I've always believed myself as a good person.  Honestly, I dunno what to believe nowadays.  But I always find myself trying to do good and do the right thing.

This video seems to accurately portray our current times.  And a wake up call as to what is considered a good person.

I think most people go through life thinking they are good or are trying to be good. There are lots of ways to "be good" so it isn't hard to think one is being good even while doing something unknowingly bad.

That's a pretty fancy looking video with fake old film digital video effect. I couldn't find any name attached to that essay. It could be all bs that somebody made up and attributed to the name of a great author in order to lend some credibility to the essay. I would bet money that the voice was a computer generated fake also.

That's a pretty fancy looking video with fake old film digital video effect. I couldn't find any name attached to that essay. It could be all bs that somebody made up and attributed to the name of a great author in order to lend some credibility to the essay. I would bet money that the voice was a computer generated fake also.

The very first "quote" in the video was attributed to George Orwell without any context, titles or sources. 

The words are not his:

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/george-orwell-destroying-people/

As the video narration starts, there are real quote from writings NOT titled 1984, but instead of providing what Orwell meant in his own words, they use the quotes as a springboard to give authority to the meanings the video producer wanted to convey.

When you start off a video with a provably false quote attribution, the rest needs to be taken with a few grains fof salt -- if not the whole shaker.

Didn't watch the vid, but going based off the thumbnail "Why good people suffer".

This is why I'm not religious.  Hitler killed 11 million Jews, why didn't god stop him?  The response I often hear is "free will".  Ok, but a tree could easily fall on him, a bolt of lightning could strike him, he could even choke on a grape.  These things happen all the time to people.

But I don't' consider myself an atheist.  I don't' know if there is a god or not. But I won't go as far as testing a god.  Nor would I make fun of someone who is a religious person.

So to answer OP's thread, this would be an ethics dilemma.  What's good or not good can be subjective.  Stealing is wrong, but what if a father is stealing meat to feed his starving child?  To the business affected, he's seen as not good. But to the father, he's providing for his starving kid.

My mom has a saying she's been telling me for many years. "Don't break any of gods laws or mans laws". 

Good is a relative term.  Good compare to what?

Ever shop at Sears?  Their name brand products were usually priced and classified as good, better or best.  Sometimes it referred to quality, sometimes it meant features or functions, and often it just meant it would last longer.  For example, their Die Hard batteries had longer prorated warranties as you went up the scale.

So, too, is morality on a scale.  Is killing wrong?  Bad?  Immoral?  What about killing for self defense?  National defense?  Law enforcement?

This is a philosophical topic, and as with all philosophical topics, there are only beliefs ... not cut and dried truths.

If you're really interested in exploring the topic, it would be a good idea to look at the origins of these concepts, everything from Greek philosophers, early religions and foundational documents for legal doctrine.

Just because something is legal doesn't mean it's good ... or just.   Without actual individual values, we're living in a society of automatons who only follow rules, not values.

Ya'll too deep
Think of it like this . . .
Gee that was a good cookie.
Meh, that cookie was ok.
Man, that cookie was really bad.
 

I realize that the concepts of good and evil can vary from person to person and from culture to culture.
Here is my personal opinion on evil:

Evil is not overcome by ignoring or fleeing from it.
Evil must be confronted and defeated or else it spreads.
Trump is currently addressing this matter as the left attacks him.
Some politicians will tell us that you have no right to self defense.
They also want to De-fund and/or Re-imagine the police into social workers.
These same people will tell us to shut up and suffer in silence from the evil that they promote.

Many of the same political party believe that the schools have the right to transform/mutilate
your children with out your consent or knowledge.

These people have used the government to target and destroy their political opponents.
The fake news media have been willing accomplices to the same leftist politics in spite of
the facts.

There are more things that I want to state but I will end it now.
I believe that most of the people on this site will continue to fight the good fight and that
no member that I know of does anything illegal or evil.

This is why I'm not religious.  Hitler killed 11 million Jews, why didn't god stop him?

Could be that the real show aint down here on earth, brother.

That’s how things would be if we human beings were in essence spiritual beings first and foremost, who are just passing through this physical plane, and being judged on how we lived here in light of that.

Sure comports pretty well to the hard facts of our existence here don’t it?

You didn’t create yourself, and one day you will surely die, taking not one thing with you - leaving just as you came.

I’d say the first half of your mom’s advice is excellent to follow, certainly until you decide on its intrinsic merits.

I realize that the concepts of good and evil can vary from person to person and from culture to culture.
Here is my personal opinion on evil:

Evil is not overcome by ignoring or fleeing from it.
Evil must be confronted and defeated or else it spreads.
Trump is currently addressing this matter as the left attacks him.
Some politicians will tell us that you have no right to self defense.
They also want to De-fund and/or Re-imagine the police into social workers.
These same people will tell us to shut up and suffer in silence from the evil that they promote.

Many of the same political party believe that the schools have the right to transform/mutilate
your children with out your consent or knowledge.

These people have used the government to target and destroy their political opponents.
The fake news media have been willing accomplices to the same leftist politics in spite of
the facts.

There are more things that I want to state but I will end it now.
I believe that most of the people on this site will continue to fight the good fight and that
no member that I know of does anything illegal or evil.

Very well said my friend - Thanks!

I realize that the concepts of good and evil can vary from person to person and from culture to culture.
Here is my personal opinion on evil:

Evil is not overcome by ignoring or fleeing from it.
Evil must be confronted and defeated or else it spreads.
Trump is currently addressing this matter as the left attacks him.
Some politicians will tell us that you have no right to self defense.
They also want to De-fund and/or Re-imagine the police into social workers.
These same people will tell us to shut up and suffer in silence from the evil that they promote.

Many of the same political party believe that the schools have the right to transform/mutilate
your children with out your consent or knowledge.

These people have used the government to target and destroy their political opponents.
The fake news media have been willing accomplices to the same leftist politics in spite of
the facts.

There are more things that I want to state but I will end it now.
I believe that most of the people on this site will continue to fight the good fight and that
no member that I know of does anything illegal or evil.

Just curious.  Do you view only bad behavior as evil, or is everything that's "not good" considered evil?  e.g. Does telling a beggar you have no money when you just came from the ATM rise to the level of evil (you lied), or is it just "not good"?

Also, you used the phrase "I realize that the concepts of good and evil can vary...".  That sounds like a belief in 2 extremes: you're either good, or you're evil.  Is that how you see people?

i think you can see where I'm going with this line of questioning.  i'm wondering if you accept the New Testament and the concept of forgiveness.  That's actually the defining concept in Christianity that separates it from other religions -- the belief that you can confess your sins and if needed perform some penance and thereby receive forgiveness.  it's basically a reset button for mostly-good people who failed to reject temptation or suffered a lapse in judgement.

Or are you more of a "you are what you do" thinker?  it doesn't matter what you think or believe in your heart.  Your character is defined 100% by your actions (or inactions). If so, then confession and forgiveness have no meaning.

Just curious.  Do you view only bad behavior as evil, or is everything that's "not good" considered evil?  e.g. Does telling a beggar you have no money when you just came from the ATM rise to the level of evil (you lied), or is it just "not good"?

Also, you used the phrase "I realize that the concepts of good and evil can vary...".  That sounds like a belief in 2 extremes: you're either good, or you're evil.  Is that how you see people?

i think you can see where I'm going with this line of questioning.  i'm wondering if you accept the New Testament and the concept of forgiveness.  That's actually the defining concept in Christianity that separates it from other religions -- the belief that you can confess your sins and if needed perform some penance and thereby receive forgiveness.  it's basically a reset button for mostly-good people who failed to reject temptation or suffered a lapse in judgement.

Or are you more of a "you are what you do" thinker?  it doesn't matter what you think or believe in your heart.  Your character is defined 100% by your actions (or inactions). If so, then confession and forgiveness have no meaning.

I'm sure he'll respond himself if he is so inclined, however I interpreted his comments as being clearly in the context of the existence of good and evil in the world, giving examples of the latter as he sees them happening in real time around us - hence my thanks for his stating it so well, from his perspective.

Your points, that good and evil are likewise in opposition within each and every one of us, are certainly more pertinent to us, as individuals, than the madness we see going on around us - for sure.

Just curious.  Do you view only bad behavior as evil, or is everything that's "not good" considered evil?  e.g. Does telling a beggar you have no money when you just came from the ATM rise to the level of evil (you lied), or is it just "not good"?

Also, you used the phrase "I realize that the concepts of good and evil can vary...".  That sounds like a belief in 2 extremes: you're either good, or you're evil.  Is that how you see people?

i think you can see where I'm going with this line of questioning.  i'm wondering if you accept the New Testament and the concept of forgiveness.  That's actually the defining concept in Christianity that separates it from other religions -- the belief that you can confess your sins and if needed perform some penance and thereby receive forgiveness.  it's basically a reset button for mostly-good people who failed to reject temptation or suffered a lapse in judgement.

Or are you more of a "you are what you do" thinker?  it doesn't matter what you think or believe in your heart.  Your character is defined 100% by your actions (or inactions). If so, then confession and forgiveness have no meaning.

Well Flapp I am not smart enough to answer all of your questions but I will do my best to answer them.
As far as veiwing all bad behaviour as evil, I see things in shades of grey. There are varying degrees of bad.
Telling a beggar I have no money could be the truth. I may have just come from the ATM but I have no money
for him/her. As far as the belief in 2 extremes, I again refer to my shades of grey. eg. Some people are good,
some are very good and some are very very good etc...The same applies to bad people. Some are bad, and
some are very bad.

As far as penance and confession is concerned well that sounds like a Catholic sacrament. I am not a Catholic
so I cannot answer that. It would probably be between the individual and his god. I do believe that in some circumstances
people may qualify for some sort of redemption (for a lack of a better definition). 

The evil that people do are mainly the manifestations of what they believe in their heart of hearts. Some will find a way to justify
anything they do. Just look at what the left has done to our state and our nation.

Well Flapp I am not smart enough to answer all of your questions but I will do my best to answer them.
As far as veiwing all bad behaviour as evil, I see things in shades of grey. There are varying degrees of bad.
Telling a beggar I have no money could be the truth. I may have just come from the ATM but I have no money
for him/her. As far as the belief in 2 extremes, I again refer to my shades of grey. eg. Some people are good,
some are very good and some are very very good etc...The same applies to bad people. Some are bad, and
some are very bad.

As far as penance and confession is concerned well that sounds like a Catholic sacrament. I am not a Catholic
so I cannot answer that. It would probably be between the individual and his god. I do believe that in some circumstances
people may qualify for some sort of redemption (for a lack of a better definition). 

The evil that people do are mainly the manifestations of what they believe in their heart of hearts. Some will find a way to justify
anything they do. Just look at what the left has done to our state and our nation.

That explains your beliefs much more clearly.  Thanks.

i have a simpler viewpoint of what's 'being good'.  To me it means doing what's right even when nobody is watching.  I equate it with my definition of integrity.

So, the only variation is how ones moral compass is set.  What constitutes the right thing?

If a cashier accidentally hands you change for $40 after you only gave her a twenty and a five, do you shove the money in your pocket and walk away?  Or do you bring their mistake to their attention?

if you see someone drop a $20 bill and start walking away, do you rush over and return it? Or do you rush over to pick it up as your own before anyone else sees it?

If you see someone being attacked on a subway or The Rail, do you go to their aid to try and stop the attack?  Or do you whip out your phone and start recording? Maybe get off at the next stop to avoid getting involved?

i believe when you have a strong sense of what's right, it removes the gray area in most situations.  Moral values can be taught much more easily than situational morality as possible situations can be infinite.

Growing up, what i learned is that humans have a great capacity for rationalizing almost anything.  "Why should i do the right thing when everybody else would do the opposite and get away with it?"  "Why should I help them when they've never helped me?"  The examples are endless.

I met a captain in the Air Force who'd just gotten passed over for promotion.  He had to be promoted to Major the next year, or he'd be involuntarily separated.  His supervisor gave him a long list of bullet points to include in his performance review and promotion recommendation form to improve his chances.  My friend asked, "If the job I'm in is the same as last year, and last year's write-ups were honest, why would I want to embellish and exaggerate what I did this year?  If this year's write-up is more honest, it should have been the same last year."

In his mind, gaming the system to receive a promotion and stay on active duty was not the right thing to do.  The rules exist for a reason, and he was insistent his supervisor play by them.

He wound up getting passed over once again and was separated soon after.

That's an example where a person values doing what he thinks is right over compromising his integrity for personal benefit. 

That explains your beliefs much more clearly.  Thanks.

i have a simpler viewpoint of what's 'being good'.  To me it means doing what's right even when nobody is watching.  I equate it with my definition of integrity.

So, the only variation is how ones moral compass is set.  What constitutes the right thing?

If a cashier accidentally hands you change for $40 after you only gave her a twenty and a five, do you shove the money in your pocket and walk away?  Or do you bring their mistake to their attention?

if you see someone drop a $20 bill and start walking away, do you rush over and return it? Or do you rush over to pick it up as your own before anyone else sees it?

If you see someone being attacked on a subway or The Rail, do you go to their aid to try and stop the attack?  Or do you whip out your phone and start recording? Maybe get off at the next stop to avoid getting involved?

i believe when you have a strong sense of what's right, it removes the gray area in most situations.  Moral values can be taught much more easily than situational morality as possible situations can be infinite.

Growing up, what i learned is that humans have a great capacity for rationalizing almost anything.  "Why should i do the right thing when everybody else would do the opposite and get away with it?"  "Why should I help them when they've never helped me?"  The examples are endless.

I met a captain in the Air Force who'd just gotten passed over for promotion.  He had to be promoted to Major the next year, or he'd be involuntarily separated.  His supervisor gave him a long list of bullet points to include in his performance review and promotion recommendation form to improve his chances.  My friend asked, "If the job I'm in is the same as last year, and last year's write-ups were honest, why would I want to embellish and exaggerate what I did this year?  If this year's write-up is more honest, it should have been the same last year."

In his mind, gaming the system to receive a promotion and stay on active duty was not the right thing to do.  The rules exist for a reason, and he was insistent his supervisor play by them.

He wound up getting passed over once again and was separated soon after.

That's an example where a person values doing what he thinks is right over compromising his integrity for personal benefit.

Hey Flap - Uku hea.

You one wordy bastard.

You remind me of this asshole going on and on about mortgages and such in one other thread.

No get habut, but you the same guy?

Thanks,

Uku

Hey Flap - Uku hea.

You one wordy bastard.

You remind me of this asshole going on and on about mortgages and such in one other thread.

No get habut, but you the same guy?

Thanks,

Uku

Wordy bastard?     

Speaking of words, ever hear the word "hypocrite?" 
I believe the term was encapsulated in the phrase "People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones."

This is a small sample of posts that I feel qualify as "wordy" -- as in,
"using or containing many and usually too many words".  but, I'm sure opinions will vary.

Be good!

https://2ahawaii.com/index.php?topic=57297.msg506363#msg506363

https://2ahawaii.com/index.php?topic=57253.msg506057#msg506057

https://2ahawaii.com/index.php?topic=57227.msg505847#msg505847

https://2ahawaii.com/index.php?topic=57297.msg506393#msg506393

https://2ahawaii.com/index.php?topic=57227.msg505996#msg505996

https://2ahawaii.com/index.php?topic=57227.msg506058#msg506058

https://2ahawaii.com/index.php?topic=57248.msg506046#msg506046

https://2ahawaii.com/index.php?topic=57193.msg505858#msg505858

https://2ahawaii.com/index.php?topic=57193.msg505718#msg505718

https://2ahawaii.com/index.php?topic=57193.msg505689#msg505689

https://2ahawaii.com/index.php?topic=56250.msg505342#msg505342

https://2ahawaii.com/index.php?topic=57135.msg505109#msg505109

https://2ahawaii.com/index.php?topic=57082.msg504838#msg504838

https://2ahawaii.com/index.php?topic=57082.msg504836#msg504836

https://2ahawaii.com/index.php?topic=57013.msg504721#msg504721

https://2ahawaii.com/index.php?topic=56895.msg504694#msg504694

https://2ahawaii.com/index.php?topic=57013.msg504465#msg504465

https://2ahawaii.com/index.php?topic=52701.msg504375#msg504375

https://2ahawaii.com/index.php?topic=57314.msg506555#msg506555

https://2ahawaii.com/index.php?topic=57326.msg506530#msg506530

https://2ahawaii.com/index.php?topic=52701.msg504371#msg504371

Wordy bastard?     

Speaking of words, ever hear the word "hypocrite?" 
I believe the term was encapsulated in the phrase "People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones."

This is a small sample of posts that I feel qualify as "wordy" -- as in,
"using or containing many and usually too many words".  but, I'm sure opinions will vary.

Be good!

https://2ahawaii.com/index.php?topic=57297.msg506363#msg506363
Wordy bastard?   

Speaking of words, ever hear the word "hypocrite?"
I believe the term was encapsulated in the phrase "People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones."

Good God man, I WAS REFERRING TO MYSELF!  Get it?  It’s called ironic humor, or poking fun at yourself.

I guess I was mistaken that you may have a sense of humor in there somewhere.

Loosen up Ted - you’ll live longer!

Good God man, I WAS REFERRING TO MYSELF!  Get it?  It’s called ironic humor, or poking fun at yourself.

I guess I was mistaken that you may have a sense of humor in there somewhere.

Loosen up Ted - you’ll live longer!

i have a fantastic sense of humor.  I just find it difficult to find humor when I'm being called a bastard & asshole by someone I've never met.

Here's one for  you that might actually be relevant:
-----------
It was a new inmate's first night in prison.  A few minutes after "lights out" when the noise had died down, the new fish heard something weird.

Someone in the dark yelled out, "41!!", and the whole cell block cracked up laughing.

Then, after the laughter died down, someone else yelled, "27!!", and again it was followed by loud laughter.

He called up to his cellmate in the top bunk and asked, "What the f*** is going on?"

His buddy replied, "Well, once you've been here long enough, you've heard every joke a hundred times.  So to save time, we gave them all numbers.  if you want to tell a joke, you just mention a number, and everyone else thinks of the joke and laughs."

"Wow!  Can I try one?"

"I dunno, it being your first night and all."

"Oh, come on.  Give me a good number."

"Okay.  33 is one of my favorites."

After waiting for a quiet spell, he yells out, "33!!"

Only a few inmates bothered to giggle, and the rest .... silence.

"I thought you said that was a good one."

"It is.  Try again with 19."

So, he tried again, and this time he got a few boos and a couple of death threats.

'Hey, man.  What's going on?"

"Well, you know how it is.  Some people can tell a joke ..."
----------

i have a fantastic sense of humor.  I just find it difficult to find humor when I'm being called a bastard & asshole by someone I've never met.

Wait, I think I have break this down more for you:

You see, I’m the asshole I was referring to who was going on and on about mortgages and being wordy - you know, after calling you a wordy bastard, after a characteristically wordy post on your behalf - like mine tend to be, and then the punchline was “hey are you the same guy?”

Well, that’s five minutes I’ll never get back, and you probably spent many times that to get back at me for just trying to pal around a bit.

No, you have absolutely no sense of humor whatsoever, nor can you read.

P.S. Being so easy to upset is a vulnerability….

Wait, I think I have break this down more for you:

You see, I’m the asshole I was referring to who was going on and on about mortgages and being wordy - you know, after calling you a wordy bastard, after a characteristically wordy post on your behalf - like mine tend to be, and then the punchline was “hey are you the same guy?”

Well, that’s five minutes I’ll never get back, and you probably spent many times that to get back at me for just trying to pal around a bit.

No, you have absolutely no sense of humor whatsoever, nor can you read.

P.S. Being so easy to upset is a vulnerability….

One of the main rules of comedy:  if you have to explain your joke, it wasn't funny.

I hope that's helpful.