to be avoided

It's an interesting thing. People who are extremely *goal-oriented -- the kinds of people who set immovable targets for themselves that they feel they must achieve no matter what (perhaps, in other words, most "successful" people) -- can have such movable values and consciences. Anything can be, and often is, sacrificed for that final goal. A rather scary thought. Such people are people to be avoided, or, if avoidance is not an option, treated with cautious cordiality.

i wonder if these people know how they sound to others. Or perhaps, how they sound to me. Maybe i'm more sensitive than most, and so pick up things that other people don't. But when i listen to these people, i just get a strong sense that they are not to be trusted, because they'd do anything to get to where they want to go.
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* "Goal-oriented" -- i should probably clarify here that i'm referring to the sorts of goals that relate to material success or personal achievement, the kind of ego-related goals that people usually think of when they talk about 'goals'. There are other goals -- eg, to be more loving person, to learn patience, to be kind -- that obviously don't end up taking precedence over one's values and conscience. It's quite scary listening to people who have gotten themselves fixated on a goal of the former sort. i can't help but wonder when i will fall victim to their ambition.
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