What is right?

23 Comments

Are you more concerned with doing the right thing, or doing things right?

doing the right thing 36
doing things right 33
Help us keep this site organized and clean. Thanks!
[ Report Post ]
Comments ( 23 )
  • NothingxCrazy
    11 years ago

    Doing the right thing is all perception.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    4
    4
      -
    • Devyn
      11 years ago

      Exactly, "right" is a human concept with a different subjective meaning for each individual.

      Comment Hidden ( show )
      0
      0
    • malkiot
      11 years ago

      So is doing things right.

      Doing things right could mean ignoring rules because they are silly and inefficient, it could mean helping someone, or yourself. But that could also be the right thing to do. Oh my...

      Comment Hidden ( show )
      0
      0
        -
      • NothingxCrazy
        11 years ago

        That ran through my head when I was looking for a reply, but I decided to keep it simple for my sake. Haha. Doing the right thing in your eyes could also be doing right by law. It really depends on the person. I don't always think doing the right thing by law is the correct path to choose, and I'd much rather do them right by me. Keep a clean conscience.

        Comment Hidden ( show )
        0
        0
          -
        • malkiot
          11 years ago

          Right by you could mean taking those 10k you found in an envelope left on a park bench for yourself, doing right by law would mean handing it into "lost and found". I'd feel shitty for doing the latter if someone picked it up.

          Comment Hidden ( show )
          1
          1
  • dom180
    11 years ago

    It may seem like a silly question for me to ask, but how are they different? They mean pretty much the same thing in my head.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    2
    2
      -
    • Anonymous Post Author
      11 years ago

      Have you ever broken a rule because it seemed silly?

      Comment Hidden ( show )
      3
      3
        -
      • dom180
        11 years ago

        Ahh, now I see. Because something is a rule makes it the "right way" to act in the eyes of society/authority? I guess what is "right" in my eyes is the "right way" to act in my eyes, regardless of that authority. If that's what you are meaning then yes, I have and will always break rules if I think they are not "right", "just" rules.

        Comment Hidden ( show )
        0
        0
    • VioletTrees
      11 years ago

      I don't think it's silly. I have pretty much the same question. If something isn't the right thing to do, how can it possibly be the correct way to do it?

      Comment Hidden ( show )
      0
      0
        -
      • yesnomaybeso
        11 years ago

        I see it like.... well you might be helping somebody and you're doing the right thing, you might suck at helping but still, it's a good thing to do.
        You might be robbing a bank, and you don't get caught, so we would say you've done it right (because you escape, and that was the point..), but it's obviously not the right thing! (and i hope you agree!)

        Or like, what do you prefer? Doing your homework perfectly but not helping anybody who asks you, or maybe not working on yours so much but helping your friend who asked you?

        Comment Hidden ( show )
        1
        1
          -
        • Littlebadgirl
          11 years ago

          This is exactly how I see the question but I didn't know how to explain it. Well done.

          Comment Hidden ( show )
          0
          0
  • Littlebadgirl
    11 years ago

    I hate mediocre things so I'd rather do something "wrong" but done properly. Of course I'd rather do good things done properly.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    1
    1
  • squeallikeasacofpigs
    11 years ago

    Semen.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    1
    1
  • NotStrangeBird
    11 years ago

    Two wrongs don't make a right, but three lefts do. Less with a strong posi.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    1
    1
      -
    • charli.m
      11 years ago

      That's how my uncle's sister in law makes right hand turns!

      Comment Hidden ( show )
      1
      1
  • MissyLeyneous
    11 years ago

    Why not both? They each have their places in my own moral code.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    0
    0
  • Shroot
    11 years ago

    3 lefts

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    0
    0
  • [Old Memory]
    11 years ago

    doing things the right way

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    0
    0
  • dappled
    11 years ago

    Both, really. I have a reasonable amount of responsibility in my job (which comes from having the power to really screw things up for tens of thousands of people if I do something wrong). The first concern is always doing the right thing and then I work out how to do it the right way. It's not something I always carry forward into my personal life, but I try.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    0
    0
      -
    • howaminotmyself
      11 years ago

      I'm responsible for sending out mass emails to thousands of people at once. With the click of two buttons, out goes a bunch of emails. There is always a little fear behind that second click, did I do it right? Thankfully I don't send all company emails, some people believe it to be spam and complain about it. And since I field all complaints, I have constant arguments with my boss over how frequently we should send emails and communication to customers. But trying to convince him that the "right" way to market is an outdated concept is a tricky business. Ugh, I am ready for my break.

      Comment Hidden ( show )
      0
      0
        -
      • dappled
        11 years ago

        We shall talk of this in private. You honestly don't know how many hours I've spent talking about this subject with my boss. We're both clever men (him moreso) but we've spent years circling this issue. You wouldn't believe some of the crazy ideas we've had.

        Comment Hidden ( show )
        0
        0
  • SeverusFan23
    11 years ago

    I get it. Doing the right thing is doing something that's moral and good and doing something right is doing something correctly.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    0
    0
      -
    • malkiot
      11 years ago

      Or we could say that "right" in this context is both a synonym for "correct" and "correctly".

      The statements could therefore be read as:

      a) "Doing the correct thing" and
      b) "doing things correctly".

      a) Performing the correct action according to some ruleset.
      b) Performing the action correctly according to the same or a related ruleset.

      These rulesets can be ethics, morals, law, personal convenience or any other arbitrary set of rules/guidelines.

      eg: The correct thing to do could be to avoid doing as much work as possible. The correct way to do it is without getting into trouble an/or falling behind.

      Comment Hidden ( show )
      0
      0