Tag Archives: decency

Mistaking Attractive Traits for Character

We’re naturally drawn to attractive traits like charm, charisma, and likeability. But mistaking these traits for character is dangerous.

Respect and Respectability

Social mores and customs have loosened up considerably. Folks are not as repressed as they once were. They have less unreasonable guilt and shame about relatively inconsequential things and are therefore less “neurotic.” But we’ve paid a dear price for the “whatever feels right for you” relativism that’s replaced our older respectability norms. And we don’t have as clear a sense of decency and civility as we once had.

Our Civility Reflects Our Character

Behaving in a decent and civil manner doesn’t mean we have to allow ourselves to be taken advantage of or abused. It just means we don’t have to act like we believe we’ve been treated. Rather, we should act like we would want to be treated.