ONE OF MY LIFE'S ABSOLUTE REQUIREMENTS THAT PEOPLE I HANG WITH, MUST HAVE!

[chief38]

Just short and sweet today but the one personality trait I really can't deal with is when people can NOT laugh at themselves when they make a mistake, screw up or whatever.

We are all human, we all screw up and we just need to laugh that off - it is much healthier! Telling the somewhat embarrassing stories of said events is healthy when we laugh at it after the fact (although at the time it may not be too funny). People who are ultra serious and take offense to laughing at it down the road are hard for me to hang around with. I make mistakes and laugh my butt of when the story comes up down the road. Seriousness is NOT healthy in this case scenario!

 

[Rustyt1953]

I am a living, breathing, walking anecdote.

 

[Krogen]

A thousand likes, chief! I don't take myself too seriously. If I don't poke fun at myself, my buddies will step in. Lord knows there's enough material.

 

[Venom6]

I've never made a mistake, but if I did, being emotionally intelligent, I would laugh at myself. But only alone.

 

[NYlakesider]

If I cannot throw stones at myself I have no right to throw stones at others!

 

[Bald1]

Hmmmmmmm several members here should take your advice Chief. They hold themselves in pretty high regard.

 

[ladder13]

No one is perfect.

 

[A10]

No one is perfect.

My proctologist told me I was perfect. My wife seconded the motion.....

 

[ladder13]

My proctologist told me I was perfect. My wife seconded the motion.....

Well in that case its a good thing.

 

[Onomea]

How about some "laugh at myself" stories:

I was in Tokyo, late '80s, walking in a park on a lovely blue skies day with my beautiful then GF, now wife, wearing my new cowboy boots, leather jacket, aviator dark glasses, and looking extremely cool.

Lotsa people lounging around on the grass.

We come to a short fence. I pick up the beautiful GF, place her gently on the other side of the fence, put both hands on the fence, and vault nimbly upwards and over, but.... my boot heels catch on the top of the fence, and I tip down into a face plant...

Everyone is politely looking in other directions, but everyone is smiling, too.

While monumentally embarrassed, the scene was so ridiculous that I couldn't help laughing at myself.

Still makes me smile, thinking about it nearly 40 years later.

 

[madmikeb]

I can laugh at about anything, even some things I probably shouldn't. If things go sour I just laugh it off and do whatever it takes to rectify the situation.

 

[Beemerguy53]

If you choose the fire service as your career, you'd better have a very thick skin...or you'll get eaten alive! Besides, the ability to laugh at yourself is a sign of healthy humility, and of being well-grounded.

Show me a guy who thinks he's perfect, who won't admit to making any mistakes, or who blames others for the trouble he's gotten himself into, and I'll show you somebody I'll avoid like he's radioactive...

 

[ladder13]

No requirement, but being humble without having to tell people you are, describes my peeps.

A small sampling.

 

[Lee Barner]

my sign in the gun room. Lee

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

A few weeks ago i took a tumble on the floor of the assembly room in church. One woman asked if I hit my head, I replied if my head hit that floor it would have a crack in it 30 feet long.
Amidst all the quacking about "multiculturalism" IIRC in the East Asian cultures there is the notion of "face"-you do not laugh at the misfortunes of others, make them feel foolish, etc. And they are to do the same to you.
On this and other boards people post about mistakes they have made in home gunsmithing, reloading, gun handling, etc. I doubt if anyone laughs at these, and they remind us of what NOT to do.

 

[NYlakesider]

If you choose the fire service as your career, you'd better have a very thick skin...or you'll get eaten alive! Besides, the ability to laugh at yourself is a sign of healthy humility, and of being well-grounded.

Show me a guy who thinks he's perfect, who won't admit to making any mistakes, or who blames others for the trouble he's gotten himself into, and I'll show you somebody I'll avoid like he's radioactive...

Try being a constructor worker. Many time just wishing someone a friendly good morning sounds like you are asking for a fight! Many/most of the things said would get you some serious gigs on here!

 

[RetCapt]

The perils of thin skin

If you choose the fire service as your career, you'd better have a very thick skin...or you'll get eaten alive! Besides, the ability to laugh at yourself is a sign of healthy humility, and of being well-grounded.

Show me a guy who thinks he's perfect, who won't admit to making any mistakes, or who blames others for the trouble he's gotten himself into, and I'll show you somebody I'll avoid like he's radioactive...

You nailed it. Having had careers in both firefighting and law enforcement I know this - and value it. The character assassination and gallows humor we engage in is, in my opinion, an effective antidote to what we have to see on a daily basis. My observation has been that thin-skinned, tightly wound people have a much tougher time of it in public safety.

Camaraderie is a blessing, but that requires each of us to have no illusions about our perfection.

The best memories of both my careers was all those crazy characters with whom I worked. Since I was a command level officer in both careers, I was fair game. I always told them to take their best shots, but be aware I could shoot back.

I would not trade that for anything.

 

[ColbyBruce]

Some people can’t help it. I have friends who were raised by abusive, alcoholic parents. Any error they make, fifty plus years after childhood, freaks them out as they still expect to be berated or hit.

 

[moosedog]

I agree 100%. If you can't laugh at yourself, I feel sorry for you.
I ditched all those around me who fit that criterion.

 

[cballman]

Like I tell people that I know and whom I talk to. "If you cant laugh at yourself then call me I will Laugh at you""

Sorry but as I get older the less tolerance I have and I can laugh at you AND piss you off at the same time!!