No, I am so disgustingly honest in terms of theft that it makes me sick :)

Having said that - I have stolen things.. I remember as a kid I used to steal my cousins cars, and I once stole something from a shop. I thought I had put it down, but when I got to the register I found it in my pocket when looking for cash and was too emarrassed to get it out... I always thought that was interesting that I did that and what it told me about myself.. Again, I was only a kid..

As an adult - I cannot remember stealing anything. If I ever find your wallet - you're gonna get it back if I can find you... and I have been in positions where I have made the decision to be honest rather than meet some necessities of life..

Anywhoo... I guess a major factor is that in almost each and every job I have been in I have been in a position of trust - and often for large somes of money or expensive goods that I could easily have stolen and not to do this is a solid default and also part of my idea of who I am - an honest person. I also think that people's trust is a great gift and should be honoured, even a great personal cost..

< Are we all just basically looking to take advantage of anyone and any situation that we can? >

Not me. No.

< If so, I suppose it also helps to explain why I'm not more successful. But, that's another story...>

I have worked in an industry known for 'dishonesty' and have (many many many) many times been in a position I could have taken money or advantage of people and made a lot of money. Many around me did that in various degrees.. But my conscience would not let me. And the irony, people say they want 'honesty' as a trait in the people they deal with in that industry, but being honest is often an obstical in making money and being successful rather than an asset in that pursuit.

For me, my reputation and, more importantly, maintaining my sense of self is more important than money. It is said "Every man (woman) has his (her) price' but I am not sure. So far no one has ever found mine.. but it is always silly to never say never...

I guess another factor in this is that I am not an aeithist, and perhaps consequences I perceive might not be present in others thinking. That said, it pisses me off no end when people diminish aethists moral and ethical standing on the grounds they dont believe in some sort of God(s) - for it certainly my experience that that kind of beliefs in no way qualifies those who hold them to be honest above those who do not hold such a belief..

K wrote:

>"Everyone is a bit of a larcenist. We all want to think we're getting away with something, especially when we can get it without offering anything more than we'd already do in return".<

I think the vast majority of people are dishonest. Then again in my experience the vast majority of people don't bother to think about such things. They live in cliches and easily consumable snippets of watered down ethics like inspirational posters.

That being said the statement is not true because all it would take id finding one honest man or woman to demonstrate that not everyone is a larcenist.

Personally I am very honest and simply cannot find any good reason to cheat or steal from someone. It was not always that way.

There was a time when I was strung out on some pretty serious dope <meth> that I did steal to support my habit. I justified it by telling myself they had it coming because they didn't secure their stuff. The reality was that the drugs i was using were seriously warping my perception and thought processes. It happens when you are living in a constant state of psychosis.

Since I got clean, almost 20 years ago, i have worked very hard to create a system of ethics that include some really basic stuff like, don't steal, don't lie, don't cheat, don't kill anyone except for where my life or the life of someone I care about is in direct and immediate danger.

Pretty basic stuff.

Personally I think it is mostly Narcissistic bullshit and a justification for ones own poor behavior.

JSin

I think it's kinda cynical.

Perhaps many do live like this and certainly in our youth we can but it comes with huge losses and costs if one doesn't work towards a better way as we mature and attempt to evolve. Living presently and richly often involves introspection and that should at its best lead us to a personal honesty that would hopefully find us avoiding this kind of interaction in life. Can we do it unconsciously? Possibly. I cant say I have never done this in my life but I sure try my best to avoid it now that I am at the age and level of experience in life that I am at. It serves no purpose other than to reduce our relationships with others and overall devalue what we offer. Ive found that often times people are unsettled more by my desire to be extremely honest and real with them than they seem to be willing to accept that kind of fraudulence in others. Maybe its safe zone for some. Indeed I must always understand and accept that my truth and reality may not be theirs and that's where the balancing act begins. If you're open to it you can learn a lot about people and yourself even if its not an easy journey at times. It may sound Pollyanna but I do think we gain more with what we give than what we take in life. How can that not be true?