Heres a thorny one, what is "loyalty"?

Question

I don't want text book definitions, I can get that in a dictionary! Anyone have a legitimate arguement as to what exactly "loyalty" is? Does it even exist or is it something we made up ourselves? Please discuss

awww im liking mary's idea

no no no we KNOW what loyalty is, what we want to find out is the principal of it. i like the idea that loyalty to the CONNECTION we have with someone, and will stand by them in bad forces attack them. anyone have something to add to this?

good, good NOW we are seeing some quality!

Answer 1

Loyalty is an ethical--person to person-consideration, not a moral--person to his universe consideration, at base.

The conception does not refer to mindless obedience to a charismatic god-playing pretender or even a talented general, loving husband or friend.

It refers instead to investment of capital--life-value as opposed to two opposites, sacrifice and irresponsibility-nihilism.

Sacrifice means giving up a higher value for a lower.
Irresponsibility in the form of nihilism means ignoring values altogether.
Capitalism means investing in the higher sort, longer-term or more useful sort of value--human or otherwise.

Loyalty to a person, an idea, a course of action, an agreeing group of limited-contract-partners, a societal association of such minds or anything else on Earth, etc. simply requires one to "weigh the values involved carefully and honestly".

It is a harmful misuse of such an individual and realistic consideration to set "loyalty"--continued allegiance, preference or priority toward anything or person as above others" in the context of some willful blindness toward, exception making for or lying and fantasizing to accommodate anyone or anything.

The maxim must be "my country--when it's right", not "my country right or wrong".
Loyalty to a so-called leader requires strategic and specific performance by that leader; otherwise, justice requires that he/she be replaced, and that allegiance be given to the man who can lead one out of the wilderness.
In a non-emergency situation, loyalty requires giving the benefit of the doubt to a kn won person, idea or quantity while considering an alternative--until it becomes necessary to embrace the alternative.

Yes, such a decision must be fallibly made and possibly a mistake; but liberty, the life it serves--yours--and pursuit of volitionally agreed-upon happiness all require as concepts that you, the one affected, make such a decision and not someone else making it for you. Loyalty's opposite is practical-necessity or necessary-change; and you the individual living in reality have to make the determination
between two or more choices, every time.

Answer 2

I was brought up with loyalty. I had it for breakfast. Loyalty is my middle name. I was taught that family came first, friends came second, and above all, God and country ruled over all.

Does it exist? It shadows my every move, my every relationship. It is the philosophy I live by, and sometimes it is a burden, for often there is a yen to pitch it all aside and think only of oneself. But, with a Southern background, this isn't done. It's unthinkable!

Loyalty is like your flesh. It clings to your bones and forms the person that you are. People without loyalty are of the lowest variety, with only three true companions...me, myself and I. Loyalty is the glue that holds us all together.

Answer 3

Loyalty? In my life experience, it has to do with un- bought labors which leaves precious time to work for ones self. on ideas and learning to see things through the individual perspective, forming ones own sight is a gift and being one loyal to ones learning through the individual sight. Finding knowledge that had been denied for a prescribed teaching gave choice to accept the prescribed teachings or to adjust the findings for the one mind that matters and that mind is the one my person carries every day.

Answer 4

My concept of loyalty is, that it's an obligation we feel to those we have made some sort of connection with, through either relationships, work, or friendships. It's an obligation to take someone's side when their need arises.

Answer 5

I'm disloyal, so you're barking up the wrong tree.

I don't believe in such concepts. I find most people suffer by having this expectation of others or when others have this expectation of me. Loyalty is a way to try to control people.

Answer 6

Here is an example: On a camping trip two of the guys were arguing. One was trying to get things packed up to go home. The other wanted to lay back and was not helping to pack up. I was a captive audience at camp site. I too was packing up. After awhile the bickering was annoying me. I finally said "Why don't you guys just shut up!" One guy said to my husband "Tell your wife to just stay out of it." I was shocked that he thought of addressing my husband to tell me what to do. I told my husband later "I thought he was my friend too, but I guess he is just your friend."
My husband went to the guy and said "She does not think you are her friend. Find a way to make up with her or you will not be welcome to my house as a friend anymore. If you are not her friend then you cannot be my friend either."
That to me is what loyalty is. To stand beside someone in alliance.

Answer 7

It's easy to support someone who you agree with or someone you like. But you're really loyal when you support that person even if you don't agree with her behaviour.
She can be wrong in what she's doing, but you may be wrong with your judgment. And then, your loyalty determines the decision.

Answer 8

Loyalty is the extent to which someone will aid you in order to serve his or her own self interest.

Answer 9

Loyalty is a real word. It IS in the dictionary. And you CAN look it up in the dictionary. I HAVE dont it before.

Answer 10

Loyalty that's when you keep allegiance (or preference) to someone or somewhat for a long period of time, in spite of any obstacles or temptations.