Why don't people get that perfectionism and "works too hard" are vices?

[Trump's Chosen]

Perhaps it is a very aristotlian view, who certainly wasn't correct on everything, but humor me. A virtue is the balance between two vices. On one end sits perfectionism, where someone is never satisfied and lets perfect be the enemy of good enough. On the other end sits either indolence or a lack of attention to detail.

Of course it functions a bit like a humble brag or trying to answer "what are your shortcomings" with something secretly positive, like you're telling someone you care too much or work too hard.

I'm sure I'm being a bit autistic about it, but beyond the social value of using these words like this, isn't perfectionism a vice? The quality of someone who takes forever to finish something when they could have created three of almost comparable quality.

 

[User names must be unique]

Perfectionists or people work too hard can still create shit, what you seem to have an issue with is people self ascribing those qualities as a boast.

Boasting is always faggotry

 

[KittyGremlin]

I only read half of your post and gave up. Am I a virtuous user?

 

[Idiotron]

I do a lot of creative work and what I found out is that you become successful from consistency, not quality.
Create a deadline for your project, do as much as you can and once the deadline comes, leave it and move on to the next thing.
Adequate and consistent is a lot better than perfect and sporadic.

 

[Trump's Chosen]

I only read half of your post and gave up. Am I a virtuous user?

Sure why not.

Perfectionists or people work too hard can still create shit, what you seem to have an issue with is people self ascribing those qualities as a boast.

Boasting is always faggotry

You're suggesting that I wasn't really thinking about what I thought I was thinking about. Now that I'm thinking about it, you're right. I think it particularly came from a place of on the one hand me using perfectionism as a dodge to finish stuff and hearing "working too hard" as something I'm envious about. Shit, I thought I was thinking deep thoughts here.

 

[KittyGremlin]

Sure why not.

I'M THE BEST

 

[Str8Bustah]

I'm sure I'm being a bit autistic about it, but beyond the social value of using these words like this, isn't perfectionism a vice? The quality of someone who takes forever to finish something when they could have created three of almost comparable quality.

I'd say it's a vice because it's not actually possible for someone to be perfect, at least not here on Earth. In almost all cases it's better to be humble and put yourself down while not being overt about it to others, as that kills your pride and allows you to foster a genuine love for the people around you, even ones you might not initially like very much.

 

[Otterly]

Perfectionism can be a vice. Or a virtue. Think of those Japanese craftsmen making absolutely perfect calligraphy, or making the same carved bowl a thousand times until it’s perfect. Or polishing the mirrors for a space telescope.

PerfectIonian creates a tension, you are right on that - there’s almost always a pull to the other way to just get things done. I don’t think it’s always a negative though - when circumstances allow it can produce wonders. Where circumstances need stuff to just get done whatever then requiring perfection is a vice.
I don’t think there’s any inherent moral ill in it though

 

[Pokemon Conquistador]

I'd say perfectionism can be a curse if it prevents you from doing something productive. Richard Williams and Yuri Norstein are animators who spent decades working on magnum opus animated movies that were basically showcases for their talent. Neither film ever got finished to the artist's original vision and it's doubtful they ever will. While the works of these men are impressive in their current states, one has to wonder how famous and influential they would have been if their creators had managed to finish them and present them to the public. The Thief and the Cobbler has some impressive sequences, but if Williams had gotten a writer in to punch up the story and had spent less time focusing on pointless glory shots that really added nothing to the story, it might have been a classic.

 

[Gender: Xenomorph]

Perfectionism is the ability to create something, but the inability to finish it.

 

[urr13 account]

Why don't people get that perfectionism and "works too hard" are things lazy people describe themselves as for the reason they get nothing done and their finished work is almost always trash and not "perfect" by any stretch of the imagination.

"I'm a perfectionist!" "I just work too hard" is all a bullshit cope by the lazy, unproductive, and stupid.

 

[1999 prick]

"perfectionists" just never shut up about their absurd standards but really have no clue wtf their doing, sorta like Fauci simps and how they try to protect against the coof but still get it.

I sorta don't see perfectionists as people obsessed for the best, but rather those that find joy in refinement of anything in particular.