quote:

ORIGINAL: Ialdabaoth

Okay. I prefer to be humble.

The problem is, I have a natural predilection towards humility.

quote:

ORIGINAL: HeavansKeeper

Ialdabaoth,

Think back to high school. Remember all the girls what treated nice guys like dirt and fell head over heals for douche bags? Nothing's changed. Not in high school, not in life.

I identify with your problem. I'm naturally humble as well. It hasn't worked out so great. I missed out, and will continue to miss out, on a lot of wild times and instant gratification for not being an alpha male douche bag. That's ok with me.

The people I've met along the road who have the wherewithal to understand the difference between humility and weakness are worth keeping around. More so than the animal creatures who live in the dog eat dog world. My entire life I've been in leadership positions. Only when we, as a team, fail does my humility get rewarded by others. I've always taken hits for the team, carried extra loads, suffered so others could enjoy... I get el zilcho credit for it. (I don't do it for recognition, but eventually you notice "no one even cares...")

In short, what do you want? If I wanted to advance quickly, expand my number of sexual conquests, and burn a lot of quality bridges... I'd just be a dick all the time. In the past, it's worked wonders. In the future it will too. But it comes at a cost.

A lot of mature, wise, thoughtful minds will tell you "be who you are, and you happen to have a beautiful soul." Because they are thoughtful/wise/mature enough to see it. Most are not. Expect most people to pass you over because you're not top dog.

My answer: Hybridize. Be a dick when it serves your purpose. Yes, it's Machiavellian, but what else are you going to do? Never see NIN? Treat tramps like tramps, dolts like dolts, friends like friends.

Let me rephrase my point: Are you willing to miss out on all the awesome instant gratification of being an arrogant, chauvinistic, proud, chancy, cheeky, daft, tricky prick?