What is your greatest virtue that you abide by?

[ImTheDoubleGreatest!]

I wonder this about people. It seems to me that most people nowadays don’t have any principles that they stand by anymore, or they just don’t know themselves enough to know what they do or should stand by. People used to take pride in this kind of thing and it would give them strength. Maybe that’s why everyone is such a pvssy nowadays. So I’m just wondering what everyone else’s virtues are. Personally, mine is strength above all (both physical and mental), then loyalty second (which no one has at all nowadays...).

I was wondering about you guys and what your belief/value systems are.

 

[Murk]

You'd rather be strong than loyal, interesting considering you alluded to principles/virtues of days gone by, which tended to lean mainly on truth, loyalty and respect.

I think today's generation is fvcked due to the current mindset of "me above all" which is very ironic considering you have displayed such a childish mentality in your opening post yet purporting otherwise.

 

[ImTheDoubleGreatest!]

You'd rather be strong than loyal, interesting considering you alluded to principles/virtues of days gone by, which tended to lean mainly on truth, loyalty and respect.

I think today's generation is fvcked due to the current mindset of "me above all" which is very ironic considering you have displayed such a childish mentality in your opening post yet purporting otherwise.

Well consider this scenario:

You are opening up your own business. You love your parents, but this is YOU. This is YOUR business, not theirs. You have to build it up yourself. Sure, you’ll take advice when it comes by, but you aren’t going to be bossed around by anyone even if they are your parents because you still have to learn how to do things for yourself. You and them get into an argument about it and in reality they should not be trying to get as involved as they are. You don’t want to disrespect them because they are your parents, but you still have to be strong enough and sure enough that what you know IS the right way.

I would respect a man like this more than I would respect a man who got bosses around by his parents until they both passed away. That’s why I say strength. Even when I was young and weak myself, I valued strength more than anything without even realizing it.

Part of valuing strength over loyalty is because of reasons such as the top thread on SS. Say you are whipped by a girl. You have to have the strength to tell her to **** off and leave her without looking back MORE so than you need the loyalty of sticking with her.

And also, having loyalty requires strength a lot of times too. Most people take whichever side is more popular or has more power just so that they are with the better side. They won’t actually stick to their guns though. They aren’t loyal to themselves. To do that in the face of resistance requires strength. That’s another reason why I value strength more than loyalty, because they do somewhat go hand-in-hand.

As for the ‘me above all’ ideology, there’s a difference. Most people do so out of ego rather than self-esteem (aka weakness rather than strength). It’s not that Jake needs a balloon because he deserves it, it’s because Johnny over there has one even though he doesn’t. Do you see what I mean? There’s a difference and it manifests in other areas as well. They feel that others are below them, rather than they are high up. It’s sabotage rather than competition. Or it’s competition rather than teamwork. That’s the difference.

 

[marmel75]

IDGAF

 

[logicallefty]

Mine are accountability, courage, dignity, integrity, and respect. In no particular order.

 

[lizardking82]

Loyalty, accountability, reliability, respect.

 

[ohrein]

virtue - behaviour showing high moral standards

Strength isn't a virtue, sorry to say. How you use it determines if you are virtuous or not.

To answer your question, honesty. Truthful speech is by far the highest virtue as all other virtues stem from it. It's not easy these days to speak your mind honestly and I've lost a lot of friends and family members as a result over the years. Probably even some women. Now that's not to say what you believe is right, it's important to listen to other people to correct yourself if you feel they speak a truth beyond yours, but doing the best you can with what you have has made me content beyond my wildest dreams.

 

[RangerMIke]

Honesty.... I never lie. Period. I think lying is a sign of weakness.

 

[Bible_Belt]

Honesty.... I never lie. Period. I think lying is a sign of weakness.

That's interesting. I am similar. The most insulting part about being called a liar is that the person presumes I care enough about what they think to come up with a lie to give them.

 

[ImTheDoubleGreatest!]

virtue - behaviour showing high moral standards

Strength isn't a virtue, sorry to say. How you use it determines if you are virtuous or not.

I knew someone would say this.

The reason why I used the word ‘virtue’ is because many people use it interchangeably with ‘value’ or ‘principles’. This is because what morals are is subjective from person to person. Morals are what guide you:
Moral - a person's standards of behavior or beliefs concerning what is and is not acceptable for them to do.

Always be strong. To do otherwise is just wrong. I can’t stand it. A man bending over just to take it up the ass just ****s me up mentally straight to the core. It’s almost traumatizing (but that would imply indecisiveness during setbacks and a weak mental state, which is not strong). In the same way it is wrong to steal a pacifier from a baby, is the same way I view being weak (for men). It’s just wrong.

Honesty.... I never lie. Period. I think lying is a sign of weakness.

I am the same way. I may not tell EVERYTHING that may want to be known (some things are better left untold), but I never lie. I guess honesty is up there with me too.

 

[ohrein]

I knew someone would say this.

The reason why I used the word ‘virtue’ is because many people use it interchangeably with ‘value’ or ‘principles’. This is because what morals are is subjective from person to person. Morals are what guide you:
Moral - a person's standards of behavior or beliefs concerning what is and is not acceptable for them to do.

Always be strong. To do otherwise is just wrong. I can’t stand it. A man bending over just to take it up the ass just ****s me up mentally straight to the core. It’s almost traumatizing (but that would imply indecisiveness during setbacks and a weak mental state, which is not strong). In the same way it is wrong to steal a pacifier from a baby, is the same way I view being weak (for men). It’s just wrong.

I am the same way. I may not tell EVERYTHING that may want to be known (some things are better left untold), but I never lie. I guess honesty is up there with me too.

I'm pedantic, I know. But it's important to be careful with words, especially these days. I get what you're saying, my mental strength is my greatest asset. It helps me ACT virtuously so I suppose in that sense it is an extension of a virtue. I wouldn't say weakness is "wrong" though. People are weak for many reasons outside of their control.

 

[Mike32ct]

I just have a few that I try to live by...

1. If someone tells you something in confidence, keep it that way.

2. If someone else experiences bad fortune (even if they caused it or deserve it), never laugh or gloat about it. It's bad karma. Bad things can still happen to you.

 

[BeExcellent]

Honesty, loyalty, personal integrity, transparency, respect & honor in no particular order.

In life at times things happen that challenge ones character. Many here for example stood up and took marriage vows for example and are now divorced, myself included. How can that be? Are these people not all charlatans never to be trusted? Or could it be that dynamics within the marriage came after time to a crisis point and cross roads where the conditions inside the relationship became diametrically opposed to one's values? What to do then? Respect your values and leave the relationship or stay in the relationship and abandon your values?

Sometimes those are the choices life sets before you. Sometimes you can't have it both ways. Those are rarely easy choices to make, but eventually we all must face such a choice along the way.

How and what you choose to do under that kind of duress shows you who you really are.

 

[wolf]

Never grieve when hoes leave.

Also Loyalty (number one), honesty, trust, reliability, 50/50 give and take.

If my Gut doesn't trust you then why the hell should I?

 

[MoreThanSmooth]

I never make a promise I can't keep. If I can't guarantee 100% I can do something, I won't make the promise. That goes for big things like relationships and large business transactions and small things like a favour a friend or co-worker wants or something.

Also honesty and loyalty. I abide the law and I try not to judge people unfairly. If someone treats me well, I treat them well...and vice versa.

I guess with regards to relationships, I have a bro code that I guess is probably antiquated but still. I won't try to lead a girl away from her BF or hit on a married woman, even if she seems interested. One, because it feels like a chickens*** move. And two, because I'd be annoyed by the guy's selfishness and lack of respect for my relationship if the roles were round the other way.

Perhaps the only time I'd violate that code is with a woman I've known for years if her BF was seriously physically or emotionally abusive.

 

[Desdinova]

I'm loyal as fvck, as long as I'm not wronged by the person I'm being loyal to. If I get fvcked over, I'm done, and I hold one hell of a grudge.

For example, if my ex-gf (who got really fat after we split) decided to stick with me and treat me like a king, I would completely look past her fat and stay with her.

 

[ImTheDoubleGreatest!]

I'd say loyalty but that is totally devalued today.

I completely agree. I remember when I was a little child, I would see on TV things about friendship being first and foremost, sticking up for your friends and family no matter what, and always being trustworthy towards them. Not anymore. I think what changed was that media companies tried to stop this form of loyalty (since it creates social groups to identify with and thus give strength from) and instead created more drama shows instead about backstabbing ‘OMG’ crap to leave your mouth open. That slowly began to take over and now all over Hollywood, backstabbing is the norm, and it’s manifested itself into the real world. It’s a sad thing indeed.

Respect your values and leave the relationship or stay in the relationship and abandon your values?

I will ALWAYS choose my own pride and dignity over others. I’ve let too many people stomp all over me throughout my short life, and I refuse to be brought to my knees ever again. Even for those who I may die for, I CANNOT place then above my own self respect anymore. Even if I wanted to.

I have a bro code that I guess is probably antiquated but still.

It’s sad that this is true. Back in the 90s, the bro code was as real as Fight Club. It’s unwritten and just known. Rule #1 is bros before hoes. Good luck finding that in anyone at all nowadays. That’s basically just male loyalty at its core.

 

[ImTheDoubleGreatest!]

I'm loyal as fvck, as long as I'm not wronged by the person I'm being loyal to. If I get fvcked over, I'm done, and I hold one hell of a grudge.

For example, if my ex-gf (who got really fat after we split) decided to stick with me and treat me like a king, I would completely look past her fat and stay with her.

Same. If there was a chick who made me really happy and tried super hard to please me, I would not cheat on her. If the hottest pornstars came knocking on my door, grabbed my **** and asked for a threesome, I would tell them “Nope, sorry. I’m in a relationship and I’m happy with my woman right now. I can’t do that to her.” Not gonna lie, I’d probably be kicking myself for the rest of my life after that lol, but I still would NOT cheat.

 

[Bible_Belt]

I am a very generous person to strangers. I help them all the time. I am also good at getting help from strangers when I need it myself. Having said that, I am also very good at spotting a panhandling crackhead from a distance. Tonight in the grocery store parking lot was a personal best, at least 60 feet. I could hear her in the distance, "excuse me, sah....excuse me....."

"NO THANK YOU!" I yelled at her and held my hand up in a 'stop' gesture. She immediately slunk back into the darkness. I try to love everyone, but I can't tolerate crackheads.

 

[ImTheDoubleGreatest!]

I am a very generous person to strangers. I help them all the time. I am also good at getting help from strangers when I need it myself. Having said that, I am also very good at spotting a panhandling crackhead from a distance. Tonight in the grocery store parking lot was a personal best, at least 60 feet. I could hear her in the distance, "excuse me, sah....excuse me....."

"NO THANK YOU!" I yelled at her and held my hand up in a 'stop' gesture. She immediately slunk back into the darkness. I try to love everyone, but I can't tolerate crackheads.

Same. I’m younger than most of the people who walk the streets and my face is a lot more angelic than others, so I’m a target for that stuff. It’s turned me into a very cruel person sometimes, but they deserve every bit of it, and then some. I remember once there was this one crackhead who walked into a restaurant I was eating at. I was by myself, like many others. He was outside and saw me, then walked in, walked past EVERYONE just to go talk to me and ask for money. I didn’t even make eye contact with the guy or look in his direction, it was just peripheral.

Well anyways, I was in a REALLY bad mood at the time and when he asked if he had money, I gave him a viscious glare and said “No” in such a forceful way that it would have ruined any person’s week. Afterwards he walked away and I could see through his body language that he was pissed off and hurt. **** you mother****er, why come to someone you think is an easy target? It pisses me off to think about and saying anymore will probably get me banned from SS lol

That being said, I’m generous as well, but ONLY when it is not expected at all. If it is, then I’m a stingy cheapskate.