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I prefer to think of myself as a bit more dimensional to be pegged down to 9 box table. Alignment was invented a s a wargaming mechanic to decide which figures could be grouped with which others in miniature wargaming. Chainmail added some roleplaying elements to it, and that has continued through it's successors, but it's still a simplistic insult to describe real people that way.So I had an idea the other day for a thread - What's your "real" alignment? What do you think you are...and does it match up to others' perspective of you?
So here's my idea:
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"Your real alignment" -Poster starts "IRL I think my alignment is X, because (give a reason or two)...but based on my posts on these forums, you think my alignment is:"
Next Poster - "Y, because (Cite an example or two from the previous poster's history)...IRL I think my alignment is..." and it repeats through as many posters as we can get.
------I'll start - In real life, I think my alignment is Chaotic Good, because despite being generally curmudgeonly, I try to let my actions be upstanding and helpful to others, when I can at least, but I have a strong distrust of organized groups, even ones who's missions and goals are in line with my beliefs, and I have a penchant for randomness and an inability to organize that is maddening to my thoroughly Lawful-Good-with-a-capital-L wife.
...but based on my posts on this forum, you think my alignment is...
I have to thank the Chaotic Captain for beating me to the "holy crap, it's just for fun, oh wait, didn't I say this exact same thing a page ago?!"
I think I have a new entry for the pathfinder messageboard Grinds My Gears threads
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Browsed through Kyrt's and Alken's posting habits, TN and CN seem pretty legit for each.
Myself, though I like to play CG characters, in real life I'm probably closer to Lawful Good, with strong Lawful Neutral tendencies. I believe in the power of a well-crafted society for bringing out the best in people, and that morality can be objectively defined... but that such a definition is so complex and omniscient that we must rely on subjective perspectives instead. I was even more Lawful Neutral when I was younger--convinced that most laws and traditions were inscrutable truths and that most people were only complaining out of lazy self-interest. Even today, I do not approve or agree with some of the tactics and credos of those who spend their lives combating the injustices of the system; though I have a more open mind to their perspectives and beliefs, I prefer strategies of change that are inclusive, positive, and peaceful--the ones that unfortunately get less media coverage.
I was never got at that whole alignment thingamajig, but I think I am on the Neutral Good boat.
I suppose NG Diva doesn't have quite the same ring, but yes, that seems to fit.
For all we know we're all in a Turtle's dream as he floats thru outer space :-)If a turtle is lying on it's back in outer space, can it rotate itself up?
If the turtle is in space, it's always up.
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(Been gone from these boards for a while, but this looked interesting.)
Of course I think I am good, or at least good-intentioned. So, I am probably neutral or good depending on your criteria for "good", at which point we're left to consider what my ethical alignment is.
Let's see...
2. I'm analytical (and perhaps a bit impersonal).
3. I feel very uncomfortable lying.
4. I follow traffic laws.
5. I most often arrive early to scheduled appointments or events, and hate waiting; when I know I have something to do the next day, for example, I get very impatient and obsessively think about it.
2. I dislike social hierarchies due to the inherent lack of equality among different ranking members; people should be afforded an equal level of respect regardless of their position in society.
3. I believe humans are meant to live in small groups (proportionate to what we have now) and dislike bureaucracies.
So, what does that make me? If I had to guess, I'd say I'm probably LN (good tendencies), but it's possible that I'm somewhere closer in the middle (N/NG)?
Oh, and just for fun...
2. I believe that a criminal deserves punishment, not reformation (with a sentence proportionate to the crime).
3. I enjoy this scene a little too much.
So maybe I'm more neutral than I like to think? Haha.
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I'd say I'm Neutral, with Lawful, Good, Chaotic, and Evil tendencies.
I try to follow the rules, but I'll do whatever the hell I want if the rule doesn't make sense or isn't strictly enforced. I try to be helpful and nice, but I can be vicious if you attack me or those I care about. Usually I just try to live my life and have fun along the way.
I'd say I'm Neutral, with Lawful, Good, Chaotic, and Evil tendencies.
That's called "Neutral". When your tendencies are everything, you're nothing. :-P
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After much soul searching, I find myself solidly Neutral in nearly every aspect. Much like the majority of humanity, I sort of blind myself to the darker impulses that I have and try to justify a good alignment for those instances that I feel charitable. I strive to be Neutral Good, probably more towards the Lawful Good, in the sense that practice makes perfect and I can truly see the benefits of such an outlook in that lifestyle if EVERYONE cooperated in the same way. However, the same could be said of the Neutral and Chaotic sides of Good. I just believe that we humans are hardwired for seeking structure and order to the universe, yet have a rebellious streak inside of us.
So, yeah. Neutral Good, leaning towards Lawful. That's who I want to will be eventually.
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Deathless, I support your analysis of your alignment. Like many you fit in the large middle. Reading through a few of your posts, I found nothing that spoke strongly of any one alignment. That combined with your own analysis leads me to believe true neutral is the logical choice.
I believe I straddle the line between LG and LN.
I am generally ruled by logic.
I enjoy debates on a variety of issues and try to frame my arguments from reason not emotion.
I give orders and expect them to be obeyed.
I believe punishment should follow misbehavior but that it should be just.
I respect authorities.
I have no issue holding others accountable.
When I do wrong I hold myself accountable in the same way.
I like RAW.
I give often to others.
I am somewhat of a sap for beggars.
I care very deeply for the rights of others.
I think there is moral good and strive for it, though I often fall short.
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Reading through a few of your posts, I found nothing that spoke strongly of any one alignment.
Good, good. I take great pains to ensure that most of my posts remain neutral in most aspects. I don't like misunderstandings and I desire clarity in communication. My last post in this thread was somewhat rushed, so I'll expand a bit more as you did.
I am mostly ruled by logic. I generally require things to make a certain level of sense before I will consider accepting them as fact. I am logical to the point where emotions take a backseat in an emergency. Still a sap for a good Pixar movie. Possibly hints towards Lawful.
I reject being ordered around unless I have accepted/given the person in power authority over my actions. This screams of individualism and heavily indicates a Chaotic alignment.
I also believe that misbehavior should have consequences and the punishment should fit the severity of that misbehavior. I also believe that mercy and forgiveness are powerful tools in justice as well. Somewhat Lawful/More Good.
I respect legitimate authority. It has to have a specific purpose and limited, if large, power. Solidly neutral, in my opinion.
I hold others accountable for their actions and I hold myself accountable similarly. This is somewhat lawful.
There are times were I feel incredibly charitable and will spontaneously purchase gifts for friends, relatives, or even complete strangers on a whim. If I see a beggar and get no red flags (visceral gut reactions), I will part with pocket money should I have it. More hints of Good there.
I believe people have certain inalienable rights and deserve a certain amount of respect because they are people. However, I abhor the rise of the entitlement mentalities. Life is hard, unfair, and sometimes tragic, and no one is promised anything. People deserve what they earn and deserve nothing more if they choose nothing. Tipping into Lawful, hints of Evil.
I believe there is an absolute moral good and strive to live by it, but like all humans, I am a hypocrite and will proclaim it to anyone. Perfection is unobtainable but just because something is beyond reach does not mean we should stop striving for it. Definitely Good.
I believe that harming others is horrible and torture is barbaric. However, apathy is the most terrifying. The total disregard for the well being of others and the willingness to watch someone suffer when you could do something to help, that fills me with a cold, immeasurable pit of sadness where at the core is a burning, hot ball of righteous anger. It also scares me because despite that righteous anger, it remains bound and impotent, possibly due to fear of what that anger could do if unleashed or that I might actually resonant more with the apathy than the anger.
And above all (best for last), I believe there is an exception to each and every one of these items. There will be times in my life where harming others or torturing someone might be the 'right' thing to do. Every 'moral' code in the world seems flawed, or your understanding of it might make it seem that way. Some people forfeit their basic rights when they take away the rights of others. Sometimes justice is not justice and mercy is not warranted.
So ... Yeah, Neutral with either NG or LG tendencies. 'Real World' alignment doesn't fit easily with D&D alignment for a very good reason. People in real life can hold such radically different views on several different subjects that the closest you can get is Neutral with certain tendencies.
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I believe if I don't keep my nose hair in check, the world is doomed.
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Deathless, you do seem pretty neutral, but it also seems intentionally hidden, as you say, and your organizational outlook and overall themes tend to skew slightly lawful, as far as I can see.
Ugh...I find myself shifting from Chaotic and towards Neutral Good of late, and I don't like it. I'm getting increasingly frustrated with liars, flakes, and other people whose words are meaningless (because if you're a flake, f*** you, your words are meaningless), or dicks who don't follow the rules of the road, etc. I know I'm good though. I'm actually actively involved in giving back to my community with volunteer time, and I'm working on another major "do good for underprivileged folks" project, so, yeah, I'm pretty good, or so people who hear that last fact keep insisting, inflating my head beyond its already elf-like ego. But this lawful nonsense has got to stop!
Frankly, I'm more than a little disturbed by this turn of events.
I jaywalk on the regular and poop on the clock, though, so I think I'm avoiding full blown lawful good.
I missed this thread! So glad it was necro'd!
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Ugh...I find myself shifting from Chaotic and towards Neutral Good of late, and I don't like it. I'm getting increasingly frustrated with liars, flakes, and other people whose words are meaningless (because if you're a flake, f*** you, your words are meaningless), or dicks who don't follow the rules of the road, etc.
Yep, the worth of your word is a strong Lawful tendency. I failed to mention that I am slow to give my word or promise on anything because I commit to it. It is one of my strongest traits. Loyalty and trust are big things to me.
Nothing wrong with Neutrality on the Law/Chaos scale. Keeps things nice a balanced. :P
I know I'm good though. I'm actually actively involved in giving back to my community with volunteer time, and I'm working on another major "do good for underprivileged folks" project, so, yeah, I'm pretty good, or so people who hear that last fact keep insisting, inflating my head beyond its already elf-like ego. But this lawful nonsense has got to stop!
I volunteer my time and help out a bit as well, though it is more focused on my immediate community than in general. I have the same reaction to 'praise' and people 'insisting' that I am a 'Good' person. Don't give me a big head, or rather a bigger one. I have the potential to be a truly 'Good' person and that is a life-time worth of work ahead of me before I might actually feel 'Good'. Huh... I guess I tend to focus on the hidden things that people don't really know about me. I should probably listen to other people's opinions more often. It might help out.
I just caution anyone who hears that they are a 'Good' person because of the work they do. I'm not saying this is true of you, or maybe even the vast majority of people, but many people use the appearance of good deeds to put on an appearance of being a good person. I have known a few and that is probably why I question myself most of the time.
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Good deeds doesn't make you a good person, but being a good person will cause you to do good deeds, in the same way that not all rectangles are squares, but all squares are rectangles.
Oh, and I have zero tolerance for people who don't regularly shower or bathe. If you are reading this, and you are offended, then eat a pile of feces, because if you can afford an internet connection, you can afford soap and water, and if you have time to read, you have time to shower.
I'm pretty sure that intolerance is not very chaotic good.
If you're from a third world nation and have been in the first world for less than a month you have an excuse, otherwise, you should have learned about soap, water, and deodorant by now.
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I'm still Chaotic Good.
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So, anybody who remembers the Chronicles of Narnis (the books, not that execrable series of movies) may recall Aslan's discussion with the Calormen noble, Emeth [this out of The Last Battle]. Summing up, the great lion explains that if a man makes an oath to Tash (the evil/bad/wrong deity of the Calormen empire) and keeps the oath for the oath's sake, it is really an oath to [me] Aslan. Likewise, if a man does evil in the name of Aslan, he is truly serving Tash.
I bring this up here because I'm pretty sure I've failed to act in accordance with my preferred/professed alignment; while I may well be abrasive and sarcastic, and dedicated to getting my own way, I don't think I've been successfully tyrranical. Rather than Lawful/Evil, I think I fall into Neutral with Lawful tendencies. Being a jerk doesn't actually qualify one for evil...
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So, anybody who remembers the Chronicles of Narnis (the books, not that execrable series of movies) may recall Aslan's discussion with the Calormen noble, Emeth [this out of The Last Battle]. Summing up, the great lion explains that if a man makes an oath to Tash (the evil/bad/wrong deity of the Calormen empire) and keeps the oath for the oath's sake, it is really an oath to [me] Aslan. Likewise, if a man does evil in the name of Aslan, he is truly serving Tash.
Love those books. Been a LONG time since I've reread them. That's actually a pretty good example of the D&D alignment system too.
I bring this up here because I'm pretty sure I've failed to act in accordance with my preferred/professed alignment; while I may well be abrasive and sarcastic, and dedicated to getting my own way, I don't think I've been successfully tyrranical. Rather than Lawful/Evil, I think I fall into Neutral with Lawful tendencies. Being a jerk doesn't actually qualify one for evil...
That's where my comment on all humans being hypocrites comes to light. We are never truly consistent and there is always a unique reason why the rules did not apply to us in THAT situation.
That's where my comment on all humans being hypocrites comes to light. We are never truly consistent and there is always a unique reason why the rules did not apply to us in THAT situation.
Hey, now... if we ALWAYS have a unique reason the rules don't apply in any given situation, that's pretty damn consistent!
:P
Hey, now... if we ALWAYS have a unique reason the rules don't apply in any given situation, that's pretty damn consistent!
:P
Absolutely! There is an exception to every rule, even that one. It is why humans (as a whole) are so damn predictable, even when they think they are not.
We are certainly paradoxical to a fault.
Absolutely! There is an exception to every rule, even that one. It is why humans (as a whole) are so damn predictable, even when they think they are not.We are certainly paradoxical to a fault.
And this is why I keep banging away on the message that time travel is BAD. Three words: accidental causality violations.
But I think we're sliding away from the topic at hand...