Topic awaiting preservation: Perfection - what is it to you?

See this thread. I didn't want to muck up InI's thread about the afterlife with perfection. IMHO, they are two different things, each deserving of their own thread.

Reading mobrul's post got me thinking about perfection and wondering how other people view it. The whole Ideal table thing got me going, heh. Eventually my train of thought derailed, but not before I made a few reflective observations of how I view perfection.

To me, perfection has always been a goal. I had though of myself as a perfectionist; everything I did had to be absolutely *perfect.* I always saw a task through until it was 100% complete - and even then I'd go back and make sure I hit every detail. All my life I had strived to be perfect at everything I could: being a perfect son, a perfect boyfriend, a perfect friend, a perfect brother, a perfect guitar player/hockey player/baseball player/soccer player/student/programmer/model car builder/photoshop user/mechanic/driver/brood war god/employee/co-worker, the list goes on and on and on.

Eventually I learned that I could never reach perfection at everything. So I just settled for the best I could be at everything I do (because we all know that specialization is for insects ). Perfection to me? Psh, doesn't really exist. I have an Ideal that I like to acheive, but I can't say that I can actually grasp - let alone experience - perfection.

[This message has been edited by Raptor (edited 08-21-2002).]

I can agree with that definition/view on perfection. I guess I sort of view it as the unattainable goal. That which drives us to do better and be better than we would normally be. It gives us something to strive for and, while we never attain our goal, we achieve great things. Things beyond what setting a goal that is easily attainable would achieve. In effect it extends our reach for the unknown and expands our thoughts on how things are done/can be done.


GrythusDraconis
"Be careful not to anger the Great Dragon for you are crunchy and taste good with Ketchup" T-Shirt Somewhere

I will attain perfection in exactly 35.936 minutes.

That's a pretty vague time estimate St. Seneca can't you be anymore precise than that?!?!? LOL

So, St. Seneca, what's it like to be perfect?

As for me achieving perfection, that's not going to happen any time in this life.

Boudga, being perfect I could have been more precise but I didn't want to make those who are less than perfect feel inadequate. Compassion is an important aspect of human perfection. Sadly, humility is not.

Suho1004, Perfection has not been as great as one might think. Once one has achieved perfection, there are no future challenges on the horizon. No sense of anticipation at all. Life has become bland and meaningless.

That I could put up with easily enough. It's the fact that I am forced to continue mingling with the unenlightened masses with their ignorance and silly, archaic superstitions that's the real kick in the pants.

Also, my phone has been constantly ringing. God himself paid me a personal visit. Understand, he's been looking to retire for the past 19,000 years and has asked me to take the job now that I have reached perfection. That's why you don't see any mention in the Bible of God doing anything after Jesus' death. He got bored with the job.

And what a perfect way to seque into my view of perfection. It should come as no surprise that I think perfection can be summed up in Christ. It is my goal to be as Christ-like during my time here on earth as I can. I'm no where close to it but as some of you have already pointed out, it is good to have something for which to strive.

Paul said, "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."

. . : slicePuzzle

only way you could reach that is to be Him.

fact is, it was easy for him... he was 100% God and 100% human.

The perfection that is God overrules that which is human, so Jesus' perfection was unremarkable.

Hum,

Perfection to me is always being wrong. Since no one is perfect, and everyone thinks they are right all the time, then being perfect would mean that you are always wrong, because no one would ever agree with you because they are not perfect.

~Insert sig here~

GN, I can honestly say that I've never thought of it that way before

. . : slicePuzzle

someone who loves me as i am or might be
me loving someone this way

and if ever the twain shall meet...

Perfect? Could someone even begin to explain exactly what that means? No, I don't think I'll ever be perfect...and I'm sure that I don't want to be so. It's namely not human...perfection. And because I like (and enjoy) being human, I certainly don't wish to be perfect. After all, making mistakes (and being wrong) is all part of the fun...what a bore life would be...if I was perfect.

Think about it...no reason to play video games, use a computer, make love, nothing. All the 'good' things in life...not to be enjoyed? No enjoying a good meal...or even need a body, for that matter. I like wrestling with myself...and being lazy (when I get the chance...). I like having bad habits. So...being perfect is not an option for me.

Nope, not for me. Being perfect would include already having these feelings without needing such...things.

And I don't consider Christ as being perfect...at least, not according to how I 'see' perfect. Someone who was perfect wouldn't have 'emotionally' destroyed the tax collectors table in that Mosque...and there are other instances that hint at non-perfection...

quote:

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To me, perfection has always been a goal. I had though of myself as a perfectionist; everything I did had to be absolutely *perfect.* I always saw a task through until it was 100% complete - and even then I'd go back and make sure I hit every detail. All my life I had strived to be perfect at everything I could: being a perfect son, a perfect boyfriend, a perfect friend, a perfect brother, a perfect guitar player/hockey player/baseball player/soccer player/student/programmer/model car builder/photoshop user/mechanic/driver/brood war god/employee/co-worker, the list goes on and on and on........

---

^ this is what most of us strive for but come to think of it wouldnt life the cease to be 'life( excitements/challenges/dissapointements/)that we so much learn and grow from?

I think Webshaman summed it up/gave it a totally sane perspective for me as I've always thought unless every single detail in my life was perfect.

Perfect is quite a powerful word and strictly speaking can't really be aplied to us and they way we sum up our lives.

At least not in my interpretation of it's literal meaning.

Although, I'm usually willing to take a more relaxed approach to the word and I could indeed say that, at times, my life has been perfect.

In fact, I'd be willing to say that my life is perfect right now. I don't have to ~work~, I simply learn. I have great friends, a loving girlfriend and I'm generally happy. Sure, right now I'm stressed because of my assignment deadlines and I got a fine for loosing my train ticket the other day but the good still greatly outways the bad. And to me, that's just, well, perfect.

I'm happy. I couldn't ask for anything more. Would I want anything more?... Not really. Oh, maybe a bunch of material things, but even if I had them I'd not have time to use them much. Right now my life is full with plenty to spare. For me, the notion of perfection when your using this word in relation to someone's life translates to, "are they happy with their life". Well, at least, that's how I see it.

x = "good things";
y = "bad things";

life = (x > y)? "perfect" : "not quite perfect yet";

Water is the only thing that is perfect, so therfore we are 80% perfect.

The other 20% is all messed up.



~Insert sig here~

LOL GN...

I think it comes from you point of view of what perfect is. If humans can't be infallible, omniscient and everything else that everyone seems to think a 'perfect' human is. Then I have a hard time believing that that's what a perfect human is like. If going through life and trying your damndest to get through it positively, making your mistakes and learning from them and progressing as a person is how humans are, then that's perfect for me. It's when you give up, refuse to learn from your mistakes and continue to hold yourself back from advancing in your conceit or depression that you've failed to achieve perfection as it relates for humans.

That's my take anyway.

GrythusDraconis
"Be careful not to anger the Great Dragon for you are crunchy and taste good with Ketchup" T-Shirt Somewhere

There is no such thing as perfection. Everyone has a flaw. Mariah Carey may look great and earn millions each year, but she is still capable of a nervous breakdown. Why do we seek that which does not exist? It is like chasing the wind.

S^abaal ud T'a johtizuc^ ult'a Fedaro.

Well then why do you seek to create a 1912-page science fiction novel/tome to rival both Isaac Asimov and Arthur C. Clarke??? Give it up. It's like chasing the wind.

( but if you decide to continue, I want to read it! )

Me too.

And I firmly believe that 'perfection' is not reachable by humans. Of course, I guess that depends on how one defines perfection...

Just a question, or a thought. Why would anyone want to be perfect? I mean, to be blunt, it's our flaws that really define ourselves as individuals, right? Granted, it's fun to toy with the idea of being perfect, but in all honesty, who would really want it? You would never have any 'peers', and therefore, you would be quite lonely...who can tolerate someone who is perfect?

Bugimus, I have decided to continue my novel (which, by the way is called Steal Back the Daedalus), but it will take a while. My exams will be starting in a few weeks, so I need to study. While it won't really rival Arthur C. Clarke, I have another story on the drawing board that I believe you will find quite impressive.

But enough of this petty discussion, back to the topic.

When you consider it, there is no universal definition for perfection, so how can we say something is perfect. Here in Australia, or even in the US and those other places with surfers, everyone wants tanned skin, because they reckon it looks good. However, I recently learned that the Chinese, with their darker skin, are completely against tans, and use paling cream (the opposite of tanning cream) to make themselves as pale as possible, because that is their view of perfection. Perfection is what you make of it. Who are we to say what is perfect and what is not?



S^abaal ud T'a johtizuc^ ult'a Fedaro.