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The bank charged you interest based on what they thought the risk was of you breaking that promise. They knew the risk when they put out that loan.

hirundo 8y ago
True, but I feel I would still feel shame in failing to keep my word, regardless of the intention of the other party, as long as they keep theirs.
- throwaway123x2 8y ago
  Of course you should /intend/ to, when all else is equal. But once the cost to yourself of keeping that commitment skyrockets, it's just not worth it. Think of it as a captain staying with his ship. All else being equal the captain should stay on his ship. But if the ship is damaged beyond repair and it's sinking, a human life is far more valuable than a ship. Bankruptcy is leaving the ship when things are too far gone to save.
- CiPHPerCoder 8y ago
  > True, but I feel I would still feel shame Please keep your shame to yourself. Your other comments in this thread sound like you're trying to invoke your shame upon others for declaring bankruptcy. If your intention was consistently "I would still feel shame" rather than "You should feel shame", that's fine, but please make that clearer.
  - hirundo 8y ago
    I would still feel shame, to the extent that the bankruptcy was due to my choices. I would judge others on the same basis.
    - beagle3 8y ago
      May I ask what your cultural background is? "Choice" is a funny concept. There are cultures that made people choose between Seppuku and shame, with Seppuku being the honorable "choice". You seem to be accepting and even advocating a financial version of that "choice". It's not quite as common these days, and for the best IMO.
      - hirundo 8y ago
        If I go bankrupt because I get hit by a bus on the sidewalk, I wouldn't feel ashamed of that. If I go bankrupt because I got drunk and ran into a bus, I'd feel ashamed of that. If I go bankrupt because it's more convenient than paying my debts, I'd feel ashamed of that. A family member did that. I felt ashamed of him and less of him. I'm less likely to make him a loan. He lost credit with me. I think that's healthy.
- AlexandrB 8y ago
  > True, but I feel I would still feel shame in failing to keep my word You can "keep your word", or not, to a person. When dealing with a large organization all that matters is what's in the contract. Shame doesn't factor into it because it can't be reciprocated. Corporations don't feel shame.
- gerbilly 8y ago
  > I feel I would still feel shame in failing to keep my word Events conspired to prevent you from keeping your word. There's no reason to pay for it emotionally for the rest of your life. Also, do you think big corporations and CEOs feel shame when using tax loopholes and offshore tax havens to pay less tax than you do?

hirundo 8y ago

True, but I feel I would still feel shame in failing to keep my word, regardless of the intention of the other party, as long as they keep theirs.

throwaway123x2 8y ago
Of course you should /intend/ to, when all else is equal. But once the cost to yourself of keeping that commitment skyrockets, it's just not worth it. Think of it as a captain staying with his ship. All else being equal the captain should stay on his ship. But if the ship is damaged beyond repair and it's sinking, a human life is far more valuable than a ship. Bankruptcy is leaving the ship when things are too far gone to save.
CiPHPerCoder 8y ago
> True, but I feel I would still feel shame Please keep your shame to yourself. Your other comments in this thread sound like you're trying to invoke your shame upon others for declaring bankruptcy. If your intention was consistently "I would still feel shame" rather than "You should feel shame", that's fine, but please make that clearer.
- hirundo 8y ago
  I would still feel shame, to the extent that the bankruptcy was due to my choices. I would judge others on the same basis.
  - beagle3 8y ago
    May I ask what your cultural background is? "Choice" is a funny concept. There are cultures that made people choose between Seppuku and shame, with Seppuku being the honorable "choice". You seem to be accepting and even advocating a financial version of that "choice". It's not quite as common these days, and for the best IMO.
    - hirundo 8y ago
      If I go bankrupt because I get hit by a bus on the sidewalk, I wouldn't feel ashamed of that. If I go bankrupt because I got drunk and ran into a bus, I'd feel ashamed of that. If I go bankrupt because it's more convenient than paying my debts, I'd feel ashamed of that. A family member did that. I felt ashamed of him and less of him. I'm less likely to make him a loan. He lost credit with me. I think that's healthy.
AlexandrB 8y ago
> True, but I feel I would still feel shame in failing to keep my word You can "keep your word", or not, to a person. When dealing with a large organization all that matters is what's in the contract. Shame doesn't factor into it because it can't be reciprocated. Corporations don't feel shame.
gerbilly 8y ago
> I feel I would still feel shame in failing to keep my word Events conspired to prevent you from keeping your word. There's no reason to pay for it emotionally for the rest of your life. Also, do you think big corporations and CEOs feel shame when using tax loopholes and offshore tax havens to pay less tax than you do?