Do you consider crying as a weakness or strength?

This was discussed last night and... it's an interesting question. Basically, do you think a person is showing strength through tears or weakness?

It depends on the situation - in most cases, I'd consider the person to be more vulnurable (spelling? idk) when crying, because their emotions and thoughts are worn down. But... in a lot of cases, it can really be a strength and can build one up.

It's kind of even. Crying can be a sign of vulnerability, however, it can also be a something along the lines of "I cry, so does everyone else, I'm not afraid to admit it".

Idk, that's just my view on it. Interesting subject, though.

It implies emotional instability or buildup and release in adults, thus a weakness. I don't laugh at people who cry though, I cry like anyone else, it's just a way of releasing tension, sadness or whatever; it simply makes apparent some kind of falliable mental integrity, which almost all humans have so it's rather people that cry a lot than ones that cry at all that are 'weak'.

In young children it's just a natural reaction to reception of pain in order to gain others' attention, although it may be useful (though in modern times unfunctional and annoying) it doesn't boost one's reactions or anything.

An interesting question.

オレンジ said:

It implies emotional instability or buildup and release in adults, thus a weakness. I don't laugh at people who cry though, I cry like anyone else, it's just a way of releasing tension, sadness or whatever; it simply makes apparent some kind of falliable mental integrity, which almost all humans have so it's rather people that cry a lot than ones that cry at all that are 'weak'.

In young children it's just a natural reaction to reception of pain in order to gain others' attention, although it may be useful (though in modern times unfunctional and annoying) it doesn't boost one's reactions or anything.

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I agree to some extent that crying is a weakness, though I could also see crying as a way to obtain strength.
Yes, I fully agree that most young children cry just so they gain others' attention, but in the case of adults, when one is releasing emotion, tension or sadness through tears, it also builds one's strength in some way, because you lessen the weight and burden that you carry, you get stronger, thus showing strength.
It's just my viewpoint of it, though, so I could most likely be wrong.

I cry when I need to, because it's human to do so.

I consider it a strength. If a male cannot give a damn if people think he is a wuss or a pussy and cry freely if upset then that man is a man of honor or something.

I think crying is a sign of too much things at once. Its not weakness and not strength.

I see the lack of fully being in control of yourself a weakness. Crying=/=control.

Technically crying is a weakness, but that doesn't mean there's anything bad about it.

I think it depends on the situation and what the circumstances that made you cry were. =/ You can be moved by something, which shows you have a heart, or you can be crying out of sheer happiness. Then there're the not-so-nice things, but c'mon, there's only a certain amount of crap people can take without reacting to it. D; Also, I think it differs between males and females. Females are expected to cry more.

So in answer to le question, I don't think it is a sign of weakness.

Diglett said:

It's kind of even. Crying can be a sign of vulnerability, however, it can also be a something along the lines of "I cry, so does everyone else, I'm not afraid to admit it".

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Yeah, I agree with what this guy's said :)

Personally, I think it shows weakness. It means someone has lost control of their emotions.
Which is why I don't cry. The only thing I loose control of is my anger.
I'm generally known as the tough guy who, when he's sad, gets angry or goes into shock and stares into space. I wish I wasn't though, everyone expects me to fight for them.
I don't hold my tears back, I just never feel the need to cry, my body just doesn't let me.

But I guess, depending on the situation, it could mean strength.

I say a strength. I get what I want when I cry.

It's a weakness, it just shows how weak and vulnerable a person is. But sometimes you just can't control your tears... :/

Ash493 said:

It's weakness... by showing your emotions you show that ya can't control 'em

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what is this i dont even

Anyway, I hardly see crying as a weakness at all. People sometimes have to let out their emotions, and crying is one of the best ways to do so. Besides, people can't control when they cry or not. Crying is really a way to communicate, in my opinion. People know when someone's upset when they're crying, and then that person decides to help the upset person.

Well i think when you cry you're really letting your inner emotions show. i mean if you were playing poker or something it wouldn't be good but out on the street or with friends and family i neither consider it to be a strength nor weakness, all you're doing is expressing your feelings. It's a trait more than anything. You don't cry to win arguements or anything like that. Though crying is a good defence, if you're under any sort of threat you can cry and you'll be in your own little world where no one can hurt you but really how often does that situation arise?
So i think crying is more of a neutral personality trait rather than a strength nor weakness.