poor judgement: a bipolar symptom or character flaw

I've always see it as a character flaw.

I agree that calling it a character flaw implies the person cannot change this. I think anyone with this problem can work on it to improve themselves. Then the question comes up is can the person “cure” themselves of poor judgement. Personally, I think this may not be possible. So there is an aspect of this that may be a perminant part of the problem. Perhaps with some people it is a character flaw? With others it may be there for some other reason, like the lack of discipline and effort in analyzing a situation and following through. I do think when it happens during a manic episode, it is caused by BP. I imagine this can include depression. But when symptom free, I think the reason may be found elsewhere.

I like this question, even though I feel like it struck a nerve with me. I have made some very terrible choices over the course of my life. I look back on the worst of them and ask myself: if I wasn't mentally ill, underneath it all, is that who I am? I have to say no. Of course I accept responsibility for my actions as it was me, but the kind of heart and soul I have does not always match up with the choices I make.

100% my life would be different without MI and the choices that result from it. It's not an excuse for me to behave badly, but it is a part of how my mind works.

I think it’s a combination. have a stable friend help u watch for the triggers and altered behaviors that can get u in trouble.

Character flaw. Everything is attributed to poor 'ole bipolar.

For me it's both. I've always had a hard time controlling myself when I'm shopping, but it got wayyy worse after bipolar symptoms started presenting themselves. Now I have absolutely no impulse control at all.
Also, I've always been liable to do risky things just for fun (like cliff diving, for example) but now I do risky things with reckless abandon, yes still for the fun of it, but much more dangerous things now because I don't value my life

I think it can be either/or and both.
I know people with poor judgement who are free of any mental illness.
I know people who are risk takers but only when their mood is up.
I know people like me who do have a MI who’ve always enjoyed living a little bit on the edge but take well thought out calculated risks until they’re in a bipolar episode.

I don't normally make risky decisions. In fact, I really have to step out of my comfort zone to even make regular decisions.

In an episode, though, I do make poor choices. I've made a lot of them. Unfortunately I've also made choices while in the throes of BPD. Sometimes it's hard to distinguish them.

Even then, I know that I'm still a good person, even if I make poor choices.