|
Values = self-esteem?
A friend asked me recently to not reveal a confidence. I assured told my friend that I could be trusted. On pondering this during my shower, I considered explaining that I don't like people who betray trust and therefore, not wishing to be a person I don't like, I wouldn't behave like one.
Which got me wondering. Is it possible that people who don't like themselves don't care about living up to any standards, theirs included?
One recent poster posted to ask how he could keep one girl that he's cheating on while keeping the other girl in reserve. Do people not understand how unkind and inconsiderate and hurtful that behaviour is? Do they just not care about others' feelings? Is this amorality? Or is his opinion of himself so low that he doesn't care if he behaves like a jerk?
Is it that people just don't have any values which include being virtuous?
How come people measure their worth in terms of faces and butts instead of by whether they are kind enough, understanding enough, generous enough, loving enough?
Why do people revere sports and entertainment stars even when those people behave abominably?
Why is it that these so-called 'Family Values' organizations don't specialize in teaching people to be more loving and considerate of their family members and focus instead on finding people to censure? Are they making 'values' a bad word?
Are 'virtues' old-fashioned?
Is it that people require threat or reward (in the forms of religious conviction) to behave decently to one another?
Is it that people who don't esteem themselves can't be bothered being people they might like?
__________________
I expect to pass through this world but once. Any good, therefore, that I can do or any kindness that I can show to my fellow creatures, let me not defer nor neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.
|