The bad news is that all of us are selfish to a certain extent. Humans are kind of jerks. The good news is that I wasn't really talking about that.
I'd say all of what you said counts as selfish. Here are some selfish things I do--I don't like to go out of my way to do things around the house, even though I know it puts additional stress on the people I live with. I'm habitually late. I occasionally pirate software and music, and often don't donate to the artists whose works I've downloaded. And I would perform unspeakable tortures on a cow if I needed to in order to get my meat fix.
I think acknowledging that these things are flaws is a very good thing. The sort of people I really have problems with are people like Objectivists, who preach "enlightened self-interest" as a virtue and scorn people who help others with no thought of reward. That's not you. I'm talking more about people who praise selfishness, not people who suffer from it now and again.
(By the way, there are a bunch of awesome charities and organizations that you can give your money to. It doesn't have to be a hole you throw your money in. Are you familiar with microfinance? You can loan money to the poor through organizations like Kiva.org, which helps people and communities throughout the globe get out of poverty. It's a pretty incredible thing--you should check it out!)
I'd say all of what you said counts as selfish. Here are some selfish things I do--I don't like to go out of my way to do things around the house, even though I know it puts additional stress on the people I live with. I'm habitually late. I occasionally pirate software and music, and often don't donate to the artists whose works I've downloaded. And I would perform unspeakable tortures on a cow if I needed to in order to get my meat fix.
I think acknowledging that these things are flaws is a very good thing. The sort of people I really have problems with are people like Objectivists, who preach "enlightened self-interest" as a virtue and scorn people who help others with no thought of reward. That's not you. I'm talking more about people who praise selfishness, not people who suffer from it now and again.
(By the way, there are a bunch of awesome charities and organizations that you can give your money to. It doesn't have to be a hole you throw your money in. Are you familiar with microfinance? You can loan money to the poor through organizations like Kiva.org, which helps people and communities throughout the globe get out of poverty. It's a pretty incredible thing--you should check it out!)
"We feel safe when we read what we recognise, what does not challenge our way of thinking.... a steady acceptance of pre-arranged patterns leads to the inability to question what we are told."
~Camilla
Ghavrel is Ghavrel is Ghavrel
*MySmiley*
~Camilla
Ghavrel is Ghavrel is Ghavrel
*MySmiley*
One question survey.
06/01/2012 05:22:42 PM
- 652 Views
Those who cause deliberate harm or destruction.
06/01/2012 08:47:01 PM
- 352 Views
Or maybe: Those who make the lives of others less enjoyable. *NM*
06/01/2012 09:47:17 PM
- 183 Views
The selfish. *NM*
06/01/2012 10:07:04 PM
- 164 Views
How do you define selfishness?
06/01/2012 10:19:09 PM
- 474 Views
I've got good news and I've got bad news.
06/01/2012 11:37:01 PM
- 483 Views
P.S.
06/01/2012 10:23:48 PM
- 339 Views
Sorry, but the walmart thing overrides common courtesy.
06/01/2012 10:53:54 PM
- 413 Views
People who commit hate crimes. For race, gender, homophobia, religion, politics, etc...
06/01/2012 10:50:41 PM
- 380 Views
People who refuse to try to think about something in another way.
07/01/2012 12:58:59 AM
- 379 Views