Thinking as a society

[Love_Actually]

In the world right now, most countries have an economy based on capitalism. The companies make profit off the individuals in those societies, and mostly ignore human factors, to focus only on profit no matter what.

 

 

 

The social result of this is that people think as individuals instead of thinking as a society. The focus on the common good is lost. However, we are not forced to adopt that attitude, regardless of our economic system.

 

 

 

We are a society, we should think as a society, not as separate individuals. There is no drawback at thinking as a society; the drawback is for the money hungry companies. Usually, for citizens, there are only advantages. When we think as a society, we protect ourselves and others.

 

 

 

By example, a woodcutting company wants to cut all of the government-owned forest around a lake. The government will let the company cut the forest for a usually ridiculously low amount of money, using the pretext that it helps the economy. The citizens that live around that lake do not want that to happen, for many reasons; hunting, hiking, their beautiful view.

 

 

 

Now the outcome of the situation can be different.

 

 

 

In a society where the individuals think as individuals instead of thinking a society, the protests of the people around the lake wouldn't be enough to stop the cutting from taking place, and the citizens of the lake would lose their forest.

 

 

 

A society in which the individuals think as a society, the protests would come from everywhere in the country, not only from the people around the lake, and the sheer numbers of protests would probably be enough to stop the company from doing it, because they don't want to get a bad reputation. This would be achievement solely with a change of attitude.

 

 

 

A society where the individuals think as a society acts like a big shield. You shield others in their time of need, and you are shielded when you are in your time of need. A society thinking as a society is a great moving force, acting to protect the human aspects when they are violated or ignored by a company.

 

 

 

When the people in a society think as individuals, think only about their own good, they actually let the companies do as they wish. When someone else is harmed because a company has ignored the human factor in the equation, nobody helps that person, and if you are harmed, nobody will help you. It's a lose situation for the citizens, and a win situation for the companies.

 

 

 

Unless you plan on becoming one of those money-hungry company owners, there is absolutely no reason for you to adopt an individualistic and selfish attitude. Every step is important, even though you think it's not, it is. I challenge you to change your attitude, that it be for a day, and enjoy the satisfaction of helping, and taking care of others, it's a feeling of genuine love, and happiness.

 

 

 

By the way, I'm not trying to moralise you or make you feel bad or stupid, I want to make you think about this, to realise something. Cheers! ^__~

[goldphishies]

So... are we meant to act as ants or bees, and not as individuals?

 

That's sort of all I got from this... :-k

[Love_Actually]

So... are we meant to act as ants or bees, and not as individuals?

 

That's sort of all I got from this... :-k

 

No.. Re-read please.

[llamster]

It means that we should be like-minded and care for and support each other. The preacher at the Christian camp I went to agrees with you, Love Actually.

[Love_Actually]

It means that we should be like-minded and care for and support each other. The preacher at the Christian camp I went to agrees with you, Love Actually.

 

That's good : But to clear that up, I am not Christian. I don't agree with the like-minded part, but I agree with the care and support each other part. :wink:

[Nadril]

So... are you actually suggesting something or is this just ranting?

 

 

 

As humans its natural for us to act individually. Acting as a 'society' would have to mean that everyone has the same opinion for it to work. If you have a contrasting opinion then, suddenly, you can not focus as a society being 'one' because of that conflicting opinion.

 

 

 

For example what if I, as a citizen, really wanted the forest to be cut down because it was a minor change on the environment and would really improve our economy? Like I said you have to assume everyone has the same opinion for everything for this to even feasibly work.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At any rate I still am not following you very well. The entire thing just seems like a big stab at "big corporations are evil, we need to stick together!" ideal.

[Smapla]

We are the borg.

[Bubsa]

We are the borg.

 

[goldphishies]

It means that we should be like-minded and care for and support each other. The preacher at the Christian camp I went to agrees with you, Love Actually.

 

Okay, I see. But sometimes, we do need to think for only ourselves, with our interests as a priority. But I agree we should be like minded and support one another. It would solve a lot of global issues.

[Love_Actually]

Nadril, selfishness exists, it does, but you have a choice to let yourself be guided by it or not. This post is not to bash the big companies, they are what they are, this post is to make you realise the power of cooperation.

 

 

 

You say that everyone needs to have the same opinion for this to work, what do you mean by that?

 

 

 

By example, a pharmaceutics company makes a new hormones pill that is found to have very dangerous life-threatening side effects. The people victim of the side effects make pressure on the government to stop the fabrication of those dangerous pills, but they are not high enough in numbers to make the government change his stance. However, if they receive help in their quest to stop the fabrication of those pills, then there is some good chances they will succeed, and prevent any further victims of that pill. There was a story similar on the news not so long ago, about a birth control pill, that is very dangerous and has not been removed from the market yet, this is not fiction. This is not a matter of opinion, either you are part the pharmaceutic company, and you do not want to stop producting that particular pill because you would lose all the money you used to research and produce this pill, either you are part of the normal citizens, and do not want other citizens to be exposed to the dangers of that pill.

[Lenin64]

hm, i see where you're bashing capitalism (good job :thumbsup: ) but i dont see the rest of it...maybe im just not reading it right...

[kelem_ryu]

The point is to care about more then just yourself.

 

 

 

As it is atm everybody is in it for themselves. If you make it you make, if you screw up, you are screwed. Problem is that in an environment where everybody acts selfish you'll be trampled upon if you don't. You'd be ripped apart if you start giving everything you can. (At least it seems like that).

[Love_Actually]

Giving support to people in need doesn't require you to give anything else than a little of your time :P You're certainly not going to get 'squished' for that :P

[TotalTalker]

We can make businesses go bust if we want, by not supplying them with money (not buying their products, etc), then they will go bust.

 

 

 

But no-one will stop buying their products...

[underu2000]

So basically you want some philanthropist communism-fascism hybrid, where everyone is not just equal, but must care for each other in order to make a stronger nation-state.

 

 

 

If the lessons of the past didn't remind you, it is impossible for everyone in a society to agree with each other. Not only does each individual want separate and unique goals, but each individual believes his rights/goals are more correct and will do anything to make it succeed, even if that means fighting conflicting ideals of other individuals.

 

 

 

Now, the ideal democratic capitalism is where everyone has an equal chance of success, and is rewarded according to his capabilities and accomplishments. This of course, doesn't happen, and people fight for what they want, even if it isn't the morally correct thing to do.

 

 

 

So there is a reason to act selfish and individualistic. If we didn't, it would be sacrificing ourselves to help others. The greater good would be served, but at the cost of gaining individual success (and thus, the ants/bees metaphor). If you can convince the entire world that, we would have a utopia. But this, of course, will never happen.

[indy500fan]

You, like most people, are automatically assuming selfishness and greed are "bad". I used to have the energy to argue these things, but I just don't anymore.

[llamster]

It says in the Bible: societies should be like-minded.

[dwarfdude3]

So basically you want some philanthropist communism-fascism hybrid, where everyone is not just equal, but must care for each other in order to make a stronger nation-state.

 

 

 

If the lessons of the past didn't remind you, it is impossible for everyone in a society to agree with each other. Not only does each individual want separate and unique goals, but each individual believes his rights/goals are more correct and will do anything to make it succeed, even if that means fighting conflicting ideals of other individuals.

 

 

 

Now, the ideal democratic capitalism is where everyone has an equal chance of success, and is rewarded according to his capabilities and accomplishments. This of course, doesn't happen, and people fight for what they want, even if it isn't the morally correct thing to do.

 

 

 

So there is a reason to act selfish and individualistic. If we didn't, it would be sacrificing ourselves to help others. The greater good would be served, but at the cost of gaining individual success (and thus, the ants/bees metaphor). If you can convince the entire world that, we would have a utopia. But this, of course, will never happen.

 

 

 

First off, great post.

 

 

 

anyway, I'd just like to say that there is a giant difference between communism and what happened in Russia. Communism didn't fail, the Russian leaders who got in power took control and distorted it to something it was not. Really, there is no 'lesson from the past', cause it has never really been truly tested.

 

 

 

There is no reason to act selfish and individualistic. We should sacrifice our selves to help others to help the greater good. But you think its not worth it if no one else does it? so that way you individually gain nothing? how selfish you are!

 

 

 

and what do you mean it will never happen? well, perhaps. But we must strive for as close to possible towards this kind of society, maybe even perpetually, but it is still worth it to know that we are improving as a race.

 

 

 

I can't believe so many people are selfish enough to slam this post. It is really great, people need to see this.

[indy500fan]

There is no reason to act selfish and individualistic. We should sacrifice our selves to help others to help the greater good. But you think its not worth it if no one else does it? so that way you individually gain nothing? how selfish you are!

 

 

 

and what do you mean it will never happen? well, perhaps. But we must strive for as close to possible towards this kind of society, maybe even perpetually, but it is still worth it to know that we are improving as a race.

 

 

 

I can't believe so many people are selfish enough to slam this post. It is really great, people need to see this.

 

 

 

I hate hypocrites.

[dwarfdude3]

There is no reason to act selfish and individualistic. We should sacrifice our selves to help others to help the greater good. But you think its not worth it if no one else does it? so that way you individually gain nothing? how selfish you are!

 

 

 

and what do you mean it will never happen? well, perhaps. But we must strive for as close to possible towards this kind of society, maybe even perpetually, but it is still worth it to know that we are improving as a race.

 

 

 

I can't believe so many people are selfish enough to slam this post. It is really great, people need to see this.

 

 

 

I hate hypocrites.

 

 

 

what?

[PaperClipsYaaaar]

Communism didn't fail, the Russian leaders who got in power took control and distorted it to something it was not.

 

That is no excuse. Every ideal is perfect until humans get involved in it.

 

 

 

"It has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried. "

 

- Winston Churchill

[Zonorhc]

I hope you realise that what you just typed was basically what Mussolini said, minus the ramble about the big companies.

[dwarfdude3]

Communism didn't fail, the Russian leaders who got in power took control and distorted it to something it was not.

 

That is no excuse. Every ideal is perfect until humans get involved in it.

 

 

 

"It has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried. "

 

- Winston Churchill

 

 

 

So, if in America, Bush takes over the government and turns us into a dictatorship empire state thing and begins secret police systems to eliminate opposition to his reign, capitalism is a failed system? :wall:

[PaperClipsYaaaar]

 

So, if in America, Bush takes over the government and turns us into a dictatorship empire state thing and begins secret police systems to eliminate opposition to his reign, capitalism is a failed system? :wall:

 

That's not possible. The basic framework of American Democracy prevents that from ever happening.

[dwarfdude3]

 

So, if in America, Bush takes over the government and turns us into a dictatorship empire state thing and begins secret police systems to eliminate opposition to his reign, capitalism is a failed system? :wall:

 

That's not possible. The basic framework of American Democracy prevents that from ever happening.

 

 

 

See, thats the thing. Democracy is totally different than capitalism. Just like a dictatorship is totally different than communism.

 

 

 

what we need is democratic communism, so that the basic framework of democracy stops people from gaining power like what happened in Russia, but have an economic situation that doesn't encourage selfishness and corruption.