Stormraven

I read alot of fiction. Probably more than I should. Something I've tripped over again and again is when an author describes a character one way, and then has them behave in a way directly contradicting that description. Normally I shrugg and move on but it particularly steams me when the subject is integrity or honor.

I give as an example a recent scenario where a man, knowing that a woman was at least half drunk, declined her invitation to bed because he was, quote 'an honorable gentlman' - until, as she continued to invite, he became sufficiently interested that he merrily bedded her without a second though then or later to his supposed honor.

At any rate it irritated me enough that I got to thinking. Honor as a way of life is something I only seem to come across now and then in fantasy or military SF, but mainly in anime. (Or *shudder* Romance, and they give it a bad name.) More often it's invoked in name only. It's starting to feel like no one even knows what the word means anymore.

So, here's my question for anyone who cares to answer: What does honor mean to you and does it have a place in modern life?

Bonus points if you can give a real life example of someone you've noticed acting with honor.