I don't know if I have done anything nice.

 

Liar.

And warrior, get bent.

Are you going to answer me directy or is "get bent" about as enlightening as it gets?

 

 

 

For you to presume that other people with outwardly genuine feelings about something are all BSing is absurd, and it only makes you out to sound bitter and twisted about your own experiences. I have an idea for you. Every time you, sonerohi, ever say that you're happy, I'll deride your claim by calling it BS. Because clearly, I know the way around your banal, bitter little thought processes better than you do.

 

 

 

If you would read my post, sir jackass, you'd see that I said it's their deal if people actually feel that way. What I said was it pisses me off for the warm fuzzy people trying to feel overly important for something like simple deskwork. You are perfectly allowed to feel happy, but when you try to go around glorifying your volunteer work is when it pisses me off.

 

 

 

You're right, actually. I was angry and didn't read your second post propoerly, all I really took notice of was "get bent". Sorry about that.

I wanted to find out the nice things people have done and you guys turned this into a flamefest. Good job. :thumbup:

And warrior, get bent.

Are you going to answer me directy or is "get bent" about as enlightening as it gets?

 

 

 

For you to presume that other people with outwardly genuine feelings about something are all BSing is absurd, and it only makes you out to sound bitter and twisted about your own experiences. I have an idea for you. Every time you, sonerohi, ever say that you're happy, I'll deride your claim by calling it BS. Because clearly, I know the way around your banal, bitter little thought processes better than you do.

 

 

 

If you would read my post, sir jackass, you'd see that I said it's their deal if people actually feel that way. What I said was it pisses me off for the warm fuzzy people trying to feel overly important for something like simple deskwork. You are perfectly allowed to feel happy, but when you try to go around glorifying your volunteer work is when it pisses me off.

 

 

 

You're right, actually. I was angry and didn't read your second post propoerly, all I really took notice of was "get bent". Sorry about that.

 

 

 

Wow, someone who called you "sir jackass" you apologize to on the same page. A good deed indeed, in the middle of a flame war on a thread where it is totally relevant. Warri0r, your amazing.

 

 

 

And as for sonerhi, in my eyes, from what you're telling me, the only person you really care about doing a favor for is your friend and not the people your charity work is benefiting. Motives for helping someone you actually have an established relationship is totally different than working for someone that you will never see. And because of this difference, you really have no right to tell people "oh my charity is harder than yours".

 

 

 

When really, the mindset of someone doing a more simple charity job, such as serving food (in my opinion) would have a step-above someone who is doing harder charity where they directly are benefiting in a relationship.

I gave a depressed kid a hug.

 

 

 

Then I taped a sign that said KILL ME on his back.

 

 

 

Was funny

 

You're hilarious.

 

 

 

Well, I guess I've saved my dad's life a couple times. When I was 7 years old and later when I was 9. But that's more an instinct type of thing, not like "hm, I'll be nice and decide to prevent him from dying." :wall:

 

Please elaborate on how 8-)

 

Though i'd personally call that something pretty nice :)

 

Also to anti-spam this post, it wasn't much but my little brother fell over while my parents were out, so i had to sort it all out for him and get him to stop crying *nightmare*, but thats more of a thing i should do anyway, ahah :)

 

 

 

My dad has Type 1 diabetes. Both of these occasions he got dangerously low blood sugars and passed out. He was sweating like anything. I was able to find his cell phone and call the paramedics in time to stabalize his blood sugar. Not terribly action packed, but I didn't want him to go into a coma or anything. :?

 

 

 

Aww, i know what you mean, nice work though :)

The nicest thing I've done was letting my temporarily homeless friend live with me for a while.

 

 

 

[Fight it out in PM, not on the forums]

 

 

 

Also, I agree that selflessness is almost nonexistent. It is. Everything we do is to satisfy ourselves - whether our definition of being satisfied is "knowing I made a good difference" or "knowing I'm the best at tennis".

I don't know if I have done anything nice.

 

Liar.

 

 

 

LOL, that was a nice combo breaker there.

 

 

 

--

 

 

 

Also, I agree that selflessness is almost nonexistent. It is. Everything we do is to satisfy ourselves - whether our definition of being satisfied is "knowing I made a good difference" or "knowing I'm the best at tennis".

 

 

 

Agreed. Humans just aim for satisfaction. You can say that you're doing it to spread human joy and for a butterfly effect but at some point of the day you're going to look back and say to yourself "Yeah, I did something cool so I'm a great person 8-) " or something along those lines. IMO.

you can say that you're doing it to spread human joy and for a butterfly effect but at some point of the day you're going to look back and say to yourself "Yeah, I did something cool so I'm a great person 8-) " or something along those lines. IMO.

 

 

 

I never said my experiences weren't for self gain. There are plenty of examples where self gain can be a positive thing :thumbup:

Also, I agree that selflessness is almost nonexistent. It is. Everything we do is to satisfy ourselves - whether our definition of being satisfied is "knowing I made a good difference" or "knowing I'm the best at tennis".

 

Is that a challenge? :P

 

 

 

For some reason people have it in their minds selfishness is an inherently bad thing. But we are social creatures and value having others around us. We selfishly build communities and help others to gain respect. I guess it somewhat plays semantics with the word selfish, but I think there is a valid cynical point in there somewhere.

Also, I agree that selflessness is almost nonexistent. It is. Everything we do is to satisfy ourselves - whether our definition of being satisfied is "knowing I made a good difference" or "knowing I'm the best at tennis".

 

It might be true that volunteer work (or charity or simply helping out someone) might make you feel satisfied in the long run, but it's only selfish if that's the main reason behind your acts. I doubt all people think "I'm going to donate my work so I can feel better with myself".

 

I try to do the right thing simply because it's the right thing. ;)

 

That'd be the spirit behind acts of selflessness. "X needs my help, so I'll help him". For some people, feeling fuzzy can be but a positive side-effect, and not the ulterior goal of their good deeds.

You should be happy if you consider yourself selfish for helping someone.

 

It means you're programmed to better your society.

 

It's a good thing.

 

 

 

People really like sex, and so the population explodes.

 

 

 

People enjoy seeing others smile, and so...

 

 

 

Problems occur only with the existence of an alternate route that avoids being nice and lands you a better and more direct reward.

Also, I agree that selflessness is almost nonexistent. It is. Everything we do is to satisfy ourselves - whether our definition of being satisfied is "knowing I made a good difference" or "knowing I'm the best at tennis".

 

Is that a challenge? :P

 

 

 

For some reason people have it in their minds selfishness is an inherently bad thing. But we are social creatures and value having others around us. We selfishly build communities and help others to gain respect. I guess it somewhat plays semantics with the word selfish, but I think there is a valid cynical point in there somewhere.

 

 

 

Well, I didn't mean to add a negative connotation to that so I'm sorry if I did. I just meant that it's in our biologic structure (I guess?) to aim for living a good life - which might have the side effect of helping other people out so it's all good. :D

 

 

 

PS: I suck at tennis.

 

I try to do the right thing simply because it's the right thing. ;)

 

That'd be the spirit behind acts of selflessness. "X needs my help, so I'll help him". For some people, feeling fuzzy can be but a positive side-effect, and not the ulterior goal of their good deeds.

 

Oh, I admit it, I don't always help others because I like helping others. Of course, I have a huge ego and thus I think helping others will make me look better. :P

[hide=]

Also, I agree that selflessness is almost nonexistent. It is. Everything we do is to satisfy ourselves - whether our definition of being satisfied is "knowing I made a good difference" or "knowing I'm the best at tennis".

 

Is that a challenge? :P

 

 

 

For some reason people have it in their minds selfishness is an inherently bad thing. But we are social creatures and value having others around us. We selfishly build communities and help others to gain respect. I guess it somewhat plays semantics with the word selfish, but I think there is a valid cynical point in there somewhere.

[/hide]

 

Well, I didn't mean to add a negative connotation to that so I'm sorry if I did. I just meant that it's in our biologic structure (I guess?) to aim for living a good life - which might have the side effect of helping other people out so it's all good. :D

 

 

 

PS: I suck at tennis.

 

 

 

Oh, that was just a general statement not really aimed at you.

 

 

 

PS: Then we may be more even than I thought.

Hey, now I remembered one cool thing I did.

 

 

 

A month back or so, I found a lost mobile telephone in our metro station. Nobody was searching for it, so I took it and found "mom" in the addressary. I phoned this woman, to which I returned the phone to like 10 mins later.

 

 

 

I got only like 5 bucks from it, but hey

I ran a long way to find my dad when my mum had fallen downstairs when she was pregnant with my sister.

 

 

 

I also helped my nan when she fell over in the middle of a street.

 

 

 

I help people falling over :D

 

Li Chef

Also, I agree that selflessness is almost nonexistent. It is. Everything we do is to satisfy ourselves - whether our definition of being satisfied is "knowing I made a good difference" or "knowing I'm the best at tennis".

 

I don't understand how people can make a claim like "All humans are naturally selfish" or "Everything [humans] do is to satisfy [them]selves." How can you make a claim like that and apply it to everyone in the world? How can you assume that all humans are the same, selfish creatures who aim to satisfy themselves?

I don't know...it somewhat ruins the point when you keep a list...

Also, I agree that selflessness is almost nonexistent. It is. Everything we do is to satisfy ourselves - whether our definition of being satisfied is "knowing I made a good difference" or "knowing I'm the best at tennis".

 

I don't understand how people can make a claim like "All humans are naturally selfish" or "Everything [humans] do is to satisfy [them]selves." How can you make a claim like that and apply it to everyone in the world? How can you assume that all humans are the same, selfish creatures who aim to satisfy themselves?

 

 

 

That's not my point. I was saying that our actions reflect our desires - even if the action is donating to the poor and the desire is to "know you made a positive difference". It's not necessarily a bad thing, but for the most part humans act based on their best interests.

Nobody was searching for it, so I took it and found "mom" in the addressary.

 

Best way to find to whom it belongs to. Although I would feel kind of guilty searching through someone's phone, I'm not the kind that puts personaly stuff on his phone but I know quite a few people that get pretty worked up if someone starts looking through their texts... :lol:

That's not my point. I was saying that our actions reflect our desires - even if the action is donating to the poor and the desire is to "know you made a positive difference". It's not necessarily a bad thing, but for the most part humans act based on their best interests.

 

Well you're still saying that you think that all humans do charitable acts for 'selfish' reasons, aren't you? I don't understand how you - or the other people in this thread - can assume that all humans are like that.

That's not my point. I was saying that our actions reflect our desires - even if the action is donating to the poor and the desire is to "know you made a positive difference". It's not necessarily a bad thing, but for the most part humans act based on their best interests.

 

Well you're still saying that you think that all humans do charitable acts for 'selfish' reasons, aren't you? I don't understand how you - or the other people in this thread - can assume that all humans are like that.

 

 

 

Then... they do good deeds for no reason?

That's not my point. I was saying that our actions reflect our desires - even if the action is donating to the poor and the desire is to "know you made a positive difference". It's not necessarily a bad thing, but for the most part humans act based on their best interests.

 

Well you're still saying that you think that all humans do charitable acts for 'selfish' reasons, aren't you? I don't understand how you - or the other people in this thread - can assume that all humans are like that.

 

 

 

Then... they do good deeds for no reason?

 

No, they do good deeds to help people. Not necessarily to make themselves feel better or "because it's the right thing to do." I'm not saying EVERYONE is like that, but I'm sure a lot of people are.

What is their reason for helping people though if it isn't to make themselves feel better or "because it's the right thing to do"?

What is their reason for helping people though?

 

Why do they have to have a reason? Some people just help for the sake of helping. They don't have to justify their actions or have a reason for what they're doing. Some people help people because they can and because people deserve to be helped. For some people, helping is just an instinctual thing.. like random people who risk their lives to save someone who they don't even know and have to make that decision in an instant (whether it be pulling someone out of the way when they're in danger, or rushing to help someone, or even something less significant/dramatic, etc.). In cases like that especially, I don't think people do that because it's the right thing to do or because they sit there and think, "If I save this person, it will make me feel good about myself because I will know that I have done a good thing." Not only do I think that they don't even have time to talk themselves into it like that, but I think there's something inside that person calling them to act. Something that's not selfishness or a desire to better themselves, but a simple desire to help others who need it. They just instinctually act to help that person for the sake of helping them.

 

 

 

I'm using examples where people have a second to act to help explain what I mean. I don't think this only applies to those situations, but to any situation. I won't deny that a great deal of people probably do charity work or help others for reasons that you and others have stated. But my point is that I don't think we can deal in absolutes. I don't think anyone can just say that ALL humans are a certain way or act a certain way or are naturally selfish creatures, etc.