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Being a good person/citizen?

Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
In my eyes; courage, discipline, respect for others, integrity, loyalty and selfless commitment, are all values which can and should contribute to being a good person/citizen.

What do you guys think is missing, what perhaps shouldn't or doesn't need to be in there? What qualities do you most admire about yourself and/your friends, how best can be instil these in the youth of today who may well be our future leaders?

Discuss........

Comments

  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    a good citizen- someone who lives somewhere.

    i'm not trying to be facetious but i feel uncomfortable with the idea that by living somewhere you somehow 'owe' that community something. qualities are individual and i dont think they should be universally applicable.


    i like and get on with my friends because they make me laugh and care.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I think a good citizen is a person who doesn't treat other people like shite and who is there to help in some way if required. Clementine, you're right, you shouldn't feel like you owe something, but in a cmmunity those that help others will receive help in kind.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I know that this woman is definitely not a good citizen

    Therefore by extension I would say that you don't necessarily have to be a citizen to be a "good citizen"
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I know that this woman is definitely not a good citizen

    Therefore by extension I would say that you don't necessarily have to be a citizen to be a "good citizen"
    "Go back to niggeragua"... What a fucking idiot.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    G-Raffe wrote: »
    In my eyes; courage, discipline, respect for others, integrity, loyalty and selfless commitment, are all values which can and should contribute to being a good person/citizen.

    What do you guys think is missing, what perhaps shouldn't or doesn't need to be in there? What qualities do you most admire about yourself and/your friends, how best can be instil these in the youth of today who may well be our future leaders?

    Discuss........
    I don't believe any commitment can be self-less...

    I also don't believe in 'good' or 'bad' people... Only action and intent... Some behaviour being useful, some being detrimental. People change day by day, we shouldn't label them as this or that...

    Qualities I admire in people are a "go getting" kind of attitude... That is, individuals actually get up and do something, rather than moan about it. People who are themselves and don't really give a shit what other people think... Empathy, but also being able to distance yourself from people... Bravery in taking risks for your convictions... Humility...

    Of course, none of these traits or absolute, or permanent... The difference between courage and cowardice for example, can be what's at stake... The difference between empathy and wanting revenge against somebody can be socialisation, mood, other environmental factors...

    I like to believe all humans have 'good' in them and are essentially 'good' because they can contribute to the world in a way that brings happiness... But all humans can do harm as well...
  • SkiveSkive Posts: 15,282 Skive's The Limit
    I know that this woman is definitely not a good citizen

    The behaviour and appearance of that woman suggests to me she on some sort of stimulant drug. Most people don't gurn and rock like that when they're straight.
    Weekender Offender 
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    or she's got mental health problems. Noone is that stupid surely?
  • **helen****helen** Deactivated Posts: 9,235 Supreme Poster
    Skive wrote: »
    The behaviour and appearance of that woman suggests to me she on some sort of stimulant drug. Most people don't gurn and rock like that when they're straight.

    That's exactly what I thought - not that it justifies her behaviour, but is certainly worth noting.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    The related videos YouTube shows you at the end of the clip make for even more interesting viewing:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=zV2S2WFJqcA#!
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Whowhere wrote: »
    I think a good citizen is a person who doesn't treat other people like shite and who is there to help in some way if required. Clementine, you're right, you shouldn't feel like you owe something, but in a cmmunity those that help others will receive help in kind.

    yeah that is also true.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    The related videos YouTube shows you at the end of the clip make for even more interesting viewing:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=zV2S2WFJqcA#!

    ohhhhhhh dear. 'non-whites'. lol
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Skive wrote: »
    The behaviour and appearance of that woman suggests to me she on some sort of stimulant drug. Most people don't gurn and rock like that when they're straight.
    I think you're probably right - but regardless of what she's on/not on, she still aint a good citizen in my book. What kind of tool would take something when in charge of a small child?
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Namaste wrote: »
    I also don't believe in 'good' or 'bad' people... Only action and intent... Some behaviour being useful, some being detrimental. People change day by day, we shouldn't label them as this or that.

    I'd think that depends on what one's working definition of a good or bad person is. I'd argue a 'bad person' is a useful shortcut term for people who've exhibited a predilection towards deliberate action - or deliberate lack of action - which leads to detrimental outcome. I'm not certain that you're exhibiting it here, but there does appear to be an attitude prevalent among liberal folk to sanitise language, particularly negative language. 'Good' and 'bad' can cease to mean anything in certain liberals' lexicons. Or even worse they become taboo words. I believe in good and bad people; I just don't apply the terms with any sense of absolutism.

    People do change day-by-day, no doubt, but unless you're arguing for the slate to be wiped clean immediately after each action they take, particularly the negative ones, then I'm not really sure what you're arguing. Whether you chose to label someone as 'bad' or 'a person who has committed a range of deliberate actions with intended negative consequences' is much of a much to me.

    I agree with you broadly about about labelling people, though, and am at often at pains to avoid being labelled.
    Qualities I admire in people are a "go getting" kind of attitude... That is, individuals actually get up and do something, rather than moan about it. People who are themselves and don't really give a shit what other people think... Empathy, but also being able to distance yourself from people... Bravery in taking risks for your convictions... Humility...

    Strongly agree.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    A person has been arrested and is currently undergoing "assessments", I'm guessing its the same woman from the video ;)
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Made me laugh how they blurred her photo in the papers lol.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I was expecting to make my first post here with these exact words, kind of disappointed. Either way, that's exactly how I feel. The second you get into what constitutes a good and bad person, morality becomes involved and all sorts of subjective arguments break out. Such is life.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I'm not into using the cliches that I associate with American patriotic movies/recruitment posters like the overuse of the words 'honour' and 'integrity'. If you overuse them they mean jackshizzle.

    I simply treat people as I'd like to be treated, literally. I'm nice to most people and if I don't get on with a person I make sure our paths don't cross often. I'm not religious and I know it's a Biblical quote and probably a cliche in itself, but life would be much better if everyone treated people how they'd like to be treated.
  • Indrid ColdIndrid Cold Posts: 16,688 Skive's The Limit
    Treating others how you'd like to be treated isn't a simple way to do it either. Because someone will come along who doesn't like to be treated in the same way you like to be treated.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Treating others how you'd like to be treated isn't a simple way to do it either. Because someone will come along who doesn't like to be treated in the same way you like to be treated.

    I've always thought this about the Golden Rule. It's often - wrongly - hailed as an example of Judeo-Christian morality, but its seems rather flawed for the reason you cite. A better example would be 'treat people how they'd like to be treated', though I'm sure that's not perfect either.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Treating others how you'd like to be treated isn't a simple way to do it either. Because someone will come along who doesn't like to be treated in the same way you like to be treated.
    I would actually assert that everyone likes being treated with respect, although that can mean different things. You don't treat an adult in the way you would treat a child, as that would obviously be patronising lol, but really.. treat people with respect in relative terms.
  • SkiveSkive Posts: 15,282 Skive's The Limit
    Weekender Offender 
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    G-Raffe wrote: »
    In my eyes; courage, discipline, respect for others, integrity, loyalty and selfless commitment, are all values which can and should contribute to being a good person/citizen.

    What do you guys think is missing, what perhaps shouldn't or doesn't need to be in there? What qualities do you most admire about yourself and/your friends, how best can be instil these in the youth of today who may well be our future leaders?

    Discuss........

    Respect for others, check.
    Respect for the law?
    Pride in your appearance, pride in your home, pride in your community.
    A good citizen should be active in the community and try to help out. Not just look after No. 1.

    I'm someone who keeps a tidy house, answers my mail (and returns mail that isn't meant for me), votes in elections and for the most part doesn't try to piss off the neighbours. I obey the law but I also like to take an active part in improving the world in a variety of voluntary roles. When I have children I will educate them to do the same. I like to think of myself as a good citizen.

    If you run a crack house, abuse your children or your pets, or cause harm to others, you are a bad citizen.
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