# Is guilt a productive force... **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 13, 2012, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-guilt-a-productive-force/609395 "2012-01-13T15:33:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bigshift](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d26b3c/32.png) [@Bigshift](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bigshift)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2012, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-guilt-a-productive-force/609395/1 "2012-01-13T15:33:39Z")
in the individual and society? This could be morally speaking or economical. I believe that guilt is a waste of an emotion. It may stop us from become what we could have been or achieving what we could have achieved. Of course, morally speaking this could lead to disaster. What do you think? I’m open to some new ideas. ---
**Author:** ![Consensus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3be4f8/32.png) [@Consensus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Consensus)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2012, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-guilt-a-productive-force/609395/2 "2012-01-13T15:50:46Z")
Why should an emotion be productive at all? It’s a part of what we are based on our moral values. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2012, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-guilt-a-productive-force/609395/3 "2012-01-13T16:04:30Z")
> [@Bigshift](#): > > I believe that guilt is a waste of an emotion. It may stop us from become what we could have been or achieving what we could have achieved. Of course if what you could become is a mass murderer and what you could achieve throwing widows and orphans out into the snow to freeze so you can buy a new car. Then maybe it’s good that it was stopped.