Good intentions -- how much do they mean to you?

[Edwardo Piet]

Good post Chimp3.

[Edwardo Piet]

Some things about a person never change, and that's their personality. Good intentions are an important part of good character, or good personality. I myself, for example, may change in ways but I'll never stop being enthusiastic, and I'll never stop being empathetic (at least to the extent that I've ever been empathetic and ever come across that way), and I'll never stop feeling compassion for everyone And on the inside I'll always internally forgive everyone and never hold onto resentment, even if I may not tolerate... although I'm certainly tolerant

Using myself as an example because I know me

Good intentions are intentions that are..... good. Which is good

[Losty]

If you slap a mosquito off my back and accidentally push me off a cliff, I'll be too dead to care about your good intentions.

[*Deidre*]

Think we're talking past each other, so...never mind. lol

Oh I thought we were agreeing. So I guess we are talking past each other lo

Well, we both had ....wait for it...good intentions?

[Banjo]

To me good intentions mean an awful lot. There are so many shitty people in this world and it means the world to me when people mean well. And some people go far beyond good intentions in that they are just such incredibly compassionate and empathetic people. It all means so much to me. When I know someone cares and they show it, it makes me smile. Sometimes it really is the thought that counts

No good deed goes unpunished.

[Excited Penguin]

If you slap a mosquito off my back and accidentally push me off a cliff, I'll be too dead to care about your good intentions.

Yes, that happens all the time.

We should all just stop being intentionally nice. It's just not worth the possible unforeseen consequences.

[Losty]

If you slap a mosquito off my back and accidentally push me off a cliff, I'll be too dead to care about your good intentions.

Yes, that happens all the time. 

Aren't you Mr. Understanding when something is an analogy? What happened?

[Excited Penguin]

Yes, that happens all the time. 

Aren't you Mr. Understanding when something is an analogy? What happened?

I was criticizing the analogy, not the example you used in it. It was too extreme. And it wasn't helpful at all, IMO. We can't all stop being nice. We can't tell whether we'll be those few cases out of a hundred that screw something up despite our good intentions.

Mr. Understanding...

Oh, boy. Perfect example of what I'm describing, I reckon.

[Losty]

Aren't you Mr. Understanding when something is an analogy? What happened?

I was criticizing the analogy, not the example you used in it. It was too extreme. And it wasn't helpful at all, IMO. We can't all stop being nice. We can't tell whether we'll be those few cases out of a hundred that screw something up despite their good intentions.

Mr. Understanding...

Oh, boy.

Well then you clearly missed the point of the analogy. I don't think anyone should stop being nice, I think people should start being smart. There are more important things in life than wanting to help people (especially people who haven't asked for help) and I would wager that thinking your actions through before doing them is one.

If someone's standing at the edge of a cliff be smart enough not to slap a mosquito off their back. It might have been nice if it wasn't so stupid.

[Excited Penguin]

I was criticizing the analogy, not the example you used in it. It was too extreme. And it wasn't helpful at all, IMO. We can't all stop being nice. We can't tell whether we'll be those few cases out of a hundred that screw something up despite their good intentions.

Mr. Understanding...

Oh, boy.

Well then you clearly missed the point of the analogy. I don't think anyone should stop being nice, I think people should start being smart. There are more important things in life than wanting to help people (especially people who haven't asked for help) and I would wager that thinking your actions through before doing them is one.

If someone's standing at the edge of a cliff be smart enough not to slap a mosquito off their back. It might have been nice if it wasn't so stupid.

You can't just start "being smart". People are already as smart as they could be. I really doubt it that there are more important things in life than wanting to help other people - it's what keeps society going.

I seriously can't think of any cases right now where good intentions hurt. They are almost always welcome and helpful. The more, the better. It's genuinely hard to screw up with a good intention.

For example, I have nothing but good intentions towards you right now. I find it hard to believe that counts for nothing.

But if you're willing to diminish it so much by comparing it to slapping a mosquito, go right ahead.