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It's hard trying to be a good person. And even understanding what being "good" means.
Share stories or discuss.
Share stories or discuss.
The Struggles With Being a Good Person
- Thread starter OfficePants
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A... I understand that. But kids challenge the sensibilities of good men.
To me good is looking in a child's eyes and saying with truth that you're acting in their best interests instead of being their best friend. The child will insist otherwise, and only life experience can guide you in this moment. This is why the binary of video game culture is so dangerous since it exploits simple choices -and kids reflect that on you.
I mean this... thank you for the first reply. I was not sure about this thread, but you made it clear you understood its need.
To the root of your post, we may be saying the same thing.
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Yeah, but part of being a parent is looking in your kids eyes and lying to them in their best interest. Shit, half the things parents tell kids are lies just to get them to do one thing or another, or believe something. Is that necessarily good?
Zé Ferreira
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I think if you find yourself lying with this frequency to your kids, you're doing it wrong.
Addressing children, I think "good" is the level of truth that they can understand. The ability to flush out this truth expands as they grow in stature and knowledge. "Good" isn't always "feel-good" though.
I like to think that "good" is also synonymous with "light" and "truth." I am also approaching this from a very religious background.
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Interesting turn. I find myself lying to kids when I am faced with deflecting situations that are age inappropriate. To Arg's point, truth does not necessarily equal good to me. Is there value in a 4 year old knowing detailed information about castration? Or serial killing? I don't believe so.
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This comment reminds me of all the shitheads out there flaunting their charitable work for the cache. Its like the guy that wants to appear eco and drives a prius. The ford fusion has a hybrid version, but oh no... it could be construed as a gas only car.
Zé Ferreira
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No - there isn't value in a 4-year-old knowing the grittiest parts of the world. They're young and shouldn't be exposed to that on principle. At the same time, if they ask a question about something serious like that, it shouldn't be deflected in a fairy-tale "all is right with the world" attitude. You would teach them at their level, breaking down complex ideas into concepts appropriate to their age and level of understanding.
Also, I don't mean "truth" as in speaking no lies, or 100% realism all the time. I mean truth as in things that ring naturally within one's being - overriding principles that affect all people. Those principles, qualities, etc. are "good."
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Fair enough, but this is basically a long-winded explanation for "we lie to protect them".
Zé Ferreira
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No - no lying at all. You're not obscuring the truth in any way; you're approaching them at their level of understanding.
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Dude, like remember 1/2 the world has an IQ of 100 or LESS. They are like already at that kids level. Its Bevis and Butthead parenting. Trust me, watch LiveLeak for a few days... there is no nuance in the bottom 50%.