Agree or disagree: most people only care about themselves, family, and friends

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agree, but would add most care only about themselves, maybe their kids too.
However, that doesn't mean that in general people do not care about the welfare of society.
I care about those impacted by poverty, I wanted to elect Bernie, I am deeply concerned by the inequality of our oppressive and deeply divided state of economic and I am applied by the refusal by some many to vote for change.
Ironically it is often those that need the economic change and more equal Distribion of wealth that are against that change that would benefit them the most.
Further, I am appalled by the greed of the billionaires that refuse to pay better wages to their workers and are so greedy and blind to understand that paying a better wage will increase their own wealth even more.

The vast majority of people love their kids and, if they have good relationships with them, other family members.

+1

[Anonymous]

Of course. And it has nothing to do with being selfish or judgmental. Most people cannot conceptualize or relate with issues outside of their communities. It's mentally and emotionally incredibly difficult - and there are studies on this exact point.

They say all politics is local but so is our identity, community, compassion, aid, volunteer efforts, connections, social interactions, etc. This is really not a unique or difficult concept.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Of course. Most people are selfish and judgmental.

FPNI.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Of course. And it has nothing to do with being selfish or judgmental. Most people cannot conceptualize or relate with issues outside of their communities. It's mentally and emotionally incredibly difficult - and there are studies on this exact point.

They say all politics is local but so is our identity, community, compassion, aid, volunteer efforts, connections, social interactions, etc. This is really not a unique or difficult concept.

Do you know where I could find some of them? It'd be interesting to read.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Of course. And it has nothing to do with being selfish or judgmental. Most people cannot conceptualize or relate with issues outside of their communities. It's mentally and emotionally incredibly difficult - and there are studies on this exact point.

They say all politics is local but so is our identity, community, compassion, aid, volunteer efforts, connections, social interactions, etc. This is really not a unique or difficult concept.

Do you know where I could find some of them? It'd be interesting to read.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A family member told me that he believes this. What do you think?

I'm amazed that anyone could have lived through the last year and a half and not understood this fact.

[Anonymous]

Helping someone without expectation of a reward is common. See the concept of Wikipedia.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Helping someone without expectation of a reward is common. See the concept of Wikipedia.

True.

[Anonymous]

True for the majority of people, but it will be to our collective downfall. You should care about others outside your circles, if not for the fact that you would want others to help you if you were suffering, but for selfish reasons (if that argument appeals to you more). The truth is the world is interconnected and you can only insulate yourself for so long. Covid has taught us this- new variants will continue to emerge if we don’t vaccinate the majority of the world.

One day you could be the one suffering with no one to help you, and unless we cultivate a culture that recognizes the humanity in all of us, things will continue to get worse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A family member told me that he believes this. What do you think?

Agree. And every time I start to think otherwise, someone proves me wrong. People will choose their own interests over yours ever single time (and sometimes that is appropriate; many times it's just selfish). I didn't use to be that way and would go out of my way for people, only to never have it reciprocated. I def find myself pulling back on that inclination to help or go over and above, as a result.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:True for the majority of people, but it will be to our collective downfall. You should care about others outside your circles, if not for the fact that you would want others to help you if you were suffering, but for selfish reasons (if that argument appeals to you more). The truth is the world is interconnected and you can only insulate yourself for so long. Covid has taught us this- new variants will continue to emerge if we don’t vaccinate the majority of the world.

One day you could be the one suffering with no one to help you, and unless we cultivate a culture that recognizes the humanity in all of us, things will continue to get worse.

Agree X 100000000

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Helping someone without expectation of a reward is common. See the concept of Wikipedia.

+1

[Anonymous]

True but also for humanity as a whole. The human spirit is a beautiful thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A family member told me that he believes this. What do you think?

Agree. And every time I start to think otherwise, someone proves me wrong. People will choose their own interests over yours ever single time (and sometimes that is appropriate; many times it's just selfish). I didn't use to be that way and would go out of my way for people, only to never have it reciprocated. I def find myself pulling back on that inclination to help or go over and above, as a result.

Why do you think this? I'm sorry to hear that you have had these negative experiences. I don't think that people are always selfish.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Helping someone without expectation of a reward is common. See the concept of Wikipedia.

True.

Yes, I think this is an important counterpoint. Humans are altruistic too--to the point that scientists theorize about the natural selection angle on the trait.

I actually think much or at least some of "selfishness" is a difficulty with abstraction--the incapacity to "scale" as another PP mentioned--or collective action problems. But make an ask concrete and immediate, and it is actually quite surprising how often people will e.g. take a survey when requested or show, not just tell. a stranger where something is located (<--just saw studies on these examples).