowing the 'language' the individual speaks (logic vs emotion, etc, although this thread is case in point that it isn't that black and white), and appealing to them in that manner.
I don't think I'm the one to ask HOW to help people change, as again, I don't believe they WILL change unless they decide for themselves that there is value in changing, and they desire to change. So, unless someone actively seeks help/advice, or reaches that point of wanting to change, I think it's kinda pointless to try to nudge them. That's just my general view on the matter; I suppose on a case-by-case basis I might vary that stance a little bit. Edit: I might make clear or tangent off into why *I* do things the way I do, because that's keeping it real and I'm just sharing my views on things, and then it's up to them to grab onto tendrils of that if they so choose. If nothing else I've planted a seed.
I think just showing by example, by living your own life in a positive way, showing by your OWN action/behavior what you deem right, works more wonders than active change. There will always be those observing who may decide, of their own volition, that some other way of being is worth exploring.
Which is why I don't believe in the concept of Revenge. It seems so hypocritical. You're basically acting out the very behavior you found unacceptable in another - you're stooping to 'their' level, if you will.
I know I didn't answer your question; I would have to give more thought to methods of actually trying to nudge people in a different direction - for example, in the case of a family member or other individual who you care about or who you can't and won't remove from your life and need to work with instead.
Re. optimism, pessimism, or realism, I think I am generally optimistic in terms of my own life, realistic regarding individual humans, and more pessimistic in terms of humans on a society/group-mode level.