Poll: Why do YOU do what is right?
- Thread starter Doitpow
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I do it because in all honestly, despite my sick nature I do feel bad when things go wrong....GOD DAMN This Jiminy Cricket Complex!!!FalloutJack said:
Because it comes naturally. I feel good about myself when I do nice things, and I feel bad about myself when I do bad things. Also, it's a matter of preserving my own personal rights. If I disregard the rights of others and act like an evil, inconsiderate dick, there's no reason for others to respect my rights and I'd lose all the benefits that come with living in a civilized society. Society and individuals can only prosper through a mutual exchange of respect, courtesy, and kindness, so I regulate my behavior accordingly.
I guess it pretty much my morality and having standard about myself since I know I what I doing is good or bad in the view of others (which in turn identify who I really am).
I'm not an altruist, I'm an egoist. I live for myself. However, since I do have people in my life that I care about I will act to benefit their lives in order to make them happy, because it makes me happy. I never wish to help strangers because they play no role in my life and offer up no real benefit in helping them. Basically, when I help people it's for the purely selfish reason that they are a part of my life and I wish to maintain that. However, I still hold my happiness as more important to me (that does not mean I would deliberately attempt to undermine other people though). As House put it, 'I don't sacrifice self'.
I do good things for several reasons. The first being that I think that there isn't enough good in this world, so I try to bring in some more. The Second being that I'm pretty much physically incapable of not being good. and the third being that I will make more friends, and people will be nicer to me if I'm nicer to them.
I also believe in a sort of balance, (Karma if you will) and that if you do good things, good things will happen. But the first reason is the main reason.
I also believe in a sort of balance, (Karma if you will) and that if you do good things, good things will happen. But the first reason is the main reason.
Definately "*shrug*"
From my experience at least; it doesn't take a hell of a lot of effort to be helpful most of the time.
Recent example; was walkin about in the city, woman in front of me dropped her glasses case out of her bag, I had to walk past it anyway so it wasn't exactly difficult to pick it up, tell her she dropped it and pass it back to her.
Edit: I'd say altruism from the terms you listed (no reward expected) because I'd decline most rewards anyway, but proper altruism is more about self-sacrifice, to do something altruistic you'd have to be going so far out of your way as to be giving something up with pretty much no reason.
To be totally honest, it seems like a dumb thing to be and probably gave birth to the phrase "Nice guys finish last".
From my experience at least; it doesn't take a hell of a lot of effort to be helpful most of the time.
Recent example; was walkin about in the city, woman in front of me dropped her glasses case out of her bag, I had to walk past it anyway so it wasn't exactly difficult to pick it up, tell her she dropped it and pass it back to her.
Edit: I'd say altruism from the terms you listed (no reward expected) because I'd decline most rewards anyway, but proper altruism is more about self-sacrifice, to do something altruistic you'd have to be going so far out of your way as to be giving something up with pretty much no reason.
To be totally honest, it seems like a dumb thing to be and probably gave birth to the phrase "Nice guys finish last".
It's a bit more complicated than the poll allows. Basically I like being nice, I feel happy when I'm nice and being nice is generally extremely beneficial. So lots of reasons, I do it for me, for others and for the hell of it.
Being nasty makes me feel bad and being unkind is rarely of use.
The only time I'm a dick is when it's important to be, those situations are extraordinarily rare.
Being nasty makes me feel bad and being unkind is rarely of use.
The only time I'm a dick is when it's important to be, those situations are extraordinarily rare.
The fact that Altruism, the EXACT opposite of selfishness, is in the lead is mind boggling considering the fact that the Escapist is well known to be very selfish in other threads at times. Majority votes in favor for "killing ten strangers horribly than let your puppy die painlessly" (this was an actual majority poll in a thread a few months ago, I don't have the link, sorry) have been a very common knowledge here. I suppose a lot of people don't see the hypocrisy in that, or maybe they like to think they're great people while deep down they love to imagine themselves being holier-than-thou while at the same time being extremely selfish. I'm not sure, and it's seriously mind boggling at times.
I myself would like to consider myself Altruism as well, but I know that I still feel like I should at least be noticed for my actions. I always do what's right, but I still get that feeling that maybe my self-image has gone up or I feel better about myself in a way, so I actually voted Ego/Self Image because while I know I am a good person and have helped in many ways (volunteering, taken charge of situations needing help, donated a lot, many more examples), but I still know that I am not some infallible to wanting my ego brushed or being acknowledged for my actions. I still do them if I am not noticed, but I still want to be, so I can admit that I am not in it for the Altruism and not lie to myself.
I myself would like to consider myself Altruism as well, but I know that I still feel like I should at least be noticed for my actions. I always do what's right, but I still get that feeling that maybe my self-image has gone up or I feel better about myself in a way, so I actually voted Ego/Self Image because while I know I am a good person and have helped in many ways (volunteering, taken charge of situations needing help, donated a lot, many more examples), but I still know that I am not some infallible to wanting my ego brushed or being acknowledged for my actions. I still do them if I am not noticed, but I still want to be, so I can admit that I am not in it for the Altruism and not lie to myself.
I'm a bit conflicted on how to answer this poll. You see, the reasons that I want to do right are:
1) It pleases God.
2) It helps people.
3) It blesses me.
Now, I imagine this answer would usually fall under the first option (spiritual reward), but the poll implies that that choice is about trying to earn my way into heaven... and that isn't my motivation at all, seeing how Jesus already took care of that for me.
Romans 2:14-15: Even Gentiles, who do not have God's written law, show that they know his law when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard it. They demonstrate that God's law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right.
1) It pleases God.
2) It helps people.
3) It blesses me.
Now, I imagine this answer would usually fall under the first option (spiritual reward), but the poll implies that that choice is about trying to earn my way into heaven... and that isn't my motivation at all, seeing how Jesus already took care of that for me.
I think you may be misinformed, friend. The Bible tells us in Romans that the Gentiles (those who don't even know what the Bible says) demonstrate that God's Word is written in their hearts by their instinctive knowledge of right and wrong.DannyHale09 said:
Romans 2:14-15: Even Gentiles, who do not have God's written law, show that they know his law when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard it. They demonstrate that God's law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right.
It's definitely an ego thing with me, I see myself as above those who do not do the morally right thing. Of course morality is subjective though.
Missing two options here:
"I don't do the right thing/Asshole/Different morality", and more importantly: "I just do the right thing because I don't want trouble" (social or law etc...).
"I don't do the right thing/Asshole/Different morality", and more importantly: "I just do the right thing because I don't want trouble" (social or law etc...).
Why do I do what's right? Because I want to make life better for others, the world, and myself. I don't expect anyone to be elated, grateful, or remember what I did. I just want to be able to make people's lives better any way I can.
I don't do it for girls to bone me, I don't do it for people to think any higher of me. I do what's right BECAUSE it's the right thing to do, and any benefits to me are mere gravy.
So yeah, basically Altruism.
I don't do it for girls to bone me, I don't do it for people to think any higher of me. I do what's right BECAUSE it's the right thing to do, and any benefits to me are mere gravy.
So yeah, basically Altruism.
beside the fact im religious, Freeman's Mind put it pretty simple:
"stealing from work is more stressful than NOT stealing from work."
yep, counter a sin with another sin, apathy. sometimes the universe is just that easy.
"stealing from work is more stressful than NOT stealing from work."
yep, counter a sin with another sin, apathy. sometimes the universe is just that easy.
I don't necessarily do the right thing all the time. I do what I think has the most benefits with the least consequences. The times I do end up doing what people consider the "right" thing, I usually just do it because it seems like the best option at the time.