Not Doing What You Say You Will

[ℜεмїηїs¢εη¢ε]

Have you ever made a promise to yourself and then ended up braking it shortly afterwards? Why do you think this is?

 

[intpz]

I don't make promises to myself, and I find it utterly stupid when other people say "I've promised myself ...", why promise something to yourself? Just do it if you wanna do it, if not, don't. What's the big deal? I don't get it, are some people so weak so that they need to promise shit to themselves before doing it?

 

[Absurdity]

Why do you think this is?

Nicotine addiction.

 

[Solitaire U.]

Every fucking day when I reach for that next cigarette. Why do I do this?

a) I'm a full-blown addict.

b) my personal loyalties have always been aimed towards self-destruction, not self-preservation.

 

[Bhagavat]

Because apparently human willpower is generally lacking in potency. Also, what's in a promise? Even if you really mean something, you can always change your mind. Life is too short to split hairs over silly, meaningless, sentimental commitments. That said, I tend to keep promises I make to others because I'm not a dick.

 

[addictedartist]

pretty please no promises

 

[PhoenixRising]

I promised myself a while ago I wouldn't break anymore promises. I still do sometimes though. I think it's due to my desire to be adaptable over being dependable. It may also have something to do with being uncomfortable with commitment and my self-saboteur tendencies.

I tend to be black and white, but usually both at the same time. When thinking about a topic, if I believe one extreme, I'll usually believe the opposite extreme. This makes me good at diplomacy, because I can always see the different sides of an argument. But it makes it so I am terrible at making up my mind

 

[Auburn]

I promised myself a while ago I wouldn't break anymore promises. I still do sometimes though. I think it's due to my desire to be adaptable over being dependable. It may also have something to do with being uncomfortable with commitment and my self-saboteur tendencies.

I tend to be black and white, but usually both at the same time. When thinking about a topic, if I believe one extreme, I'll usually believe the opposite extreme. This makes me good at diplomacy, because I can always see the different sides of an argument. But it makes it so I am terrible at making up my mind

This! Heh. ;p

It is acutually a direct result of both the Ti-Fe duality, and Ne-Si duality. Ti views things in axiomatic forms, it discriminates and cuts, divides and locks-on. But where it divides varies based on information at hand (which constantly is updated) and ethical positioning (Fe). So the end result is a being who has integrity and conviction for their stance, at that moment, even if it may change in the future.

This isn't necessarily dishonest though because, given the information one had, they were being true to themselves and taking the stance that made most sense. One ceases to have an issue with this toggling once one realizes that is the best one could hope from a person - and that adaptability really is better than consistency within a wrong direction or path.

The INTP personality is one of the most polarized of all, and there's so much that the online profiles don't capture. Must finish writing that profile soon!

 

[Minuend]

Huh, I don't make promises to myself. Sometimes I decide I should eat a bit more healthy or exercise more, but it's not a "promise".

Weirdly enough, I usually tend to do what I decided to do in those cases even if they are not promises...

 

[Intellect]

I'm extremely stubborn and a sore loser. I rarely break promises just because I want to be right, even if I hate whatever it is I'm doing.

For example, when I was in high school, one of my friends was being critical about how I used to party/drink regularly. So, jokingly, I said I would just quit drinking. She just laughed and said "you won't do that". I didn't drink for about 2 years after that. Not because I really had a huge desire to quit, but more because I just wanted to be right.

Even with personal promises to myself, I'm the same way.

 

[Auburn]

@Intellect - This reminds me of my SiFe mother, who told me a story once about how she wanted to go out to a party, and asked her mom permission. Her mom, out of instinct, said 'no' without realizing it was for a noble occasion. Once her mom found out what the occasion, she persisted my mom she could and ought to go.

But since my mother has this Si loyalty to past, and an Fe-based value toward superiors, she stubbornly refused to go, saying "well, you told me I couldn't go, so I'm not going". And she didn't... *blinks*

 

[TriflinThomas]

I don't make promises to myself, and I find it utterly stupid when other people say "I've promised myself ...", why promise something to yourself? Just do it if you wanna do it, if not, don't.

Exactly.

 

[ℜεмїηїs¢εη¢ε]

I don't make promises to myself, and I find it utterly stupid when other people say "I've promised myself ...", why promise something to yourself? Just do it if you wanna do it, if not, don't. What's the big deal? I don't get it, are some people so weak so that they need to promise shit to themselves before doing it?

Sounds like INTJ behavior to me, aren't INTP's supposed to be the lazy fucks that don't follow through with anything?

Now that I think about it, I should have changed the title to: "Why Do Humans Lack Willpower?" It's not like I actually promise myself anything but I'll often decide to do something and then not do it, then I'll get frustrated over my lack of willpower.

Because apparently human willpower is generally lacking in potency. Also, what's in a promise? Even if you really mean something, you can always change your mind. Life is too short to split hairs over silly, meaningless, sentimental commitments. That said, I tend to keep promises I make to others because I'm not a dick.

Why do you think we lack willpower?

 

[Bhagavat]

Why do you think we lack willpower?

For example, if I sincerely and fully wish to accomplish (insert goal), and don't despite my objective freedom to do so (physically possible), then I lack the willpower to do so. Certainly you agree this happens from time to time? I don't mean to posit that one's lack of willpower is necessarily the case when one falls short of a promise.

 

[intpz]

Sounds like INTJ behavior to me, aren't INTP's supposed to be the lazy fucks that don't follow through with anything?

Then I'm secretly an INTJ.

 

[ℜεмїηїs¢εη¢ε]

For example, if I sincerely and fully wish to accomplish (insert goal), and don't despite my objective freedom to do so (physically possible), then I lack the willpower to do so. Certainly you agree this happens from time to time? I don't mean to posit that one's lack of willpower is necessarily the case when one falls short of a promise.

Yes, I can agree to this. I was asking for your opinion on why humans seem to lack willpower. Is it biological or something we learn from others?

 

[intpz]

I'd say it's personality. Look at those "oh I can't do anything" people.

 

[Bhagavat]

Yes, I can agree to this. I was asking for your opinion on why humans seem to lack willpower. Is it biological or something we learn from others?

Sorry, my argumentative nature forced me to perceive that you intended to contend my reply. As for why we lack willpower, one shouldn't think in such 'either or' terms when speculating causes. Your genetics affect your personality first, and it is your genetics that determine how the seeds of your personality shall ultimately grow. However, from the foundation of our respective individual genetic structures, our personalities are indeed affected and influenced by society and human relationships. Thus, it is a combination of biologically and environmental factors that determine subjective willpower. A boat may be driven by both current and sail. I can distinctly conceive person 'A' being born without much willpower and developing it as society (his environment) demands, and person 'B' being born with substantial willpower and having it wane over the years due to an undemanding environment. Would you agree? I'm a little as of typing this, and so I'm not sure if I am making sense.

 

[PhoenixRising]

This! Heh. ;p

It is acutually a direct result of both the Ti-Fe duality, and Ne-Si duality. Ti views things in axiomatic forms, it discriminates and cuts, divides and locks-on. But where it divides varies based on information at hand (which constantly is updated) and ethical positioning (Fe). So the end result is a being who has integrity and conviction for their stance, at that moment, even if it may change in the future.

This isn't necessarily dishonest though because, given the information one had, they were being true to themselves and taking the stance that made most sense. One ceases to have an issue with this toggling once one realizes that is the best one could hope from a person - and that adaptability really is better than consistency within a wrong direction or path.

The INTP personality is one of the most polarized of all, and there's so much that the online profiles don't capture. Must finish writing that profile soon!

Thanks for this description, it really does make sense to me. INTPs are kind of a paradox in that, as you said, we are polarized but we change our stance on topics almost constantly with the addition of new data. However, I think profiles on our type are correct in that they describe us as having a set of strong values. I do have some values that never change, like my belief in loving others that I described in-part to you. Most of the people I've encountered on here seem to have something similar.

So you're writing a INTP profile? That sounds very interesting.

 

[ℜεмїηїs¢εη¢ε]

Sorry, my argumentative nature forced me to perceive that you intended to contend my reply. As for why we lack willpower, one shouldn't think in such 'either or' terms when speculating causes. Your genetics affect your personality first, and it is your genetics that determine how the seeds of your personality shall ultimately grow. However, from the foundation of our respective individual genetic structures, our personalities are indeed affected and influenced by society and human relationships. Thus, it is a combination of biologically and environmental factors that determine subjective willpower. A boat may be driven by both current and sail. I can distinctly conceive person 'A' being born without much willpower and developing it as society (his environment) demands, and person 'B' being born with substantial willpower and having it wane over the years due to an undemanding environment. Would you agree? I'm a little as of typing this, and so I'm not sure if I am making sense.

You really think someone could be born with willpower? Have you heard about those kids that grew up in the wild with only wolves and then were irreversibly stuck as wolves mentally? They even growled and howled like wolves. I could argue that we aren't even born human, mentally that is. It seems like we are born as nothing and can be programmed into being virtually anything.

Let's say the biggest reason for the lack of human willpower is because others around us lack willpower. These people must have learned this trait from others who learned it from others. The origins of this are going to be hard to pinpoint but what I'm more interested in right now is why we have this trait at all. Why does it even exist at all? If there was ever a time when there were no lazy people then where does the need arise for people to suddenly be this way? If humans have always been lazy, then why so? It gives us no benefit, so why would this trait exist? It's just amazing that evolution would allow us to have such a useless and debilitating trait.

 

[Bhagavat]

You really think someone could be born with willpower? Have you heard about those kids that grew up in the wild with only wolves and then were irreversibly stuck as wolves mentally? They even growled and howled like wolves. I could argue that we aren't even born human, mentally that is. It seems like we are born as nothing and can be programmed into being virtually anything.

Let's say the biggest reason for the lack of human willpower is because others around us lack willpower. These people must have learned this trait from others who learned it from others. The origins of this are going to be hard to pinpoint but what I'm more interested in right now is why we have this trait at all. Why does it even exist at all? If there was ever a time when there were no lazy people then where does the need arise for people to suddenly be this way? If humans have always been lazy, then why so? It gives us no benefit, so why would this trait exist? It's just amazing that evolution would allow us to have such a useless and debilitating trait.

I disagree. Why can't wolves have willpower? It seems entirely conceivable that one may be born with ample willpower. Genetics seem to determine a lot, man. That isn't to say your explanation is invalid, but don't discount other possibilities. I define willpower as the capacity to fulfill goals that you are objectively free to fulfill.

 

[ℜεмїηїs¢εη¢ε]

I disagree. Why can't wolves have willpower? It seems entirely conceivable that one may be born with ample willpower. Genetics seem to determine a lot, man. That isn't to say your explanation is invalid, but don't discount other possibilities. I define willpower as the capacity to fulfill goals that you are objectively free to fulfill.

No, I wasn't saying that wolves don't have willpower, I was saying that I don't think people are just "born a certain way."