The Selfishness of Humanity (a thread to stop a hijack)

[SuSa]

Link to original post: [drupal=1928]The Selfishness of Humanity (a thread to stop a hijack)[/drupal]



Yah, let's post here guys. <_<

My personal view:
Humanity is selfish, most animals are. It's about survival and what you need to survive. It's also about being on top - you be on top by being selfish. Get over it.

^ Summarized. Question me and I'll detail it. < lol grammar

/was going to have some really epic blog but ya'll need to wait 1~ month for that blog. I'm still gathering resources and the like from many different places of the world and such.... mostly politics and random sad stories... you should all enjoy it but for the time being we need this I feel to be fair to Serris or whomever.

^^ that was a long /

 

[Falconv1.0]

You're selfish too, and so is everyone complaining about selfish people.


*not saying you're complaining, just to clear things up lol.

 

[SuSa]

I am a selfish *****, why do you think I wanted to make this thread before anyone else?

Also I have yet to see a truly selfless person... alive...

 

[Teran]

Yeah, Hitler's dead.

 

[SuSa]

I was thinking Stalin or Lenin... but Hitler works.

 

[INSANE CARZY GUY]

Look up Bush both should work.

That's something I will never understand, greed/selfishness(about the same thing), how can one care only about them self. I have never been a greedy person , so I have been told, even as a little kid i rarly ask for anything, I always felt woung when I woud ask for things for my brithday or whatever. I still do. I how this thread works out great

 

[00000]

Yeah, Hitler's dead.

But Santa is not.

 

[Falconv1.0]

For the record, I am very selfish and I lol at people who aren't.


God doesn't magically repay good deeds. Tru fax.

 

[SuSa]

I how this thread works out great

what?

And Bush? What?

 

[Delta-cod]

Look up Bush both should work.

That's something I will never understand, greed/selfishness(about the same thing), how can one care only about them self. I have never been a greedy person , so I have been told, even as a little kid i rarly ask for anything, I always felt woung when I woud ask for things for my brithday or whatever. I still do. I how this thread works out great

Chances are you're satisfying yourself by doing what you do, which makes you selfish.

Nobody is truly selfless. Ever.

 

[NintenJoe]

The thing is though, if we stop being selfish, we get **** done. Soceity only started making major leaps when people worked together. This is why savagery and self-centeredness gets us nowhere.

 

[Delta-cod]

Yet they were most likely selfish in that they all wanted to be known for something famous or etc etc. Granted, we are happy with innovations, but those who design/create them are still selfish. Just in a different way.

 

[NintenJoe]

Yet they were most likely selfish in that they all wanted to be known for something famous or etc etc. Granted, we are happy with innovations, but those who design/create them are still selfish. Just in a different way.

Rome wasn't built by one man. No one is creditted with the creation of the civilization. People worked together so they could realize their own goals. That is not selfishness.

 

[arch knight]

The thing is though, if we stop being selfish, we get **** done. Soceity only started making major leaps when people worked together. This is why savagery and self-centeredness gets us nowhere.

correction without selfishness and greed there is a lack incentive to be better at one thing over someone. Competition is what drives a human to create

 

[SuSa]

Your confusing selfish with another term. If I designed/created something, and I share it - that's not being selfish.

If I expect to get praise/reward of any kind that would make me selfish.

 

[Delta-cod]

They each wanted to attain their own goals though, which is selfish. those helping and not getting credit may have felt satisfaction, and done it so they could feel proud or feel good about themselves. That is selfishness.

Selfishness is not inherently bad. We're all looking to better ourselves, always. We're all, also, looking to make ourselves feel better about ourselves, so if helping people out does that for you, then great. If not, than you're the "bad version" of selfish.

 

[Noobicidal]

I'm going to quote myself from the previous thread.

Regardless of the circumstance, in order for one to willingly give time, effort, money, or what have you to another person or organization, there HAS to be something gained from the process. A student may do community service projects for a club or activity that goes onto their college transcript; a new potential tenant could get help moving his things into his new boarding from the landlord or another fellow tenant in exchange for a future favor.

...Regardless of how pious one's intentions are, there is some sort of reward system in place.

 

[Delta-cod]

Regardless of the circumstance, in order for one to willingly give time, effort, money, or what have you to another person or organization, there HAS to be something gained from the process. A student may do community service projects for a club or activity that goes onto their college transcript; a new potential tenant could get help moving his things into his new boarding from the landlord or another fellow tenant in exchange for a future favor.

...Regardless of how pious one's intentions are, there is some sort of reward system in place.

As much as I hate taking other people's words to explain myself, I gotta say, this is a better job explaining how I feel than I could come up with.

 

[NintenJoe]

They each wanted to attain their own goals though, which is selfish. those helping and not getting credit may have felt satisfaction, and done it so they could feel proud or feel good about themselves. That is selfishness.

Selfishness is not inherently bad. We're all looking to better ourselves, always. We're all, also, looking to make ourselves feel better about ourselves, so if helping people out does that for you, then great. If not, than you're the "bad version" of selfish.

based on your definition of selfishnesss, its acceptable. I've viewed selfishness as furthering ones goals at the expense of others, although it's not really a correct definition. I guess we are all selfish, but thats not necessarily a bad thing. Selfishness with hostile intent is a bad thing.

Competition is not a bad thing either. How else would we make technological advances?

 

[XFadingNirvanaX]

I'm going to quote myself from the previous thread.

That includes any feeling of happiness or contribution gained from helping someone correct?

 

[arch knight]

hostile intent would not be all bad it can seem wrong to one person but right to another. Now its about view points

 

[Delta-cod]

We wouldn't, lol.

And glad you understand my point. ;D

The above was directed at Joe. Believe I was beat to posting.

Nirvana: I believe that, yes, those feelings would indeed be a reward, making your actions selfish.

 

[XFadingNirvanaX]

Nirvana: I believe that, yes, those feelings would indeed be a reward, making your actions selfish.

It would be the "good" selfish? Or is it a matter of views? If you enjoy helping people and receive somekind of happiness from it, it doesn't seem bad, but is still considered selfish.

 

[Noobicidal]

That includes any feeling of happiness or contribution gained from helping someone correct?

The part that I left out is about just that.

Is self-gratification not gained from doing this "noble deed"?

This was in reference to Teran asking about why one would willingly risk their life to save a drowning person.

 

[Delta-cod]

It would be the "good" selfish? Or is it a matter of views? If you enjoy helping people and receive somekind of happiness from it, it doesn't seem bad, but is still considered selfish.

Good and bad are subjective, always. However, the most common answer would be, yes, it is the "good" selfish. It is still selfish, though.

 

[Insetick]

I hope everyone agrees with this assumption: everyone wants to be happy.

The reason why people are selfish is because it makes us feel good, right? If I lie to a friend and steal his wallet, I can buy stuff with his money and I'll feel good, right?

This is Socratic philosophy: what we think will make us happy isn't always right. Obviously, not all selfish people end up living good lives. In my example, my friends may find out that I lied and stop being my friend. In losing a friend, I become unhappy.

Selfishness brings us short-term pleasures that are easy to foresee. However, we all really want long-term happiness. Happiness includes such things as health, financial stability, relationships with others, etc. The decisions we make rely on us weighing consequences. Short-term pleasures are easy to foresee. Long-term happiness requires great logical reasoning and knowledge.

People are selfish by nature, and there's nothing you can do to change that. However, it's just a result of us wanting what is best. If you want to stop selfishness, people must learn to make better decisions and think in the long-term.

 

[Delta-cod]

However, even then, you're making a selfish decision so that you're happy in the future. You can't get rid of selfishness, it's really not possible.

 

[LordoftheMorning]

For the record, I am very selfish and I lol at people who aren't.


God doesn't magically repay good deeds. Tru fax.

That depends on whether or not you believe in God. What you just said is almost paradoxical.

 

[Falconv1.0]

That depends on whether or not you believe in God. What you just said is almost paradoxical.

Beliefs=Reality.

Believing in God, that's an opinion, in fact, I am a very strong believer in God. Believing **** magically goes good for people who do good things? LOL NO.

 

[squirtleuser007]

how come every report i do on literature has to do with human nature being flawed???? i did it for julius caesar... in a lot of shakespeare's plays, he show's how human nature is selfish(look at cassius in J.C. and macbeth in macbeth (lulz))

 

[Teran]

That depends on whether or not you believe in God. What you just said is almost paradoxical.

I must admit your parlour tricks are amuuuuusing!
I bet you've got a rabbit under your hat!

 

[Insetick]

Beliefs=Reality.

Believing in God, that's an opinion, in fact, I am a very strong believer in God. Believing **** magically goes good for people who do good things? LOL NO.

Beliefs are by nature either right or wrong. I could say that 2+2=5, and I would definitely be wrong. You're free to believe in God, though, since he hasn't been scientifically proven to exist or not.
Beliefs can only create a false reality. The REAL reality is being defined by science.

However, even then, you're making a selfish decision so that you're happy in the future. You can't get rid of selfishness, it's really not possible.

nice
I will revise my post... I will say that if you want to reduce the negative effects of selfishness, etc. etc. etc. Because acting for long-term happiness is a better selfishness that does much more good than bad.

 

[Falconv1.0]

Beliefs are by nature either right or wrong. I could say that 2+2=5, and I would definitely be wrong. You're free to believe in God, though, since he hasn't been scientifically proven to exist or not.
Beliefs can only create a false reality. The REAL reality is being defined by science.

Exactly my point lol.

 

[Delta-cod]

Beliefs are by nature either right or wrong. I could say that 2+2=5, and I would definitely be wrong. You're free to believe in God, though, since he hasn't been scientifically proven to exist or not.
Beliefs can only create a false reality. The REAL reality is being defined by science.


nice
I will revise my post... I will say that if you want to reduce the negative effects of selfishness, etc. etc. etc. Because acting for long-term happiness is a better selfishness that does much more good than bad.

Selfishness doesn't even have to have negative effects. If you help others to make yourself feel good, then it's positive. Pretty much everything you do is a selfish act, lol. But I do agree, acting for long term happiness is pretty much always better in the long run, which is what you're working for.

 

[The Sauce Boss]

The REAL reality is being defined by science.

Something as abstract as reality really goes beyond the scope of being 'defined'.

My personal view:
Humanity is selfish, most animals are. It's about survival and what you need to survive. It's also about being on top - you be on top by being selfish. Get over it.

Now I don't claim to be a selfless philanthropist, but when people start going down this path it usually bugs me. In my experiences it usually just amounts to some back asswards logic justifying behaving like prick.

Also, in most parts of the world humanity has moved beyond needing to be selfish to survive. Of course a lot of people are still power hungry and selfish, but I don't really see how it is justifiable.

But I guess I should reserve judgment until you actually write it. This kind of thing just riles me up I suppose lol.

 

[Insetick]

Something as abstract as reality really goes beyond the scope of being 'defined'.

I don't understand how reality is abstract. Our reality includes physical laws like gravity and time, which are still mysteries. It includes matter and antimatter, which are still being examined. 500 years ago, reality was a flat earth and the stars that revolved around it. Reality is now incredibly complex and impossible for me to understand.

reality is hard to comprehend, but I know it exists. And science is defining it.

 

[Delta-cod]

Also, in most parts of the world humanity has moved beyond needing to be selfish to survive. Of course a lot of people are still power hungry and selfish, but I don't really see how it is justifiable.

Actually, humanity is still very selfish on the whole. Anything action taken that makes you feel good about yourself or gives you some sort of reward is a selfish act. That doesn't make it bad, however.

If I cure cancer, and I did it so I could help others, is it a bad thing? No. But, say I feel really good about myself for curing it, and I get a lot of money and become famous, etc. That's a reward, and I got a reward for finding the cure. It was selfish, on my part, because I want to feel happy and live a happy life, which is easy with a lot of money. But it's not bad.

 

[The Sauce Boss]

Actually, humanity is still very selfish on the whole. Anything action taken that makes you feel good about yourself or gives you some sort of reward is a selfish act. That doesn't make it bad, however.

If I cure cancer, and I did it so I could help others, is it a bad thing? No. But, say I feel really good about myself for curing it, and I get a lot of money and become famous, etc. That's a reward, and I got a reward for finding the cure. It was selfish, on my part, because I want to feel happy and live a happy life, which is easy with a lot of money. But it's not bad.

I said humanity has mostly moved beyond NEEDING to be selfish to SURVIVE. We have computers and live in houses. There is most likely a grocery store with a plethora of food within 10 miles of you. You probably aren't too worried about survival.

And whether you do something because you want a reward or simply want to is entirely unprovable, although most people will assume it is because we are selfish.

I don't understand how reality is abstract. Our reality includes physical laws like gravity and time, which are still mysteries. It includes matter and antimatter, which are still being examined. 500 years ago, reality was a flat earth and the stars that revolved around it. Reality is now incredibly complex and impossible for me to understand.

reality is hard to comprehend, but I know it exists. And science is defining it.

The existence of laws is not defining reality. For example such laws could exist in a virtual reality game (think "The Matrix"). Anyways this is getting off topic and to properly explain things of this nature I'd have to write way too much. So I'll leave it at that unless you say something I can respond quickly to, like this.

 

[Delta-cod]

Ah, sorry. I do believe I misinterpreted your post. Oops. >.>''

 

[The Sauce Boss]

Ah, sorry. I do believe I misinterpreted your post. Oops. >.>''

It's cool. I misinterpreted you at first too, but I edited it real fast before you saw it to like cool and witty.