"Cross your heart and hope to die...

[Honest]

...stick a needle into your eye"

The thread title's fancy, but what it is essentially is a promise. Well, the first part is. We hear that term tossed around a lot, "I promise" or "I swear". But I think to toss something around so easily is sort of wrong to do.

So my question to you is, do you make promises a lot? And more importantly, do you keep them? Or are you one of those people who've never made a promise, or at least one you couldn't keep?

Personally, I used to be the kind that'd always say I promise to make a person get off of my case, or to rile them up. But as I matured, I've become more serious about it, and now if I promise something, I keep it, no matter what. Glad to say there's only one promise I have to keep.

With the roll I'm on, there's already a thread on this, so lock it up if needed.


Also, anyone know where the quote comes from? Hint: "Sharpie"

 

[Oryx]

I tend to not make promises a lot. No one really asks for them and it doesn't occur to me that I'm going to try any harder to do something if I make a promise than if I don't. When I say I'm going to do something, I'm too considerate of other peoples' time and effort and I tend to try really hard to make things easy on them. For example, showing up at places 15-20 minutes before the meeting time so I don't make them wait a single minute, being ready half an hour before we have to leave, things like that.

 

[Nick]

I swear for when I make exaggerations, so I don't reeeeaaally swear. At least not to someone else like when people make actual promises to each other. And I don't really make promises to people. I haven't needed to for such a long time. I don't make promises unless I know I'm going to keep them. Like signing a promissory note to pay the rest of my school tuition that I needed to pay. I signed that because I knew I would pay them off when I could. If I didn't know that, I wouldn't have signed it, just like if I didn't know if I could keep a promise to someone, I wouldn't promise them that I would do something.

 

[Shining Raichu]

I'm not often put in a place where I'm forced to make promises, so this doesn't happen to me an awful lot. Usually the promises I make are promises to not to repeat something someone has told me - and that is a promise I make sure I always keep, because if I don't keep that promise then nobody is going to trust me enough to tell me anything else. Besides, I'm very much a "mind your own damn business" kind of person, so if somebody doesn't want something spread I won't be the one to do it :P

 

[Starsprite]

I guess I use "I promise," and "I swear," in two different contexts. For example, sometimes I'll use it to mean, "I'm telling the truth," like, "This is really the right room, I promise." Or to put it another way, I use it to emphasize that I'm not lying.

Then, I can promise to keep a secret, which is something I wouldn't say nearly so lightly. I also try not to make promises that I can't keep, since that really lowers people's trust for one thing.

 

[rayan.b]

i rarely promise anyone about anything ( not more than twice a year ) because its a serious case for me and i would never imagine my self not keeping a promise
and i would never swear on a lie because its forbidden in islam :)

i like cinnamon :)

 

[Firox]

(question) do you make promises a lot? I don't make any promises to myself or to anyone. They hurt more (feeling on the inside) if they are broken, instead I just make plans that I can change from one day to another if I can't keep them or accomplish them, or forgot about them, or another quick emergency turns out (change of plans)

also, other's have made me promises and they never keep them, I usually remind them two weeks later (about) and they just simply say "sorry I forgot, I"ll make it up to you" and usually they forget again.

 

[Kikaito plush]

I never make promises because I don't want to hurt someones feelings if I forgot.

 

[Zeffy]

To be honest, I don't see much point in using "I promise". Sure, it adds flavour to the context but if you are true to your word, why not tell the person directly? Granted, the words "I swear" and "I promise" can be used for a different purpose as Starsprite mentioned.

Still, you won't see me make any promises. Truth be told and truth be done, I suppose.

 

[Elite Overlord LeSabre™]

I don't really make promises that often, since I want to make absolute sure I don't break them. Breaking a promise is a good way to lose someone's trust, and I try not to lose that trust by making promises that I may not be able to keep. Most of the time, I tell people, "I think I'll be able to <insert here> but I can't guarantee it." Sort of a disclaimer.

 

[Ayselipera]

Usually if I say I promise then you don't have to worry about anything. More times than not recently though I've been finding out these people who are so intent on me keeping their promises are really just idiots who tell everyone anyways. And when it comes to promising to do something besides keeping a secret I also usually do it. I just don't make promises to things I'm not going to do. So if I promise to do something I will unless of course I sincerely forget.

 

[droomph]

Nope, I'm probably the least reliable person I know :P

If you make a deal with me be prepared to moves the deadline at least three times, or better yet, find someone else.

 

[Kura]

Promises generally mean a lot to me so.. yeah. I keep my promises no matter what because trust is a big thing for me.

 

[Meganium]

I'm generally the same as Kura. I always keep my promises, no matter the outcome. I'll state that I won't guarantee that I'll fulfill it, but at times when I say "I will, Promise!" it means i'm serious. xD

 

[Mr Cat Dog]

I make fewer gratuitous promises than I do contracts. By contracts I don't mean full on legal documents that have been notarised and sealed and all that crap... more just in the way of informal agreements: "you do something for me and I'll do something for you". If someone breaks a contract, then yeah, I'm pretty pissed about that, especially if I've already given my side of the deal. Granted, it doesn't happen all that often, but it's something I do care about.

As for 'promises', I don't really do them at all. If someone asks me to do something/not do something, I'll try my best to do/not do it. If they say it's important, then I'll make extra sure. The word promise just doesn't mean all that much to give it extra consideration. If I've agreed to do something, I'll do it whether it's a promise or not. :D

 

[Twilight Sky]

Nope. I very rarely ever make promises unless it's something that I know that I will get taken care of. With that being said, I do keep them, otherwise I wouldn't make them. @_@; I take my promises very seriously, and if it's something that I even have the slightest chance of breaking, I have to make sure that I let the other party know first.