[quote=briansd1]Ren, pricks are not saints. Acting like a saint is part of being a prick.[/quote]
I didn’t say they were saints, I said the worst pricks are the ones who think they are saints, and I’ll amend that to include those pricks who are only acting like saints.
[quote]Society richly rewards pricks; so people learn to become pricks. Prime examples: Donald Trump, Glen Beck, Rush Limbaugh.
Even the righteous admire and respect pricks. So there’s not much downside to being a prick.[/quote]
Those are just the pricks who get noticed. There are a lot more who live in the gutters of society. The vast majority of successful people I know are not pricks.
I’ll grant you that some aspects of a prick can be respected – for example, I (somewhat) respect Limbaugh’s intelligence. Other than that, he’s a complete ass and hypocrite. I don’t respect or admire him.
[quote]Being kind, gentle and understanding is frought with danger. You’re seen as weak and malleable — someone who can be taken advantage of. And pretty soon you’re crucified. That’s when you become a saint, but then you’re dead.[/quote]
You’re assuming that you can’t have some combination of the two – I believe that’s the most effective. You’re right, though – someone who is only cuddly and nice will be consistently run over, and even I (someone who appreciates nice people) am repulsed by weakness.
It is possible to be kind by default and ruthless when appropriate. That’s what I strive for. In some ways it’s actually the easiest and most rewarding way to go – I’m respected by the people I admire and whose opinions matter to me, and I get to run over the people who deserve it.
