thescruffypiratedotorg

This question has been coming up a lot lately in pre-nap wonderings, so I thought I would pose it to you. What does it mean to be a good human being? Don't worry about being wordy. I ask this, because I'd like to think of myself as a good person. Or at least as exhibiting good person behavoir (I can't change who I am at heart). And so I am trying to create a standard for myself, so I can try and live up to it.

What I don't want to hear is how you are a good person, or how I am or am not a good person or of someone you know who is a good person. Generally, what does it mean to be a good person? Or what sort of actions or behaviors does a good person exhibit?

Thanks for the help, guys! You're the greatest!

9 March 2006 05:39am UTC • 1977 views • 7 comments

7 comments

1. zuri the one eyed bandit

   9 March 2006 06:13pm UTC

   ideally i think it is someone who tries their utmost not to hurt other people (or themselves.) they tell the truth and they are kind.

2. Anne the Pirate of Literary Theory

   9 March 2006 08:31pm UTC

   I think that you are "good" if you follow your self-dictated moral code closely and don't do stuff that you know is wrong for you. Often your moral code and society's moral code may be fairly closely aligned. Sometimes not. Then they call you "crazy" and send the dogs in after you. But sometimes, even crazy people are "good".

3. Beca

   9 March 2006 11:44pm UTC

   Sorry, can't sign in, don't know why. Apparently I am not meant to?

4. Completely in love with Benjamin

   10 March 2006 12:22am UTC

   I think being a good person is believing, or trying to believe, that you are not a better person than anyone else. That inevitably leads to other "good" qualitities...non-judgemental, sympathetic, willingness to help, etc.

5. The Anonymous Poppy

   10 March 2006 09:44pm UTC

   A good person is selfless. Loyal and trustworthy. Honest. Chances are, they have learned to be perceptive and kind, as well, if they've been practicing being a good person long enough. Willing to compromise, although as you've noted, Benji, compromise does not mean changing who you are.

   And I think it helps to be self-aware enough to know how to be helpful and good in the best ways. For example, if doing some specific helpful or compromising or selfless thing would make me feel really resentful or something like that in the long run, this feeling would end up making me a much worse person and less likely to continue doing good things, so I should know that about myself so that I understand that doing this specific thing is not actually "good" for me.

6. Carpenter Courtney

   11 March 2006 01:28pm UTC

   A well-thought, constantly scrutinized set of ethics. Courage to take responsibility for one's actions. Aristotelian development of the virtues (for more information, I'm sure Omer has read Nichomachean Ethics ;) ). Self-awareness that leads to self-action. Honesty, a sense of humor, a healthy dose of existential anxiety, and, of course, not being a Republican. :)

7. Swabie Scabbie

   13 March 2006 05:43am UTC

   I second everything Courtney said, but I also think you need compassion. It just seems dangerous to me to care about anything more than you care about the happiness of yourself and others.

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