What is the reason for some to act good?

[XWOLFX]

Main Question
What reason or element do you think would effect whether a person likes to get in trouble whether it is with a teacher, the law, or anything?
The same question to why some people act good and try not to get into trouble?

My Input
I really don't have any input into this because I don't get it because i try to act good all the time and never get into trouble and i don't know why because i want to have fun even if it isn't the best thing, but somethign always holds me back. I don't know why i do this, but i don't understand ppl who want to get in trouble and have fun making trouble.

[Klark]

I'd say fear. If one fears the consequences then they are held back. If one does not fear the consequences, why not go for it?

[Hybrid]

As Klark has pointed out, fear is an element, but I would also like to point out the element of respect.

Some people obey the law because they feel it serves the "greater good" of their society and they would still do the same if the law wasn't there. They have a genuine respect for laws and rules and fear has nothing to do with it for them.

The person who purposely goes out and causes trouble is in fear of having their identity stripped away. They desire to have attention whichever way they can get it due to their impoverished ego and therefore since they are too stupid to be creative within the bounds of the law, they take the easy way out and become problematic in order to fulfill a sense of worth. Little do they know that all they are doing is making their situation worse and they'll end up with less freedom than they started out with. :eek:

[XWOLFX]

I think it is the respect because i never try to get into trouble or do anything bad. I don't want to get into trouble which i guess you can call fear, but i do respect laws and don't want to hurt others or make others lives more complicated.

Next Question
What is the key factor that causes people to be respectful/fearful?


Some would probably say parents or something like how they were brought up. If anyone has anything else to add to that plz be my guest and let everyone know what you think plays a role in this characteristic.

[Klark]

I believe it's a lot with how you are raised. It's a personality quirk, one that can be overridden and done away with if/when necessary. It's almost like asking, "What makes a bully a bully and his victim a victim?" There are so many outside factors that pinpointing even a few is almost futile.

[Edwardo_son_of_haqim]

Fear of reprisal is the main reason most people follow laws or creeds, but really acting morally (and I use the word very lightly because following laws or the dictates of a creed does not consitute morality) under threat of punishment is never an adequite reason to behave in a certain way.

[orange camelion]

i do not obey a rule or a law that i do not agree with in some way shape or form,and i would say that yes it is probably a persons parents or guardians as a child that influence people to be respectfull or else a persons peers we often do what our peers or parents have told us because that is all we know...also there is always that annoying little voice in everyones head called a concience although many people choose to ignore it

[McKitty]

Next Question
What is the key factor that causes people to be respectful/fearful?

I would say enviroment. How was the person raised? Was s/he punished terribly for breaking any rules and not rewarded when s/he followed them? Or was rule-breaking a sound punishment and following the rules meant some sort of praise.

The first example would make most people timid and afraid to do anything against the law in fear of that symbolic blet coming down on them. On the other hand it could tun them away from obeying the law and make them resent all forms of it.

The second example should make respectful law-abiding citizens that see no reason to break the law.

But then again, there are so many factors with all of us and never one good solid one.

[chriz]

I believe in ownership of one's self, which I guess comes from being an atheist. I'm my own master, and I'm master of that which I own. I can't own another person because he is his own master and a thing can't have two owners (this is different from being responsible for another person, as a parent is for a child). As such, I don't have the moral authority to kill a man any more than I have the moral authority to destroy his car (while I could kill myself and I certainly can trash my own car).

I have the right to control my own life, my own property, and any fruits of the mixture of the two. This right isn't boundless -- the moment I attempt to use my property to infringe on anyone else's life or their ability to use their own property, I've crossed the morality line -- but up to that boundiary point it's absolute, IMO.

[Teej]

I think some people DON'T feel the need to be good.

But for the rest of us, I think it's because if everything you do is bad then life gets depressing and then it has no real meaning. I think most of us do good things to keep us out of being depressed, it feels good to do something good sometimes.

[forestwolf]

for good, well some people just are, nothing to be ashamed of. People are good because, I think, they are happy with themselves and have no reason to cry for attention. The good people are the people that hold the world together. Good people know what is right, and what is wrong, and listen to this because they have the knowledge and wisdom to understand that by doing good things will run smoother, work better, and they as people will be more respected.

Bad people who have “fun” are over rated, you can have just as much fun by being good, but the bad people don’t want you to know this little secret because they are miserable and they want you to join them. They also do bad things for attention, or to be noticed. if your good, people always notice you.

[PaganKatt]

Well, my definition of good and bad is much like the Celtic view of things. Good to me is an equal amount of chaos and order and bad is where one is more prominent than the other. But the main reason I act by the rules or the mainstream view of "good" is not because of fear, but because I feel like it. If I wanted to be bad I would..I just dont want to. Mainly because..I really dont have a reason to cause chaos, or be "bad". Hope that didnt sound too off the wall. :)