How good of a person do you think you are?

[Trialbyfire]

Aren't you being really generous?

 

There is no yardstick that's the point.

 

People that think they have a yardstick often end up waging war against each other. Just take a look at World history.

That's your belief. Not everyone holds the same belief.

 

Do you know why I love this thread? It gives me an interesting view of how people, including myself, view themselves. Is it a realistic view, really means squat. Is it groundshaking? No. Is it interesting. Absolutely. It's also very possible that you can learn something about yourself, through how people reflect and self-analyze, about themselves.

[Mustang Sally]

Explain this more please.............

Well, I'll try.

For example, here on LS, there are those that find that cheating is always inexcusable. No matter what.

 

And then there are those that find that infidelity may be permissable in certain circumstances, like, say, a man who is in a sexless marriage that finds another partner to have a sexual relationship with.

 

And that is just one (tiny, limited) example. I don't want this to digress to another argument thread about the rightness or wrongness of cheating!

 

Another example: some people find that killing is never acceptable (Universal Truth). Others believe that it is permissable in certain circumstances - execution of mass murderers is one example (Everything is relative).

[Nevermind]

How can anybody answer this? This has more to do with self-confidence than anything else.

 

Everybody should try to be the best person they can be.

[Mustang Sally]

Do you know why I love this thread? It gives me an interesting view of how people, including myself, view themselves. Is it a realistic view, really means squat. Is it groundshaking? No. Is it interesting. Absolutely. It's also very possible that you can learn something about yourself, through how people reflect and self-analyze, about themselves.

The other thing I am learning is that not everyone thinks that this kind of self-reflection/indulgence is worthwhile!

 

Thank goodness it takes a whole lot of different kinds of folks to make up the world we live in...

[Kasan]

How can anybody answer this? This has more to do with self-confidence than anything else.

 

Not really. You could be a murderer which would make you not a nice person, but you could be confident about your abilities to kill.

[Nevermind]

If you are a muderer and don't view murdering as evil, then you could still trump your horn and claim to have 10 of 10 goodie points.

[Mustang Sally]

Nevermind, this is what I am referring to when I speak of Universal Truths.

 

Certainly, I think it is implied that for this "exercise" I'm suggesting to be of any benefit to someone, they must have a fair amount of personal objectivity and insight. As I stated before, that is often a difficult requirement to meet.

[CommitmentPhobe]

 

 

That's your belief. Not everyone holds the same belief.

Well of course, it's a discussion forum after all, opinions get invited and that's mine. Of course you could look at Plato's knowledge of the soul and debate that there is a yardstick, which I might debunk against you with Descartes skepricism, which you might debunk as it has been done several times over and I'd come back at you with Hume. Nevertheless it's something which I could back up in a rational framework if you had more knowledge than not to throw in a one line quip on something you clearly know nothing about. Either way if you want to subvert someones opinion I suggest you pick on someone else.

Do you know why I love this thread? It gives me an interesting view of how people, including myself, view themselves. Is it a realistic view, really means squat. Is it groundshaking? No. Is it interesting. Absolutely. It's also very possible that you can learn something about yourself, through how people reflect and self-analyze, about themselves.

Yeah, I'd rather read a book about philosophy, I don't think I have much to learn from you

[Kasan]

If you are a muderer and don't view murdering as evil, then you could still trump your horn and claim to have 10 of 10 goodie points.

 

Point taken. So there are several (or more) yardsticks in which to measure if you are a good person or not.

 

Societal standards and your own.

 

So where do you rate on your scale?

[Nevermind]

Point taken. So there are several (or more) yardsticks in which to measure if you are a good person or not.

 

Societal standards and your own.

 

So where do you rate on your scale?

 

It changes...between 2 and 5. If I take my own standarts. But I am not going to explain.

[quankanne]

right now I feel positively toxic and want to smack the crap out of the idiots I'm dealing with. Normally though, I figure I rank a 7 or 8 on the goodness scale, all due to the way my mother raised me: Be kind and helpful to others, don't malign or be mean to others, mind my manners, etc.

 

it's only when I get really really stressed that Bad Jo Annie breaks out

[jerbear]

Sounds like you feel the old "Go to bed with the dogs and wake up with fleas" applies to yourself, huh Jerbear?

 

Why do you think that is? Do you find yourself one who "goes along with the crowd" in most any given situation?

 

I don't tend to follow the crowd and sometimes it feels like it! One tends to surround themselves with like minded people.

 

I'm a 1 "evil" when it comes to convicted criminals, those with victim mentalities, entitlement seekers, and the likes.

 

I'm more of a 6-8 when it comes to those who try. When it comes to my friends, usually an 8.

[alphamale]

What do you think? How do you rate on a scale of, say, 1 to 10 (1 being not a good person, 10 being near-perfect in goodness)?

 

I think I'm somewhere between a 6.5 to 7.5 lately.

I would say 5

 

Mainly cause I have the capability to be a 10 or a 1, depending upon many factors.

[marlena]

No, not universal standards. Nothing that was served up to me was mindlessly accepted as a universal truth. I had to brainstorm for years to come up with my own system of values. It was a labourous and often painful process.

 

Nobody censors my thoughts except myself. Ultimately I decide what is right and wrong for me.

 

Re the examples of murder and cheating, yes, in my mind, everyone is potentially a murderer and a cheater. Now, whether one acts on these baser instincts or not depends on a multitude of factors, far too many to mention here. The discussion is age-old and and always will be.

[Kasan]

Okay Marlena--

 

Ummmm.......... what is your number dear?

[marlena]

Okay Marlena--

 

Ummmm.......... what is your number dear?

 

What number are you alluding to my lovely K?

[Trialbyfire]

Well of course, it's a discussion forum after all, opinions get invited and that's mine. Of course you could look at Plato's knowledge of the soul and debate that there is a yardstick, which I might debunk against you with Descartes skepricism, which you might debunk as it has been done several times over and I'd come back at you with Hume. Nevertheless it's something which I could back up in a rational framework if you had more knowledge than not to throw in a one line quip on something you clearly know nothing about. Either way if you want to subvert someones opinion I suggest you pick on someone else.

 

Yeah, I'd rather read a book about philosophy, I don't think I have much to learn from you

Total arrogance. Enjoy yourself as you are. You've got A LOT to learn about life. In only wanting to learn from people you view as similar, you'll find that you learn nothing.

[Mustang Sally]

No, not universal standards. Nothing that was served up to me was mindlessly accepted as a universal truth. I had to brainstorm for years to come up with my own system of values. It was a labourous and often painful process.

I see your point, Marlena. This is the kind of reflection and insight that I am referring to.

 

I do have a different take on Universal Truths, though. I guess I don't consider Universal Truths as necessarily mindless. I wasn't trying to imply that they are in existence due to blind following of the masses of some (possibly corrupt) edict, issued from a possibly self-serving "higher power."

 

To me, Universal Truths are the truths that simply ARE because they are required for humans to co-exist together in societies. Like, "Stealing is wrong" because a certain element of trust in one's fellow human beings must exist (in general) for us to be able to live together in an overall peaceable fashion.

 

The discussion is age-old and and always will be.

I do appreciate all of the input from those who've posted, though.

I guess I was waxing philosophical today!

[CommitmentPhobe]

Total arrogance. Enjoy yourself as you are. You've got A LOT to learn about life. In only wanting to learn from people you view as similar, you'll find that you learn nothing.

 

So I guess you're not taking a position on moral relativism there? Shame as I hoped you would come back with something pertaining to a discussion and not a series of insults.

 

Nevermind eh I'll leave you with a quote from Protagoras I think ironically it applies quite well to you

 

"man is the measure of all things"

[Mustang Sally]

I would say 5

 

Mainly cause I have the capability to be a 10 or a 1, depending upon many factors.

Love it, Alpha.

Very well-designed response.

 

I'm now thinking that this question could be somewhat of a Rorschach, if you will...no?

If so, I think you may have picked one of the best responses thus far!

[Mustang Sally]

"man is the measure of all things"

How very Descartian of you!

 

(I am also reminded of a very applicable quote from "Princess Bride," here: ".... I do not think it means what you think it means....")

[Trialbyfire]

So I guess you're not taking a position on moral relativism there? Shame as I hoped you would come back with something pertaining to a discussion and not a series of insults.

 

Nevermind eh I'll leave you with a quote from Protagoras I think ironically it applies quite well to you

 

"man is the measure of all things"

Arrogance once again to believe that man holds the sole bar for everything. Look to the bigger picture if you're going to negate personal bars.

[Mustang Sally]

I don't tend to follow the crowd and sometimes it feels like it! One tends to surround themselves with like minded people.

 

I'm a 1 "evil" when it comes to convicted criminals, those with victim mentalities, entitlement seekers, and the likes.

 

I'm more of a 6-8 when it comes to those who try. When it comes to my friends, usually an 8.

Ok. I getcha now.

Thanks for that clarification, and sorry for my misunderstanding earlier.

[CommitmentPhobe]

Arrogance once again to believe that man holds the sole bar for everything. Look to the bigger picture if you're going to negate personal bars.

 

Oh what's this bigger picture then? Let me guess, your view on life is correct solely correct and nothing else.

 

Sounds like you're an egoist!

[Trialbyfire]

Oh what's this bigger picture then? Let me guess, your view on life is correct solely correct and nothing else.

 

Sounds like you're an egoist!

Wrong again but then, you tend towards assumptions. Speaking of, you remind me of someone still in college.

 

And with that, enjoy your self-congratulating. No wonder you have difficulties with self-analytics. If I were you, I would also be afraid to self-analyze...

 

My apologies MS for the thread jack.