What is the ultimate sign of weakness?

[jnthnlllshprd]

The very biggest sign, at the top of the list of possible phrases?

[ratbastid]

Starting a thread without answering your own question is fairly weak....

(Seriously, though, it's how things are generally done around here. Answering your own question in your OP gives some shape to what people encounter when they open up your new thread, and has a real impact on people's ability to conversate productively on the topic you've set forth.)

[LoganSnake]

Apologizing after blowing a load in her hair.

[Jetée]

"um... hmm.. well, you know."



either/or and all of the above

[Charlatan]

Losing your temper is one of the greatest signs of weakness.

[percy]

Compromise, especially when done so at the expense of having the inability to make sound decisions for fear of the ramifications those decisions may bring

[ratbastid]

Force is only needed by the powerless.

[Bear Cub]

$20 says I can kick your ass.

[FuglyStick]

Originally Posted by Bear Cub

$20 says I can kick your ass.

lol

[Vigilante]

Originally Posted by jnthnlllshprd

The very biggest sign, at the top of the list of possible phrases?

Cowardice.

[Borla]

Inability to admit fault.

[PulpMind]

Dishonesty. Which includes withholding the truth without a flat-out lie. People that would rather lie or hide from the truth of a situation disgust me, for their actions inevitably make the situation unfathomably harder than it would of been, had the truth been shared from the start.
This manifests itself most evidently in romantic relationships, but I see it in "friendships" and in work situations, too. But it especially sucks in relationships.

[Plan9]

Originally Posted by ratbastid

Force is only needed by the powerless.

Funny, I always thought that coercive power was the basis of civilization.

...

Chocolate is the ultimate sign of weakness.

[Redlemon]

Low muscle tone. Inability to lift objects.

[The_Jazz]

The inability to read and understand simple rules and instructions.

[Schwan]

Originally Posted by Charlatan

Losing your temper is one of the greatest signs of weakness.

Oooh, I agree. It's a big one for me too. Also, I loose my temper a lot and I'm not too proud of that.

[ratbastid]

Originally Posted by Crompsin

Funny, I always thought that coercive power was the basis of civilization.

Ask Gandhi.

[Baraka_Guru]

Self-deprecation: selling oneself short.

[wooÐs]

Originally Posted by percy

Compromise, especially when done so at the expense of having the inability to make sound decisions for fear of the ramifications those decisions may bring

I'd say lack of compromise, is a 'sign of weakness.' Although I hate that phrase - 'sign of weakness.'

Even pits bred for fighting roll on their backs occasionally for a belly rub.

---------- Post added at 11:07 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:06 AM ----------

btw, that's sig material right thar^

[dlish]

Originally Posted by ratbastid

Ask Gandhi.

no thanks, i'll ask Genghis


inability to hold it under pressure. that goes for work, sport, leisure

[Plan9]

Originally Posted by Baraka_Guru

Self-deprecation: selling oneself short.

What is the line between self-deprecation and humility?

[Toaster126]

Lying. It's what people do when they can't handle reality or the consequences of the actions they take.

[Baraka_Guru]

Originally Posted by Crompsin

What is the line between self-deprecation and humility?

Sincerity.

[Plan9]

Originally Posted by Baraka_Guru

Sincerity.

Huh, I always thought it was belief.

[Baraka_Guru]

Originally Posted by Crompsin

Huh, I always thought it was belief.

That's a part of it. Belief often overrides sincerity.

[Strange Famous]

inability to apologise

[Plan9]

Originally Posted by Toaster126

Lying. It's what people do when they can't handle reality or the consequences of the actions they take.

Or they wish to create something from nothing.

...

Originally Posted by ratbastid

Ask Gandhi.

Originally Posted by President John F. Kennedy, 1961

We dare not tempt our adversaries with weakness. For only when our arms are sufficient beyond doubt can we be certain beyond doubt that they will never be used.

[thirdsun]

Being a people-pleaser just so people will like you or accept you. Just as weak: making choices or decisions solely to please others, without making your own choice clear.

---------- Post added at 12:29 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:19 AM ----------

Originally Posted by The_Jazz

The inability to read and understand simple rules and instructions.

That isn't necessarily indicative of weakness on the reader's part; it may well simply indicate weakness on the writer's part: for failure to ensure the directions are unambiguous, clear, don't omit any necessary information, and anticipate what questions may arise from the instructions themselves.

There are plenty of intelligent people who can make no sense whatsoever of a technical manual or a list of instructions simply because the writer did a careless, half-assed job of writing it. Excellent technical writing and editing are learned skills. The first lesson is: just because it's clear to the writer doesn't mean it's equally clear to the reader.

[mykockle]

Those who can't execute on a clear and concise plan due to fear of a contrary opinion or negative reaction.

[savmesom11]

People who still use the term: You (blank) like a girl.....and mean it.

[percy]

Originally Posted by percy

Compromise, especially when done so at the expense of having the inability to make sound decisions for fear of the ramifications those decisions may bring

Also having no respect for oneself, others and all else.

[FelixP]

I dunno. As a stereotypical male egomaniac, I'd have to say crying in public, or crying whilst sober. I remember when I was a freshman a kid at school cried. At first I didn't really care because I didn't know him, and from what I gathered he was a dumb-as-five-wooden-planks jock. Eventually, everyone else's crying started to get to me, and I started crying. I felt like a complete pussy.

Here are a few more, some of which have already been mentioned:
-inability to apologise
-not taking responsbility for one's actions
-failures of leadership (e.g. not insuring that your guys have the right tools for the job, or not taking the blame for the failures of his men caused by the leader not properly training his people)
-being addicted to something, or someone, either physically or mentally.
-suicide

I'll add more as I think of them.
-

[pai mei]

The Teachings of Don Juan Matus

Self-importance is our greatest enemy. Think about it: what weakens us is feeling offended by the deeds and misdeeds of our fellow men. Our self-importance requires that we spend most of our lives offended by someone. Without self-importance we are invulnerable.

One has to carry nothing to defend, not even one’s person. One’s person should be protected, but not defended. By displaying arrogance you were defending yourself, but were not protected.

I am already given to the Power that rules my fate. And I cling to nothing, so I will have nothing to defend.

See the "I cling to nothing" stuff. Meaning as I see it and heard someone say it : "do not be attached not even to the idea of non attachment"
Escape the mental chatter about "good" or "bad", to "think with your heart":

A man of knowledge lives by acting, not by thinking about acting, nor by thinking about what he will think when he has finished acting. A man of knowledge chooses a path with heart and follows it;

"The men where you live," said the little prince, "raise five thousand roses in the same garden−− and they do not find in it what they are looking for." "They do not find it," I replied. "And yet what they are looking for could be found in one single rose, or in a little water."
"Yes, that is true," I said. And the little prince added: "But the eyes are blind. One must look with the heart..."

Antoine-de-Saint-Exupery-The-Little-Prince

A Hopi Indian named Sun Chief said:

"I had learned many English words and could recite part of the Ten Commandments. I knew how to sleep on a bed, pray to Jesus, comb my hair, eat with a knife and fork, and use a toilet. ... I had also learned that a person thinks with his head instead of his heart ".

"When Carl Jung, the great psychoanalyst, went to Taos Peublo in New Mexico in 1925, he met the chief of the native people, Ochwiay Biano. Biano told Jung that according to his people, the Whites were 'mad'-uneasy, restless, always wanting something.

Jung asked him why he thought they were mad, and the chief replied that it was because they thought with their heads, a sure sign of mental illness among his tribe. Jung asked him how he thought and he pointed to his heart. The response plunged Jung into a deep introspection that enabled him to see his race from outside himself and realise how much of the race's character was within him."

Where do we start ?

Not only does school prepare us to submit to the trivialized, demeaning, dull, and unfulfilling jobs that dominate our economy to the present time, not only does it prepare us to be modern producers, it equally prepares us to be modern consumers. Consider Gatto's description:

Schools train individuals to respond as a mass. Boys and girls are drilled in being bored, frightened, envious, emotionally needy, generally incomplete. A successful mass production economy requires such a clientele. A small business, small farm economy like that of the Amish requires individual competence, thoughtfulness, compassion, and universal participation; our own requires a managed mass of leveled, spiritless, anxious, familyless, friendless, godless, and obedient people who believe the difference between "Cheers" and "Seinfeld" is worth arguing about.

The Pressure to Break Free - Ascent of Humanity

[clavus]

Originally Posted by Baraka_Guru

Self-deprecation: selling oneself short.

The three toughest, most ass-kicking guys I ever met were all self-deprecating.

One was a SEAL. One was a Jui jitsu Professor. One was a little old man who could take you apart with his bare hands.

[Baraka_Guru]

Originally Posted by clavus

The three toughest, most ass-kicking guys I ever met were all self-deprecating.

One was a SEAL. One was a Jui jitsu Professor. One was a little old man who could take you apart with his bare hands.

I know a few physically strong guys who are emotionally weak as well.

I sometimes think they're just overcompensating.

[Crack]

Originally Posted by wooÐs

Even pits bred for fighting roll on their backs occasionally for a belly rub.

Pits will do it, but Crompsin won't.

[Toaster126]

Originally Posted by Crack

Pits will do it, but Crompsin won't.

Maybe it just works for me. :P

[World's King]

[Jetée]

[FuglyStick]

I have no weakness, puny people