#338 Transcripts Episode 4 Being Weak

(0:00) Moderator: “Why are weak men such a problem?” Jordan Peterson: Well weak people are a problem, in general. And I don’t mean physically weak. I mean cowardly, let’s say, and deceitful because, I’m thinking it more in terms of moral weakness. Well, there’s a variety of reasons, is, first of all if you can’t support your own weight, let’s say, and someone else has to do it. And that’s not good. And then if you don’t make your pathway, if you don’t pick a forthright and useful and noble pathway through life then you’ll become bitter and, and, and too hurt by the tragedy of existence then you tend to seek your revenge wherever you can get it. And that’s not good. So, it’s a, it’s a mistake on all fronts, it’s not good for your it’s not good for your family, it’s not good for the community, um, it’s certainly not a good medium to a long term strategy because life is very, very difficult. (Theme music plays, pencil scratching in the background)  in a whispered tone P: Transcripts  D: (inhales) There was a lot there F:That hit me (pause) to the very core D:Well… F:And it’s just because based on that, based on Jordan’s words, I look back on my life and Iv’e seen a lot of times where I have been weak. D:Well, I’ll go, so… F:And I, I’m not taking judgement out on myself. I’m talking accountability and understanding WOW! D:So, (sighs) we all have weak moments. F:Correct D:Um, you know, it, (sighs) I find it interesting that you know, that the question started off as why are men, weak men such a problem. And I know that this, this conversation went back to that later on, discussing the man side. F:Correct D:And we’ll, we’ll go to that another time too. But I think Jordan took it in the right direction. You know, He says, you know, weak people are a problem. And then he clarifies that, you know, you know, you know not talking about physical weakness, cause there are a lot more stronger people out there than me when it comes to physical strength. But, he, then he says cowardly. So let’s start there. What makes a coward?  (2:36)  F:A coward is someone who doesn’t make the choice to stand up to difficult situations  D:You know he… F:They turn tail and run.  D:Well he…  F:I think that cliché is often used. D:Well, and he…well, yeah. You know he, he talks, he, he, he, he said, you know, deceitful people, um, morally weak people, so let’s talk about morally weak. And no, we are not talking about keeping it in your pants. (Laughs) F:Morality I think is something that … D:We’ve forgotten about. Our society… F:Yeah. Our society has forgotten about it. D:They’ve pushed it to the side.  F:Because morality… D:There’s multiple definitions of, of morality and being moral. Different, and, and each one of them are a valid definition. You know… F:Right. In this sense are, I think we are talking about the morality of just the difference between what is right and what’s wrong. D:Yeah! That’s literally what this is about. And there is a right and there is, well, a wrong. This is not about My Truth versus Your Truth. So then, then we’re,  so we’re separating the truth. I, I, I honed in a lot on the My Truth. That really irritates me, because all you are saying is ‘My Opinion’ What this is saying, what is actually morally right? We all, OK, we all know, take religion out of this completely, we all know I have no right to go up to anyone and kill them. That’s wrong. We were born knowing that.  F:here’s another one for ya. Can I walk into a bank and just tell the person at gunpoint that I want the money? D:Yeah, you can.  F:No, is that morally right? D:No. That’s the, again, so you’re taking something that doesn’t belong to you. And that’s the, that’s also the deceit side that he talks about.  F:Mm huh D: (sighs) F:Is it morally right to, to tell a lie?