Modern Tests of Character

[Dante]

In times gone by, people faced many tests of character, how brave are you when facing an enemy in battle, how noble are you when your enemy kneels defeated before you, how kind are you to your underlings, how civil can you remain when so utterly affronted in a civilised meeting, how trusting can you be when anyone could carry a deadly plague or be a communist or so on and so forth, how just are you when you have to choose between risking your life or ending someone elses?

Today we dont really have these grand and noble tests of character, so what would you say is a modern equivalent of a "test of character" from days gone by?

Let me lead you off with this one:

How you react when some lunatic cuts you off in traffic is a modern test of character.

 

[KM76710]

I have probably been cut off a fair number of times like many. If the road is that important, they can have it. No big deal to me. Let them go about their way and I never give it a second thought. Too many other things in life to be concerned with.

 

[Freya]

How you behave from behind a keyboard, especially in things like YouTube comments is a modern test of character.

 

[KM76710]

How you behave from behind a keyboard, especially in things like YouTube comments is a modern test of character.

People debating things online has me always saying I wish I had come up with the original guy eating popcorn out of a big bag emote for when folks go to debating things, I would just want money for each time it gets used.

 

[Dots]

Whether or not you believe gossip about someone and then how you treat them based on said gossip are modern tests of character... which could probably stand the test of time, given the scenario has most likely always existed, but is just exacerbated in the world of social media & easy anonymity.

 

[WhereTheRiverGoes]

How you react when some lunatic cuts you off in traffic is a modern test of character.

I’m guessing that steering with your knees so you can give him both fingers for the next few miles counts as failing that particular test.

 

[Dante]

I’m guessing that steering with your knees so you can give him both fingers for the next few miles counts as failing that particular test.

That test AND your driving test yes, pretty cool though.

 

[Dots]

I’m guessing that steering with your knees so you can give him both fingers for the next few miles counts as failing that particular test.

I give them the sarcastic thumbs up. I feel like it says I'm disappointed in you and makes them feel worse... well, I hope.

 

[Lady Wolfshead]

To me, the single biggest test of character is how you treat those weaker than you who cannot give you anything except gratitude. How do you behave towards them when nobody is watching. This may include the poor, children, the elderly, animals, people who are disabled or members of oppressed or marginalized groups, your employees or subordinates at work.

This test of character has always existed.

 

[Lady Wolfshead]

p.s. may I say how delightful this thread is. I never hear people talking about character. Usually people speak of "personality" which is a much more surface quality. Someone can have a great personality and be secretly behaving atrociously. Far too much emphasis is placed on personality and superficial charm. It's who someone is deep down that matters.

 

[KM76710]

p.s. may I say how delightful this thread is. I never hear people talking about character. Usually people speak of "personality" which is a much more surface quality. Someone can have a great personality and be secretly behaving atrociously. Far too much emphasis is placed on personality and superficial charm. It's who someone is deep down that matters.

Absolutely agree. Character goes with rectitude as far as I am concerned. Then you wonder how many even know the word rectitude.

 

[BlueGreen]

Interesting thread and answers. I agree that how someone behaves behind the keyboard is a very modern test of character. I don't know if character is something that is set. I see it as a lifetime of choices. What do I do in this situation? How did I react in that moment? How did I cope when I reacted badly? It's an ongoing test and I often fail but with more years it sort of gets easier to not fall into the traps. I feel I have failed this week in a certain situation but managed to hold it in. I know I could get road rage so I actively set out to keep calm, let people race past or whatever. I think it's a series of things, some you win some you don't but maybe the test is - do you give in to your worst instincts or try to be a better person? Gossip is another test - if you hear something bad about another person do you straight away believe it or do you think there are two sides to every story? Gossip is especially corrosive.

 

[BlueGreen]

Whether or not you believe gossip about someone and then how you treat them based on said gossip are modern tests of character... which could probably stand the test of time, given the scenario has most likely always existed, but is just exacerbated in the world of social media & easy anonymity.

Yes, definitely this. It really exposes weakness of character.

 

[Jgrabc]

If you believe in equity based on some parameter regardless of qualifications or equality of opportunity. This is a test of character.

I believe it's unethical to give the same salary to two people based on a character identifier regardless of experience or knowledge.

(years ago I didn't get a job because of the color of my skin even though I had more education, more experience, and higher scores on the companies entrance exam. Had a friend that worked there tell me about the person that was hired and that he was hired to specifically meet a “quota”....)

 

[Dante]

If you believe in equity based on some parameter regardless of qualifications or equality of opportunity. This is a test of character.

I believe it's unethical to give the same salary to two people based on a character identifier regardless of experience or knowledge.

(years ago I didn't get a job because of the color of my skin even though I had more education, more experience, and higher scores on the companies entrance exam. Had a friend that worked there tell me about the person that was hired and that he was hired to specifically meet a “quota”....)

I hate the idea of quotas, its a seriously fucked up solution to the problem. "How do we solve racism? Lets be MORE racist! Lets treat the minority as a commodity, ignoring their qualities as a human being, and lets discriminate against the majority based on the colour of THEIR skin, that will solve EVERYTHING."

 

[Jgrabc]

I hate the idea of quotas, its a seriously fucked up solution to the problem. "How do we solve racism? Lets be MORE racist! Lets treat the minority as a commodity, ignoring their qualities as a human being, and lets discriminate against the majority based on the colour of THEIR skin, that will solve EVERYTHING."

You said it more elegantly than I did.

 

[Aves]

I read something about returning shopping trolleys at the supermarket is the ultimate litmus test. You don’t have to return it, there’s no law that says you have to but whether you do or don’t is now being treated as an indicator of whether you’re a good or bad person. I know it’s sparked a huge debate with some people saying that it’s not as black and white as all that and some people could have a disability or screaming kids with them. I guess it’s food for thought even if it wasn’t meant to be taken too seriously.

 

[Pebble mouse]

I read something about returning shopping trolleys at the supermarket is the ultimate litmus test. You don’t have to return it, there’s no law that says you have to but whether you do or don’t is now being treated as an indicator of whether you’re a good or bad person. I know it’s sparked a huge debate with some people saying that it’s not as black and white as all that and some people could have a disability or screaming kids with them. I guess it’s food for thought even if it wasn’t meant to be taken too seriously.

LOL, Well I guess I'm a bad guy then 😁 I never return the trolley. I mean, it's someone's job to collect them. I always leave mine in one of the trolley bays closest to dads car. Actually, does that count as returning 🙄

 

[Aves]

LOL, Well I guess I'm a bad guy then 😁 I never return the trolley. I mean, it's someone's job to collect them. I always leave mine in one of the trolley bays closest to dads car. Actually, does that count as returning 🙄

Yeah I would say so, I think it’s meaning if you just kind of ditch it anywhere rather than putting it in a bay or back to the store. I only ever take mine back to the bay closest to the car too, I’m far too lazy to go any further than that 😂

 

[neutralbuoyancy]

In times gone by, people faced many tests of character, how brave are you when facing an enemy in battle, how noble are you when your enemy kneels defeated before you, how kind are you to your underlings, how civil can you remain when so utterly affronted in a civilised meeting, how trusting can you be when anyone could carry a deadly plague or be a communist or so on and so forth, how just are you when you have to choose between risking your life or ending someone elses?

Today we dont really have these grand and noble tests of character, so what would you say is a modern equivalent of a "test of character" from days gone by?

Let me lead you off with this one:

How you react when some lunatic cuts you off in traffic is a modern test of character.

how you behave when someone close to you is being bullied or showing proper behavior at a funeral is a good test i think