Rentahamster
Rodent Whores
I'm good
Seeing as how Mister Jesus didn't really take the wages of our sin, I don't think I should measure my goodness against that, either.
-
Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.
I Think Most People Are Not Good....
- Thread starter Darkmakaimura
- Start date
I'm good
Seeing as how Mister Jesus didn't really take the wages of our sin, I don't think I should measure my goodness against that, either.
Dr. Suchong
Member
"Every saint has a past, and every sinner has a future"
Oscar Wilde.
Oscar Wilde.
He never said he would remove sin from the world.I'm good
Seeing as how Mister Jesus didn't really take the wages of our sin, I don't think I should measure my goodness against that, either.
What is "your goodness"? How do you have a good and evil? Who says?
So you believe He was sinless? And of course you can't measure up to that.
Last edited:
Pegasus Actual
Member
Kings Field
Member
niilokin
Member
Agree, I also think if everyone was perfect, we didn't possess the great gift of self reflection.
Last edited:
RagnarokIV
Battlebus imprisoning me \m/ >.< \m/
Trans roommate
nkarafo
Member
I know a guy who is very religious and always claims how he tries to be a "good christian". So you would think he has some good in him.
But after knowing him better i saw what it was all about: The good old prize of all prizes of course. His ticket to paradise. Here's some anecdotal things about him:
- One other time we were talking about poverty and he told me he is hording supplies because the time of hunger is near and he wants to be safe. And no, he is not going to share any of that, trust me.
- One other time we were walking and some beggar came and ask us for some money. After we both ignored him he got angry and started ranting about how he is working hard all day and doesn't have to fund every lazy beggar who doesn't want to work. I mean, sure, there's some point in that but how can you be so sure about this particular beggar for instance? How do you know about what he is being through and you assume he is just some lazy bum?
- He believes in literal hell and doesn't care if you die a horrible death or if you suffer forever in hell if you somehow wronged god badly enough. I managed to make him admit that after i cornered him in a conversation.
- There was a massive accident in Greece some decades ago (one of the worst in human history) where many children got literally decapitated after their school bus collided with a truck and the building materials it was carrying cut the school bus in half. One of the child survivors thought it was a miracle he got saved and became a priest (he didn't care about the other children dying obviously). When i asked him about it he said it was indeed a miracle. The children who died must have wronged god in some way. Or maybe their parents. Those jerks!
Imagine saying that to the parents of the victims. I would have caved his face inside his skull.
I mean, yeeeeeaaaaah, Ok.... Other than that he seems like a nice guy sometimes and i have fun hanging around with him. I try to accept my friends as they are, despite their shortcomings. But sometimes this guy makes it hard for me because it seems deep down he is rotten to the core.
But after knowing him better i saw what it was all about: The good old prize of all prizes of course. His ticket to paradise. Here's some anecdotal things about him:
- One other time we were talking about poverty and he told me he is hording supplies because the time of hunger is near and he wants to be safe. And no, he is not going to share any of that, trust me.
- One other time we were walking and some beggar came and ask us for some money. After we both ignored him he got angry and started ranting about how he is working hard all day and doesn't have to fund every lazy beggar who doesn't want to work. I mean, sure, there's some point in that but how can you be so sure about this particular beggar for instance? How do you know about what he is being through and you assume he is just some lazy bum?
- He believes in literal hell and doesn't care if you die a horrible death or if you suffer forever in hell if you somehow wronged god badly enough. I managed to make him admit that after i cornered him in a conversation.
- There was a massive accident in Greece some decades ago (one of the worst in human history) where many children got literally decapitated after their school bus collided with a truck and the building materials it was carrying cut the school bus in half. One of the child survivors thought it was a miracle he got saved and became a priest (he didn't care about the other children dying obviously). When i asked him about it he said it was indeed a miracle. The children who died must have wronged god in some way. Or maybe their parents. Those jerks!
Imagine saying that to the parents of the victims. I would have caved his face inside his skull.
I mean, yeeeeeaaaaah, Ok.... Other than that he seems like a nice guy sometimes and i have fun hanging around with him. I try to accept my friends as they are, despite their shortcomings. But sometimes this guy makes it hard for me because it seems deep down he is rotten to the core.
GeekyDad
Member
Obviously, just another opinion (that you solicited by making this thread) by another shitty person, but:
1. I do think people have some good in them -- and I think it's a spiritual/electrical thing that passes through us -- energy, if you will.
2. Those two folks and others like them were made heroes by the masses, very much like Jesus. You think Jesus gave a rat's ass about us remembering his/her name? I doubt it. I think the point was to remember, revere, and try to act in alignment with the teachings, not the person, i.e. the Tetragrammaton -- to be (not a personification.)
3. Agreed. But disagree. We're just flesh guided by ________ .
Last edited:
MagusMajul
Member
You're exactly right. I am not a nice person nor do I try/pretend to be. I only care about myself and about how much money I can make. I don't believe in god and thus have no fear of him. Morality and law are arbitrary ways to control the sheep it's only wrong if you get caught. Every man for him self!
Artoris
Gold Member
Morality comes at a great expense to self but with out it we would not be capable of forming a complex society we would only be throwing rocks at each other wile starving
Dr.D00p
Gold Member
It's just biology and a humans inherent survival instinct coming to the fore. If it means fucking over everyone around you to survive and stay ahead, people are compelled to do it.
When Humans only lived for 20-30yrs in brutal conditions, where your very survival was at risk every day, we learned to do whatever it takes to live another day.
When Humans only lived for 20-30yrs in brutal conditions, where your very survival was at risk every day, we learned to do whatever it takes to live another day.
clem84
Gold Member
I agree with all of this but I will add this.
The older I get the more I feel like most of what makes you a good or a kind person is your upbringing. There was a movie about this, I forget the title. A bunch of kids who grow up on an island alone. If human beings are left to their own devices during their upbringing, they turn out to be demons. Only care about themselves and sometimes will do vile things if they can get something out of it.
We are a flawed species, we need guidance. A good moral code taught from your parents, or that comes from spirituality or from your faith. More and more this is what I believe. Most people will turn out to be terrible human beings if they don't have that during their formative years.
winjer
Gold Member
What most people perceive as someone being bad, is usually just people being in their own bubble, caring about their own problems and just trying to survive.
It's not that people are selfish or evil. It's just that we are not able to comprehend the problems that everyone else has.
Like Halon's razor states, "Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity."
The moment we understand that most things that people do, it's just ignorance and stupidity, due to the limits the human condition, we start to realize that there is not that much evil in the world.
It's not that people are selfish or evil. It's just that we are not able to comprehend the problems that everyone else has.
Like Halon's razor states, "Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity."
The moment we understand that most things that people do, it's just ignorance and stupidity, due to the limits the human condition, we start to realize that there is not that much evil in the world.
ForAcademicPurposes
Member
When I get into that mindset I remember the good samaritans that I met along the way.
When I was child having quite a few customers on my paper route (Yeah I know, nobody does that anymore) screw me over by not paying me had me wondering about it. I'll guess they'd justify it to themselves by telling themselves they were screwing over the publisher but no, every time it happened it came out of my money. (It was not a high paying job.)
Hawk The Slayer
Member
What is Life's greatest Illusion?
Innocence
Innocence
I have cycled throughout most of Europe for sometimes months on end with most of the time being me alone on a bike with nothing but some clothes, a hammock and some cooking accessories. Aside from a few noteworthy instances, I have met nothing but kind people who have sheltered me, given me food and let me into their lives - all while expecting nothing in return. I think you have to adjust your expectations to what a good person is, maybe get out of the big city (if you live in one) and get off the internet.
Represent.
Represent(ative) of bad opinions
Nonsense. Most people in the world are good people.
Go_Ly_Dow
Member
I went to Malta recently for a 4 day trip with my partner. There were so many acts of kindess we encountered.
*We were viewing the sunset on these cliffs and a photographer decided we made a great photo and so without us knowing took some stunning photos of us. Then after he came up to us, asked for my number and sent me them. Didn't ask for anything in return.
*We walked into a restaurant after hiking for 2 hours to just get a coffee and some water and they gave us free food.
*We went into a very popular restaurant and the owner/manager gave us and a few tables surrounding us all free desserts
*We were taking a ferry and our taxi took us to the wrong terminal and drove away. So we thought we wouldn't be able to make it. Then the guy working at the wrong terminal came over and booked us a taxi using his app so we could get a discount and got us to the correct terminal and on to the ferry with a few minutes to spare.
There are a lot of decent people ot there who will do things for you and want nothing in return.
Last edited:
HRK69
Gold Member
That’s just basic hospitality or maybe even self-interest. Plenty of people help others for reasons that have nothing to do with being morally good. Maybe they just like the idea of being generous, or they want to hear your stories, or they’re bored. That doesn’t mean they’re good people in some grand ethical sense
But I think that most people are like you just described, kind and willing to help when they can, though that still doesn’t necessarily mean they’re "good" in some deeper moral sense
HRK69
Gold Member
I agree. I write internal content for training purposes, and the number of people asking utterly ridiculous questions never ceases to amaze me
And those people will try to help others who, frankly, are incredibly stupid on their own
The irony is, if people spent half the time thinking through their questions or doing a bit of research, we could all move forward much faster
Oberstein
Member
Joking aside, I quite agree with you. It's happened to me with people I considered friends. And then you see others you haven't seen in years, and they haven't changed that much, they were just awful before. After all, it's all a question of perspective, and I imagine that they too have this perception from time to time. But yes, always tricky to digest.
JimmyRustler
Member
OP, what does make a good person do you think?
I’ve been contemplating the same topic for a while btw.
I’ve been contemplating the same topic for a while btw.
Mohonky
Member
Good is relative to many things. Majority of people would say they are good, but it depends on what their values are.
'Good' in the sense they are doing as a scripture commands?
'Good' as per the customs and culture of their society?
'Good' as in they just keep to themselves and don't actively do any harm (but don't necessarily help out others either)
'Good' in that that actively take action to make changes that benefit others?
Honestly even people who do horrible things can / do justify it so they don't believe themselves to not be good on some metric.
'Good' in the sense they are doing as a scripture commands?
'Good' as per the customs and culture of their society?
'Good' as in they just keep to themselves and don't actively do any harm (but don't necessarily help out others either)
'Good' in that that actively take action to make changes that benefit others?
Honestly even people who do horrible things can / do justify it so they don't believe themselves to not be good on some metric.
Kenneth Haight
Gold Member
NotMyProblemAnymoreCunt
Biggest Trails Stan
Man I miss George Carlin so much. He's one of my favorite comedians and was right on the mark lot of the time on a lot of subjects
Most of the time they want to hear stories, so yes there is mostly an exchange of some kind. Whether that dilutes a true good nature I cannot tell you, because I have no idea if that kindness/hospitality was based off a moral judgement. To me, being a good person is having the capacity to strive towards morality, or at least striving to know it, whether one may have done in the past. Expecting goodness in its ultimate form in others is a mind-game for philosophers that I know all too well, and I have come to understand it as desire, or demand, for a perfection that more often than not makes an enemy of goodness itself, but I digress.
I will say most people are good, and the fact that such acts of kindness can be understood as basic hospitality emphasizes that.
Sardaukarama
Member
Cracking song
Trogdor1123
Member
People are good as a rule. You are seeing a small vertical slice of people and can define their core? Thats bologna. You are seeing something small that doesn’t agree with what you want it to be doesn’t make them evil. It makes it different, that’s all. You also train people how to treat you.
bitbydeath
Member
You can bring out the good in people by being good yourself.
Years ago when I fractured my foot in a mountain climbing accident, the amount of people offering help was astounding.
I was getting offers to help with my groceries and even drive me around, and this was from complete strangers.
When you go out walking, smile at other people, say Good Morning/ Afternoon. People will reciprocate as most people are naturally good.
People don’t rob people because it’s fun, they do it for survival, it’s the survival instinct which can make good people seem bad but they’re mostly just in it to survive.
NotMyProblemAnymoreCunt
Biggest Trails Stan
Truer words have never been spoken. If you are a nice guy all your life don't be surprised when people take advantage of that kindness and treat you like shit. I seen this happen so many times and it's usually after some hard life lessons in regard to this that these nice guys are no longer nice and in process people tend to treat them with actual respect. But that depends if they actually learn from previous mistakes. That's my two cents and I hope what I said made sense
Last edited:
JimmyRustler
Member
True, but that was not what I was getting at.
What makes a good human being in my opinion are not his actions but his thoughts. People can do goods for many reasons but your own mind cannot be tricked. If you envy others or wish them ill, you are not a good person.
Often times I find it not even hard to learn who just pretends as often spontaneous situations will reveals ones true character. For example the things some people think is funny.
Kamina
Golden Boy
Sounds like you define “good” as never doing anything bad at all.
We are all capable of both good and evil.
It’s the sum of our actions and whether we regret the bad things we do that defines us, not whether we are perfectly good at all times or not.
I believe most people are mostly good, however, i see a lot of confusion, ignorance, selfishness, intolerance and a general lack of forgiveness in today’s society, which gets promoted by (social-)media.
I also believe that there are few very evil individuals, which are so depraved that the depths of their minds would make you sick.
I try to not be judgmental. We all have our flaws and as long as we genuinely try to be good we are in the right path.
We are all capable of both good and evil.
It’s the sum of our actions and whether we regret the bad things we do that defines us, not whether we are perfectly good at all times or not.
I believe most people are mostly good, however, i see a lot of confusion, ignorance, selfishness, intolerance and a general lack of forgiveness in today’s society, which gets promoted by (social-)media.
I also believe that there are few very evil individuals, which are so depraved that the depths of their minds would make you sick.
I try to not be judgmental. We all have our flaws and as long as we genuinely try to be good we are in the right path.
Last edited:
DKPOWPOW
Member
I have seen a lot of stupid things said in this thread, this is probably the worst offender. Anyone who has raised even a pet would see through this BS.
It's easy to get jaded the older you get. Most people fall into this trap, it's sad. Life isn't easy sometimes, for a lot of people it's incredibly difficult.
Empathy is probably the most powerful emotion people have, and to think the majority lack it is absurd.
Lord Panda
The Sea is Always Right
Some people are vicious cunts and want to puncture other people's bubbles.
PuppetMaster
Member
The reason we have pets at all is because humans have bred them over generations for specific docile genes to better serve humans. Not because there is some inate "goodness" in them.
Thier ancestors would have had no problem ripping and eating your face off. But that does not make thier ancestors inately evil.
There are evolutionary reasons why both the pet and the wild animal behave in their specific ways. And it has nothing to do with goodness or evilness or morality.
When I was younger, I literally saw some "pets" rip apart another animal (coyote) like a play thing. And they appeared to be enjoying it. And it made me start questioning this idea that there exist such simple categories of good and evil that we can divide the world into.
Last edited:
Hawk The Slayer
Member
Lmao! I don't actually believe that myself but just wanted to repeat what Sithis says in the Dark Brotherhood questline from Skyrim.
IntentionalPun
Ask me about my wife's perfect butthole
I’ve done some dark things; all betrayals of some sort, almost entirely involving women.
The funny thing is as far as my general behavior goes I’m crazy polite, I help people that need it, I’m generous (tip big, have loaned money to friends and said they don’t have to pay me back, etc.)
But then if I listed all the messed up shit I’ve done you’d think I was a psycho. I came to grips with this fact about 5 years ago though and haven’t done anything since, but still worry I’m capable. I can throw huge grenades at my life on a whim and blow it all up.
The funny thing is as far as my general behavior goes I’m crazy polite, I help people that need it, I’m generous (tip big, have loaned money to friends and said they don’t have to pay me back, etc.)
But then if I listed all the messed up shit I’ve done you’d think I was a psycho. I came to grips with this fact about 5 years ago though and haven’t done anything since, but still worry I’m capable. I can throw huge grenades at my life on a whim and blow it all up.
DKPOWPOW
Member
I haven’t played thru Skyrim, but man the brotherhood quests in Oblivion were awesome.
You are not wrong, yet also not right. Breeding nowadays and maybe the past few hundred years looking for docile genes is a thing yes. Go back thousands of years ago and dogs were generally bred to assist with work.
The companionship with working class dogs began thousands of years ago, for example the Inuit dog. Even extremely ancient sites that still haven’t been completely unearthed, have shown evidence of this relationship between humans and dogs (or other animals for that matter). This is something that goes back further beyond than what we even know.
We are talking 20-40000 years at the minimum, nobody actually knows when somebody decided to tame a fucking wolf and play fetch.