Why does everyone think they're so great?

Everyone loves to claim, "Oh, I'm a good person, I would never do that, I'd never touch this." It’s a constant refrain—everyone's a saint in their own eyes. So, if that's the case,
where exactly 🤷
are all these "bad people" everyone keeps talking about hiding?

Donna Wood52 said:Everyone loves to claim, "Oh, I'm a good person, I would never do that, I'd never touch this." It’s a constant refrain—everyone's a saint in their own eyes. So, if that's the case,
where exactly 🤷
are all these "bad people" everyone keeps talking about hiding?

I can't speak for everyone else, but I know for a fact I'm the best 😁

Look, I’m not really making an assumption here—I know I can be difficult sometimes.
From what you're describing, people would just call that being hypocritical, dishonest, or two-faced—whatever term fits best.

Lisa Hernandez3 said:Look, I’m not really making an assumption here—I know I can be difficult sometimes.
From what you're describing, people would just call that being hypocritical, dishonest, or two-faced—whatever term fits best.

How can you even sit there and insult me like that?

Have you ever sat back and really considered the idea that the end justifies the means? Or how people often say that the road to hell is paved with nothing but good intentions... There’s so much more to unpack there, but my main point is that almost everyone acts out of what they believe to be a positive motive; nobody truly views their own actions as inherently malicious, but rather as a necessary step toward achieving some greater good...

It’s entirely possible to act with "good intentions" while being completely blind to the actual fallout of your actions—all those little variables and ripples that end up hitting someone else. You might genuinely believe you're doing the right thing, even if you're inadvertently causing harm. But I suppose there's a distinction to be made: there are those who are simply oblivious, and then there are those who constantly insist they are "good people" or claim they would never dream of acting a certain way, even when their actual behavior suggests quite the opposite.

Edit: and honestly, I guess I'm also guilty of this sometimes—not realizing I'm doing something wrong while fully believing my intentions are pure.

Alright, fine, I’ll admit it: I messed up. 🙄

Donna Wood52 said:Everyone loves to claim, "Oh, I'm a good person, I would never do that, I'd never touch this." It’s a constant refrain—everyone's a saint in their own eyes. So, if that's the case,
where exactly 🤷
are all these "bad people" everyone keeps talking about hiding?

Who exactly are we talking about?

I don’t consider myself a good person. In fact, I think I’m a complete piece of work—the kind of person who’d stab someone in the back just for a laugh. 😂
Just kidding...
But seriously, I'm not good. I'm bad. 🙂

Honestly, people do the most damage when they think they’re being righteous. You're oversimplifying a massive, messy topic here—like how people assume their own perspective is some universal truth everyone else shares. There isn't really such a thing as absolute "good" or "evil"; it's just our subjective take on a person or a situation. People who are actually doing the heavy lifting on themselves—true self-work—rarely go around calling themselves "good." It doesn't mean they aren't trying to be more objective with themselves first, which then ripples out to how they see the world (change yourself, change your reality, right?). It's like that old saying about how the road to hell is paved with good intentions. Depending on where you are in your personal growth, we choose our actions based on our internal compass. If you're acting with integrity toward yourself, you end up doing right by others without even trying; anything else is just what we label as "bad." I know I'm just rambling through this, but I hope you get my point. This whole subject is way too simplified in your view, at least if you ask me, but that doesn't make your take "wrong."

Donna Wood52 said:Everyone loves to claim, "Oh, I'm a good person, I would never do that, I'd never touch this." It’s a constant refrain—everyone's a saint in their own eyes. So, if that's the case,
where exactly 🤷
are all these "bad people" everyone keeps talking about hiding?

I am a terrible person. Except I'm not. I was basically an innocent child, but life beat that out of me. The way I was treated growing up in this country was subhuman. It was worse than how you'd treat a stray dog. Now, I just sit here wondering why I bother and waiting for the end.

I’m a decent person—at least until you hit a nerve. Up to that point, I think I’m better than most people I run into. Of course, plenty of folks walk around thinking they're saints, even when they aren't, mostly because they lack the self-awareness to actually look in the mirror and face their own flaws. And, you know how it goes—you don't really see someone's true colors until they get a taste of power or find themselves looking down on others. I can't say for sure how I'd handle certain situations I haven't faced yet... though, honestly, I hope I never have to find out.

I make a conscious effort to strive for being a "better" person, while simultaneously making it a point not to dwell too much on others when they fail to meet those standards or fall into gossip. To me, that seems to be the only productive way to maintain a clear conscience. Someone who lets themselves get overly burdened by those kinds of distractions is clearly struggling with their own deep-seated insecurities, and eventually, that mindset will catch up with them.

Look, nobody goes around bragging about their flaws; everyone’s busy trying to sweep them under the rug. You only confess those things to your closest friends—the ones who aren't going to judge you for it. But at the end of the day, people's actions always reveal who they really are... ☕

Donna Wood52 said:Everyone loves to claim, "Oh, I'm a good person, I would never do that, I'd never touch this." It’s a constant refrain—everyone's a saint in their own eyes. So, if that's the case,
where exactly 🤷
are all these "bad people" everyone keeps talking about hiding?

This is an interesting and complex topic.
First off, we really need to define our criteria—what actually constitutes being "universally good"?
Most people probably operate based on their own subjective internal compass of "goodness," but if you ask me, most "evil" stems from sheer stupidity or a fundamental inability to navigate a situation properly.
In other words, it's often a failure to view a situation from multiple perspectives or a refusal to admit one's own mistakes—essentially, a total lack of ego control.

steelskipper5 said:There are actually studies out there looking at how—and why—decent people end up doing incredibly messed up things. It’s not exactly a simple equation, I guess.

But honestly, why anyone would think they aren't a good person... I don't think that really needs explaining. I mean, who could actually live with themselves if they thought they were just some pure evil, total piece of trash?
That's why we all just make up these ridiculous excuses for ourselves.

I have to disagree. I spent years convinced I was one of those people, and honestly, it didn't bother me much at the time. Eventually, I realized I was wrong—someone finally held up a mirror to me, so to speak—but even now, my idea of what makes a "good person" probably wouldn't pass muster with the general public.🙄

I can't say I agree with that—honestly, looking at myself, I know I could be doing way better! I’m trying my best, but let's just say there's still some work to do...
And no, it's not like I have an ego problem or anything—I don't deal with those "better than everyone" vibes or feeling inferior, either. I totally get my own limits, you know? I see things for what they really are—myself, the world, and how I fit into everything—and I can clearly see there are genuinely good, honest people out there, even if I've still got a long way to go to reach that level myself
Usually, it's the absolute worst kind of people who think they're perfect—you know, the ones who act like they're always right and somehow more valuable than everyone else
I make it a point to stay far away from folks who think they don't need to work on their own character, but instead expect everyone else to change just to suit them
Fate usually catches up with those types anyway, leaving them totally alone or surrounded by nothing but weak, spineless people—which basically ends up being the same thing, right?

I’m feeling pretty spiteful today... and honestly? I’m loving every second of it. 🙂

Donna Wood52 said:Everyone loves to claim, "Oh, I'm a good person, I would never do that, I'd never touch this." It’s a constant refrain—everyone's a saint in their own eyes. So, if that's the case,
where exactly 🤷
are all these "bad people" everyone keeps talking about hiding?

It’s because they’re basically waiting for a payout for being decent. It makes you wonder how much "goodness" is actually real if it's just driven by self-interest. We’re all just looking for a pat on the back, social acceptance, or even just some pity when things go wrong—like, "Look at me, I'm such a saint, why is life treating me so unfairly?"

I feel like traditional religion played a part in this—the whole idea that if you're good, you get rewarded with heaven. It turns morality into a sort of transaction, almost material in its own way, since you're expecting some higher power to set you up in a better spot. If true kindness was based on our inner world—doing good simply because it feels right, not because we want a reward from people or God—then maybe we could actually call it being a good person...

The church definitely helped move the needle when society was pure chaos and needed some moral structure, but we should probably be more evolved than that by now...