What good does apologies and self-critisism do?

Bowfinger

Lifer
Nov 17, 2002
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392
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Originally posted by: Riprorin
Can someone enlighten me?
Not until you're willing to become enlightened.

But to answer your other question, it's about right and wrong. I don't know if this applies to you personally or not, but in general, it's noteworthy to me that the notion of right and wrong seem to regularly escape so many of the self-proclaimed Christians on the right. Either today's churches don't focus on such fundamentals like they did when I was growing up, or we have a lot of "Christians" who are learning impaired in morality.


Edit: typos
 

kylebisme

Diamond Member
Mar 25, 2000
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ya, its is about learning from your mistakes. assumeing you like beating your head against a wall, apologies and self-critisism are both rather pointless; but otherwise such things come in quite handy.
 

AcidicFury

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May 7, 2004
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Originally posted by: Bowfinger
Originally posted by: Riprorin
Can someone enlighten me?
Not until you're willing to become enlightened.

But to answer your other question, it's about right and wrong. I don't know if this applies to you personally or not, but in general, it's noteworthy to me that the notion of right and wrong seem to reqularly escape so many of the self-procalimed Christians on the right. Either today's churches don't focus on such fundamentals like they did when I was growing up, or we have a lot of "Christians" who are learning impaired in morality.

Generally, the object of apologizing is to have humility and feel generally bad for what you have done. However, not many people in the world do this that much.
 

Riprorin

Banned
Apr 25, 2000
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Originally posted by: Bowfinger
Originally posted by: Riprorin
Can someone enlighten me?
Not until you're willing to become enlightened.

But to answer your other question, it's about right and wrong. I don't know if this applies to you personally or not, but in general, it's noteworthy to me that the notion of right and wrong seem to reqularly escape so many of the self-procalimed Christians on the right. Either today's churches don't focus on such fundamentals like they did when I was growing up, or we have a lot of "Christians" who are learning impaired in morality.

Ah, another Christian basher. We don't have enough of those here.
 

nutxo

Diamond Member
May 20, 2001
6,825
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Originally posted by: Bowfinger
Originally posted by: Riprorin
Can someone enlighten me?
Not until you're willing to become enlightened.

But to answer your other question, it's about right and wrong. I don't know if this applies to you personally or not, but in general, it's noteworthy to me that the notion of right and wrong seem to reqularly escape so many of the self-procalimed Christians on the right. Either today's churches don't focus on such fundamentals like they did when I was growing up, or we have a lot of "Christians" who are learning impaired in morality.


How in the hell did this turn into a thread about christians?

In the case of bush apologies do no good. The sheep run in circles bleating "I told you so" and "Its not enough". In life in general a hearfelt apology can mean all the difference, in politics its deadly.
 

Hayabusa Rider

Admin Emeritus & Elite Member
Jan 26, 2000
50,879
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Why is it that conservatives cannot be self critical or apologize?

Both questions are loaded to get a specific answer.

Part of being President is that you get the buck regardless if you want it or not. When your policy creates a situation where others are harmed and should not be, then the President needs to do exactly what all others need to.

1) Admit the mistake without trying to justify it.

2) Confront those harmed and express sincere regret

3) Make restitution as can best be done.

4) Take the steps needed to prevent it from happening again.


This embodies the concept of repentence in religious terms, but also how civilized individuals and societies deal with harms done.

I don't think this is hard to grasp, but seemingly many would try to worm their way out of doing it.
 

Czar

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
28,510
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Originally posted by: Riprorin
It seems rather pointless, but the libs wallow in it.

Can someone enlighten me?

learning from your mistakes, pretty important lesson to learn in life
 

Perknose

Forum Director & Omnipotent Overlord
Forum Director
Oct 9, 1999
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Originally posted by: Riprorin
It seems rather pointless, but the libs wallow in it.

Can someone enlighten me?
Self criticism is pointless? You NEVER critique your actions? You also question what good apologies do? Do you have children? How about a conscience? Again, you think "self-criticism" is POINTLESS?!? :shocked:
 

XZeroII

Lifer
Jun 30, 2001
12,572
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appologies are meant to let others know that you acknowledge that you made a mistake. ie: I pee off a building and hit you. I say I'm sorry because I want you know know that I know I made a mistake and should not have done that. It's simply a way of communicating with a person you wronged.

Self-Criticism...I suppose that if you have tons of faults, then it would be pretty pointless, but for most people it's a way to better youself. ie: If I fail a test at school, I will perform some self-criticism and that will inspire me to work harder next time to make sure that doesn't happen again. It can also inspire fat people to lose weight. Self-Criticism is a very healthy thing as long as it doesn't consume your life.
 

tnitsuj

Diamond Member
May 22, 2003
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You really never learned the value of apologizing and self-criticism(to be distinguished from pointless blaming onelself and worrying). ????

In short it is a way to acknowledge a wrong and a way to better onself through self-examination.
 

Zephyr106

Banned
Jul 2, 2003
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Errr what happened to the vaunted "personal responsibility." As already stated hundreds of times, the buck stops at the US president for whatever the US military does.

Maybe Bush should sue the Iraqi prisoners for existing? Afterall, by appearing in the photos and videos, they may have caused monetary, psychological, and emotional damages to him.

Zephyr
 

Bowfinger

Lifer
Nov 17, 2002
15,776
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Originally posted by: Riprorin
Originally posted by: Bowfinger
Originally posted by: Riprorin
Can someone enlighten me?
Not until you're willing to become enlightened.

But to answer your other question, it's about right and wrong. I don't know if this applies to you personally or not, but in general, it's noteworthy to me that the notion of right and wrong seem to reqularly escape so many of the self-procalimed Christians on the right. Either today's churches don't focus on such fundamentals like they did when I was growing up, or we have a lot of "Christians" who are learning impaired in morality.

Ah, another Christian basher. We don't have enough of those here.
On the contrary, I am certainly not bashing real Christians. It's the faux Christians who wield that label to conceal or justify their distinctly un-Christian behavior.

You asked why should we bother to apologize. My answer is that it's the right thing to do. As someone who rarely sees the world in black and white terms, this is an exception. It should be a no-brainer, IMO. When you or someone you are responsible for does something wrong, you apologize. Plain, simple, no exceptions, no excuses. It is not necessarily an expression of personal guilt. It's a recognition that a wrong occurred and that you regret it occurred. The fact this has to be explained to some people, most specifically Bush and his minions, speaks volumes about their essential character.

.
 

Spamela

Diamond Member
Oct 30, 2000
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Originally posted by: Riprorin
It seems rather pointless, but the libs wallow in it.

Can someone enlighten me?


for one thing, it shows that you understand that
something was a mistake and that you learn from mistakes.

at a minimum, it demonstrates that you understand when a
situation requires an apology,
even if you don't actually feel regret.

"the libs wallow in it." - i don't think it's a liberal vs. conservative
issue - demonstrating humility can be politically advantageous
regardless of your views.
 

sandorski

No Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
70,806
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Originally posted by: Zephyr106
Errr what happened to the vaunted "personal responsibility." As already stated hundreds of times, the buck stops at the US president for whatever the US military does.

Maybe Bush should sue the Iraqi prisoners for existing? Afterall, by appearing in the photos and videos, they may have caused monetary, psychological, and emotional damages to him.

Zephyr

It has become inconvenient.
 

sMiLeYz

Platinum Member
Feb 3, 2003
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Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't humility a Christian value?

So why would a practicing christian like yourself, say that apologies and self criticisms are "pointless"?

Enlighten me.
 

biostud

Lifer
Feb 27, 2003
19,975
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Originally posted by: sMiLeYz
Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't humility a Christian value?

So why would a practicing christian like yourself, say that apologies and self criticisms are "pointless"?

Enlighten me.

Depends if you follow the old or the new testament.
 

BaliBabyDoc

Lifer
Jan 20, 2001
10,737
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0
Originally posted by: sMiLeYz
Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't humility a Christian value?

So why would a practicing christian like yourself, say that apologies and self criticisms are "pointless"?

Enlighten me.
Well technically humility is a Christ-like trait but many of the alleged Christians in public circles that wear their religion like a badge of honor have no clue.

So the jury may be out on humility but there's very little doubt that hubris is not a Christian trait.
 

HomerJS

Lifer
Feb 6, 2002
39,526
33,069
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When one of your main objectives is winning the hearts and minds of the people of Iraq and other Arab countries and everyone knows you F'ed up it's required.
 

busmaster11

Platinum Member
Mar 4, 2000
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Originally posted by: Riprorin
It seems rather pointless, but the libs wallow in it.

Can someone enlighten me?

It helps to identify and prevents the "enlightened" from making the same mistakes in fundamental attitudes all over again.

I'd say you need to hit the history books, but even they won't teach you the simpliest of moral values which you lack.
 

busmaster11

Platinum Member
Mar 4, 2000
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Originally posted by: BaliBabyDoc
Originally posted by: sMiLeYz
Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't humility a Christian value?

So why would a practicing christian like yourself, say that apologies and self criticisms are "pointless"?

Enlighten me.
Well technically humility is a Christ-like trait but many of the alleged Christians in public circles that wear their religion like a badge of honor have no clue.

So the jury may be out on humility but there's very little doubt that hubris is not a Christian trait.

Humility is a trait that Christ calls us to possess and exhibit, but one relatively few Christians have ever had.
 

leeboy

Banned
Dec 8, 2003
451
0
0
Originally posted by: Riprorin
Originally posted by: Bowfinger
Originally posted by: Riprorin
Can someone enlighten me?
Not until you're willing to become enlightened.

But to answer your other question, it's about right and wrong. I don't know if this applies to you personally or not, but in general, it's noteworthy to me that the notion of right and wrong seem to reqularly escape so many of the self-procalimed Christians on the right. Either today's churches don't focus on such fundamentals like they did when I was growing up, or we have a lot of "Christians" who are learning impaired in morality.

Ah, another Christian basher. We don't have enough of those here.

Ah, another side-stepping hit and run poster with partisan blinders on, like we don't have enough of THOSE here.

:roll:
 

Riprorin

Banned
Apr 25, 2000
9,634
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The perps, who are being brought to justice, ought to apologize, but why all this collective guilt and hang-wringing?

It's all politics, plain and simple.