Pride in yourself

[Angantyr]

Hi kids, today I come with the topic of PRIDE! As some of you may already know I have completed Final Fantasy 1, 2, 4, 5 ,6 ,7 8, 9 & 10 (you may remember from my first Sig), now the first time I mentioned it nobody cared, 2nd time somebody said thats nothing great, 3rd time they laughed and called me a show off, 4th time they got real pissed off with me. Now I wouldn't say its like amazing, give me an award, but it is still something that took me a lot of time to do and wasn't exactly that easy. But I haven't acheived much in my life so I like to comment on it thats reasonable right? Apparently not!

So my question today is, what is so wrong with having Pride? I know Christianity says its 1 of the Deadly sin, but the people who are complaining aren't all christians? Or if they are then what a coincidence! In fact I was just browsing through 1 of the members here's MySpace profile out of boredom (I won't say who) and they listed it as 1 thing they hate! Probably the most well known form today, also the most hated is White Pride, anybody thats White these days is taught to be ashamed of it! I guess people are to stupid to realise it but Pride isn't hate! There is also a growing amount of Asian Pride, which I really admire as they have a lot to be proud of, I only hope they don't end up the way us poor people are, in fact the only race that seems to be aloud to be proud is the Africans!

Put it this way, you saw this little girl that was living on the streets, she only had 1 arm and blurred vision, and when you met her you found she was very sick, now you took her home and gave her a place to stay and helped her get better, you enrolled her in school. Now she is 27... you helped her go through University and she got a PhD in Chemical Science. She was also quite a fan of cars, and 1 day she figured out very cheap petrol that anybody at home can make. Now this only made a bit of money for you but she won a Nobel Prize award or something. How the heck would you feel for you and her? Tell me that!

I tell you what, I am god damn proud of my ancestors, I am glad they carved out Civilisations across Europe! Cause if it wasn't for the Vikings you all wouldn't be here right now! Same with the Japanese, I quite enjoy being able to play a great series such as Final Fantasy! You know what? I am also bloody proud the Jews taught us that no matter how much you people hate you, you can still make it out on top! And myself, I am proud that though I am 1 of the unluckiest people you will ever met I have pushed myself to do what I have set out to acheive!

Explain to me what the f*ck is so wrong with Pride?

[Blacksmith]

What is wrong with pride? Blind force. I'm no christian, as you know, but pride is just a false hope. Course it doesn't mean you can't have pride, it may help some times. It's like you are saying you are proud to be who you are, it's given within a encouraging thought. However, like everything in life, there is two sides. Pride can blind you from the truth. For example, your friends who did the "White pride" thing are not wrong, they can be proud about what they are. However, to pride yourself in being something higher than another object, subject, or thing, is ignorance. They are blind by the color of skin and the cultural differences.

To me, pride is useless. I could say that I am proud of being related to an Indian War leader that within the French and Indian War, killed off more red coats that any other tribe, (true fact btw.) But, what does pride do for me? I'm related to a man who slaughtered hundreds, whoopdishit. Pride is just really a tool to make us feel better. Whether it be a good influence or not, there is no benefit but ignorance from it. You can be proud, but don't let it cloud your thinking.

[Tiffany]

I see it differently I guess. I see nothing wrong with feeling proud and happy for other people's accomplishments.

I think where pride becomes a problem is when you start thinking that you're better than everyone else. Or, you let your pride stand in the way of recieving help... that sort of thing.

[$Nanaki$]

I think it's more believing in yourself and an ideal, or knowing yourself for what you have done and accomplished then a matter of pride. Now if that's a definition of pride, I apologise, but I believe you can stand up for yourself and your beliefs and not call it pride.

[Tiffany]

^^ Exactly.

I don't see anything wrong with their being a sense of self-worth. You're supposed to have pride in yourself. If you didn't, who's to say that you'd even have a shower daily, or make an effort to have good personal hygene?

I think it's when you start belittleing others, or having so much pride in what you've done that you start to think you're better than other people. But I also think it boils down to common sense, because there should be a balance about everything.

But that's just my opinion.

[$Nanaki$]

Very true Tiffany, but you've got to realize as well a lot of people are lacking common sense-- people are stupid, but individuals are intelligent and should be taken on their merits.

I mean self-worth should not be confused with pride. If you take care of yourtself, i.e. have a bath/shower every day, look after yourself, well that's just basic human clenliness. Where it gets difficult is as you said, feeling good about yourself, and knowing you are a good person and making a difference in life. It could aslo be construed as apathy, or lack of common sense or self-worth.

Am I making any sense? Sometimes i can be very obtuse and obsequeious, but I guess the point is , fi you're happy with yourself, what does anything else matter? I mean, if you start thinking you're better then everyone else and want to control them, isnt that just as bad as not caring?

[TomStrife]

Pride isn't a bad thing. It can be used as a good or bad thing.

Showing off would be an example of using it in a bad way.

The Pride you have is using it in a good way.

(PS: If I were to tell my friends I beat all the FFs, they would label me as a nerd )

[Tiffany]

Originally Posted by Nanaki

I mean self-worth should not be confused with pride. If you take care of yourtself, i.e. have a bath/shower every day, look after yourself, well that's just basic human clenliness

Very true! I figured I'd elaborate on what I meant

Anyone can have a bath. Anyone can grab a bar of soap and clean themselves and that is basic human cleanliness. Where the pride comes in, is when you brush your hair, style it. Use some gel or whatever to style your hair. Blow dry it so it looks nice, that sort of thing.

Anyone can put on a pair of pants and a shirt, but having a personal sense of pride means you want to co-ordinate how you look. Make sure your socks match, stuff like that.

Then as with anything, there's pride in your personal appearance, and then there is being concieted, which is a fine line as well. I'm by no means trying to argue or say that what you said isn't true, because it is, I'm just elaborating a tad bit more on why I felt that way.

See, I see pride as being something you need to keep a balance in.

I finally learn to ollie on my skateboard. I've been practising for ages. I'm happy and proud of myself and because I'm proud of myself for practising enough to learn the first trick that urges me on to keep working and improving. That's healthy pride.

Unhealthy pride would be finally learning to ollie and then talking about it incessantly and showing of your accomplishment like you're the first person to ever learn to ollie. You quit practicing then, because you figure, well, I'm so good already there's no point in continuing. I suppose this definition of pride could also be seen as being smug.

See where I'm coming from? I'm usually pretty bad at explaining myself.

I don't see that there is much wrong with having pride in your accomplishments, it is when you try to use your pride as an anger tool. I think I may do this too often . That an I agree with Tiroskan that their has to be a balance, if you have too much pride an beginto use it to show off, than that cannot be very heathly. No one likes a show off "all the time". Once in a while it may be okay to brag, but all the time would be a little much.

[Secret Azn Man]

I see nothing wrong with a bit of pride. It's what helps keeps you going. If you don't any pride in who you are, what you do/did, then there's no point. If don't appreciate something, what is the point? And if there's no point, why do we exist?

Of course, just like everything else, moderation is key. As you all mentioned, too much pride can be destructive. Knowing how much pride we should have is very important.

[TomStrife]

Well,to be honest, I think people should give credit to God for their accomplishments.

[Secret Azn Man]

To be honest, I find it silly to give someone else credit for your own hard work.
I mean, what happens when you fail? Is that God's fault, too?

[Hecate]

I don't see pride as a false virtue or anything, just a feeling, that is hard to describe with other words. Saying "I'm proud of you" means you're very happy for that persona nd what they had done, the deed was a good thing, or very well done for their level. It's a feeling of accomplishment, knowing you or someone did something correctly and to your/their fullest. I agree with Tiff how you can have TOO much pride within yourself, but pride in and of itself when it's really deserved, I see nothing wrong with.

I'm proud of you, Odin ^_^

[TomStrife]

If you fail, then you leanr from your mistakes and it is less probable you will fail again. If you fail, it is God's will.