How good of a person do you think you are?

[RecordProducer]

I am deadly serious.

I think there are a lot more people out there like me who are just not honest enough to admit things like they despise charity or would kill someone for money. I take life itself very lightly so none of this matters to me in the slightest. Its a lot easier this way to be unabashedly hedonistic.

Frankly, I don't know if I can believe you. Sorry, just being honest. You sound sweeter than that to me.

 

Oh God. Straight away I glance over this and think "I'm not a very good person."

Altruism and selflessness come from the same "center." I don't see how honor, spirituality and happiness contribute to one's morality. I think there are people who give a lot and also take a lot, but somehow forget to consider the latter as a trait. E.g. an employer who gives more benefits and higher salaries might consider himself very generous, but discrad in his mind the fact that he exploits the heck out of his employees, so they are in fact under-paid and over-worked.

 

There are also people (I am probably in that group), who won't go out of their way to do things for people, but also won't do anything to harm people. I am not the kind of person who would volunteer at my kids' school or spend all day cooking for my in-laws; but I don't touch people's lives in a way that would offend them. If I do offend someone with my actions or words (I have a few times because I wasn't thinking about how the'd feel), I feel guilty.

 

Prodigal Princess - you're a psychopath? I think you should start up a thread about this. I'd like to hear from more people who think they're psychopaths!

Why should she? Does she sound like it's bothering her?

 

I may come across as a big jerk on the outside but deep down I really am a good guy. People who know me that I will give them the shirt off my back and I will drop what I am doing to help somebody. There was a time in my life when I tried not to be this way but it's just who I am. I am far from an angel but I do have my scruples.

You don't come off as a jerk, at least not on LS, cuz we know the history of your issues and we know you're working on yourself, which is waaaaaaay farther than most people will ever get. I haven't noticed that you've made anyone on this board feel bad. So you don't sound like a super-sweet guy, yeah... but I've noticed that the sweeter the sugar coat, the more bitter what's underneath!

[Taramere]

Why should she? Does she sound like it's bothering her?

 

No, it doesn't sound as if it's bothering her. It just sounded like an straightforward statement that someone would make when they've nothing to lose by making it (this being anonymous). I suggested it because it would be an interesting thread.

[Ronni_W]

I live entirely out of self interest. ... although I'm thankful that most people aren't like me - otherwise society would have imploded by now!

Or. People lie, cheat and steal BECAUSE they're ashamed of expressing their self-interest...so, if we all were more honest and forthcoming about our own needs and wants, no one would HAVE to lie, cheat and steal to ensure that self-interests are maintained??? And then maybe society would be much more stable than it is now!

Just a thought

[XNemesisX]

No, it doesn't sound as if it's bothering her. It just sounded like an straightforward statement that someone would make when they've nothing to lose by making it (this being anonymous). I suggested it because it would be an interesting thread.

 

I agree Taramere. I would like to hear more from Prodigal Princess. What are some things you have done that are so bad? Can you give us some examples? I appreciate the honesty, it's pretty interesting that you would admit that you think you're a sociopath. Interesting indeed.

 

I think my level of goodness fluctuates. I have some flaws but overall I do think I'm a decent person. Better than most, actually. There are some things that I have done in the past that I'm ashamed of but my character has improved a lot as I have matured. I'm really probably too honest (and wish I could be a more talented liar, lol) and I really do want and strive to do the right thing. There was a period of time for about 2 years or so that I wasn't so great but I learned some good lessons from it. For a short period of time I cheated, manipulated, and was vindictive (toward 1 person). From the consequences of my actions I learned that was a horrible way to be, even though he was being unkind to me too. I always had a conscience about it though...I feel terribly guilty when I think I've done something I shouldn't have. I will literally get sick over it.

 

I want to hear more from Prodigal Princess!

[XNemesisX]

I also want to add that state of mind seems to have a strong correlation on how "good" I am. When I'm really happy, my goodness probably is at 9. When depressed, disappointed, and (especially) when angry it DEFINITELY drops.

[Prodigal Princess]

I agree Taramere. I would like to hear more from Prodigal Princess. What are some things you have done that are so bad? Can you give us some examples? I appreciate the honesty, it's pretty interesting that you would admit that you think you're a sociopath. Interesting indeed.

 

I want to hear more from Prodigal Princess!

 

Haha, okay... Off the top of my head, things I've done that are "bad" but which I have no particular feelings about:

• stolen from strangers, colleagues, friends and family (including my 90 year old grandma);
  
• cheated with a few friends' boyfriends;
  
• told major porkies that slightly change the course of people's lives;
  
• done/doing hard core drugs;
  
• taken credit for ideas, presents given etc that weren't mine;
  
• cheated on countless exams; and
  
• dumped friends and lovers in some pretty cruel ways.
  

Only two people know about this side to me - my sisters (I'm a triplet). Understandably, they are both very wary of me.

 

I haven't really done anything too heinous for awhile, but as I said before, that's only because I haven't been in a situation that has prompted me to do so. I'm a ticking time bomb really.

[jerbear]

I haven't really done anything too heinous for awhile, but as I said before, that's only because I haven't been in a situation that has prompted me to do so. I'm a ticking time bomb really.

 

I think Skeletor got to you.

[Prodigal Princess]

I think Skeletor got to you.

 

He certainly did, in more ways than one.

 

(To explain - jer is referring to my admission on another thread that in my younger years I got off fantasising about Skeletor.)

[disgracian]

I'm about as good as it gets.

 

Cheers,

D.

[disgracian]

(To explain - jer is referring to my admission on another thread that in my younger years I got off fantasising about Skeletor.)

He does have a body to die for. Those biceps alone would have taken years of work...

 

Cheers,

D.

[shadowplay]

I'm a sort of bad person. I could really relate to PP's post. I am fairly amoral. I'm not sadistic and I don't go out of my way to hurt others, but I've done selfish things that have ended up hurting people. Paradoxically I often feel a lot of compassion/empathy for other people, but it's usually from a distance. Once somebody gets really close to me my feelings tend to shut down. But I wouldn't say I'm "evil" because I don't take pleasure in the pain of others (unless they've wronged me) and I like to nurture. I would also never murder or physically hurt another person, for what it's worth.

 

• Cheated on a bf with his best friend
  
• Repeatedly stole food from a roommate when I was a sophomore in college
  
• Strung along and accepted gifts from several guys that I didn't have feelings for
  
• Shoplifted on a few occasions from the college cafe
  
• Hit my mother when I was a toddler
  
• Flaked out on employers, blown off appointments without cancelling
  
• Fantasized about maiming various guys who have wronged me
  
• I sometimes wonder if I'm capable of truly loving somebody I'm close to. A lot of the time I don't feel much for anybody.
  
• I feel worse when I hear about an animal dying on the news than a person.
  
• Lied to a few different guys that I loved them.
  
• Had sex with one ex I had no feelings for because I was bored and he offered to get me a cookie on the way to my house.
  

Only one person irl really knows this side of me, and that's my ex ex ex. The irony is he probably loves me more than anybody in the world, despite being fully aware of my flaws. I have no clue why.

[Prodigal Princess]

I'm a sort of bad person. I could really relate to PP's post. I am fairly amoral. I'm not sadistic and I don't go out of my way to hurt others, but I've done selfish things that have ended up hurting people. Paradoxically I often feel a lot of compassion/empathy for other people, but it's usually from a distance. Once somebody gets really close to me my feelings tend to shut down. But I wouldn't say I'm "evil" because I don't take pleasure in the pain of others (unless they've wronged me) and I like to nurture. I would also never murder or physically hurt another person, for what it's worth.

 

• Cheated on a bf with his best friend
  
• Repeatedly stole food from a roommate when I was a sophomore in college
  
• Strung along and accepted gifts from several guys that I didn't have feelings for
  
• Shoplifted on a few occasions from the college cafe
  
• Hit my mother when I was a toddler
  
• Flaked out on employers, blown off appointments without cancelling
  
• Fantasized about maiming various guys who have wronged me
  
• I sometimes wonder if I'm capable of truly loving somebody I'm close to. A lot of the time I don't feel much for anybody.
  
• I feel worse when I hear about an animal dying on the news than a person.
  
• Lied to a few different guys that I loved them.
  
• Had sex with one ex I had no feelings for because I was bored and he offered to get me a cookie on the way to my house.
  

Only one person irl really knows this side of me, and that's my ex ex ex. The irony is he probably loves me more than anybody in the world, despite being fully aware of my flaws. I have no clue why.

 

Hey shadow, I totally get your post (um, except for the hitting your mum as a toddler part. I mean, who cares - you were a toddler! All toddlers lash out when they don't get their way.).

 

Anyway, I think a recurring theme for both of us is that we choose not to emotionally engage with most people, and therefore can more easily carry out bad behaviour that negatively affects others.

[sunshinegirl]

My goodness rating is lower today than it was 2 or 3 years ago. I think it's the product of a lot of personal upheaval I've gone through in that time period, in addition to dating someone who really did not inspire me to be a better person. In fact I found myself taking on some of his icky small-minded attitudes.

 

Then, after our breakup, I went into hibernation/cocoon/self-protection mode - survival mode, really - and I DEFINITELY dipped on the "goodness" scale. It's hard to care about and reach out to others when licking my own wounds.

[Riley Freeman]

i think im a great person and i cant honesly tell you any faults i have