Everything we do is an act of selfishness as no matter what it is, we have an intention of an outcome, something that benefits us in some way, whether materially or emotionally. We get something out of it, or plan to. If there is a selfless act, it is one made unaware, unconscious of what one is doing or the results of those actions. An accidental good.
Self-interest and greed however I see as two different things. Greed is to maximize no matter the costs, no matter the harm caused to others, no matter the oppression, enslavement or violence it causes. Self-interest however is to maximize the self in regards tho the environment both now, and in the potential future.
If we took a simple view and of eating sugary food as an example, we could see that in the moment, we could eat a lot and it would taste good but, in the short-term, we would soon feel sick, our insulin would spike, maybe nausea, thinking impaired and not too long after, a sugar crash as the body struggles to balance what it isn't designed to handle.
However, if we continue this process and look to the mid-term view, we are likely to start seeing ourselves put on weight, mood swings, skin issues, concentration and sleeping problems. Going into the long-term view, we will be overweight, sickly, potentially have diabetes, trouble moving, heavy discomfort, joint problems, lack of motivation, and are more likely to be depressed. It is in our own self-interest to eat well enough so that in the future we have the opportunity to do more and continue adding value to ourselves. Of course, depending on where we live, the burden on health services is also greatly diminished the healthier we are.
This idea of adding value to the self is an important one though as some take it to be selfish yet, it is not. Adding value to the self is the way an artist hones their skill or a scientist learns the necessary information to solve complex equations. These skills can in turn add vast amounts of value to a community.
As the analogy goes, there is no one on earth who can make a ballpoint pen from start to finish. There are just too many intricate and specialized areas for one person to do alone as one would need to cover all of the supply chain from mining to chemical engineering, machining to moulding. But, we all want to use a pen, which means self-interested cooperation and reliance to gather the skills necessary to complete the tasks of what no one person can do alone.
Those who want to be truly self-sufficient would have to make sure that they have the skills and access to every single thing they need, which is a way of living that very, very, very few people are actually willing to live. It is to be completely off the land with only the tools one can make oneself. Without anyone else required at all, not even for a friendly word of encouragement.
Froma comment a few moments ago:
Our situations dictate how our benefits come to us. If we depend on the community, then we will maximise the community above ourselves or risk being ousted and on our own. However, if we are not dependant upon the community, but can gain something from it without having to make an input, then many people would happily take that opportunity and when it's no longer available then they have gained without a loss. We only need to cooperate for growth, if we don't already have the means to grow on our own. - @minismallholding
Yes, this is the case isn't it but, what stage of the self is this in? Short, mid or long term view? We only need to cooperate for growth, if we don't already have the means to grow on our own." This works under the assumption that we will always have the ability to grow on our own so, the community doesn't matter. It is a short-term (mid at best) view that doesn't consider even our own future needs, let alone the unforeseeable changes that could (and are likely) to come.
If we look long-term, it is almost always in our best interests to engage in give and take with the community, to be provider and beneficiary as in the long term view, it is that same community that will pull together in times of need. The problem is though, we are living in a continually increasing rate of instant gratification where the maximization and the feelings of immediate please take precedence over what is in our own self interest later.
If you don't believe me, just look at the global obesity epidemic and take the US as an example. In the United States of America – 33.70% of the population are regarded as obese. source This is indicative of a short-term view of eating behaviour and even though all of the statistics and information is available, the rates are only increasing. People eat for pleasure and they are pleasuring themselves a lot... so to speak. Do they feel good for all of that enjoyment consumed? I know I don't and I am likely about 5-7 kilograms overweight at the moment.
But, this goes through to everything we do. We want what we want now, regardless of whether we have earned the money to pay for it. We are offered monthly terms that make it affordable, get now, pay later. And we pay, it is called a debt cycle and we are programmed to take part until it is ingrained and institutionalized. Our want for convenience, our want for pleasure and enjoyment and our aversion to discomfort drives us onward wanting more and more and trying to forego the future cost but, it always catches up.
We are making these decisions to buy, not the advertisers. We are making the decisions to do everything we do because we want something out of it. I want something out of it too. Me, myself. Not selfless.
My support of the community is in my own self-interest as it is in the interest of others as for as I see it, a strong community is what is best equipped to provide continued support in the long-term. I can maximize myself in the short term and be okay but, if something happens, who has my back? The government, the banks, the friends I didn't make, the connections I broke, the community I only took from?
Me (or anyone else) giving part of themselves to the community isn't a selfless act, it is an act of investing into the future. We all want something out of it, we all want a future where life is better and that better life is going to depend greatly on whether the lives of those around us are better also. As i said in the last post, this is a process of enlightened self-interest, and anyone that says they are acting selflessly is mistaken or, manipulative.
The problem here is that there is very little cost to the short-term over-eating extractor behaviour as for the most part, there is anonymity, grey areas and complexities to hide such acts. It is even hard to tell who acts in the best interest of the community or who is harming it when faces are shown.
No one knows where the experiment will go but acting the way we have been programmed to act already has real-life case studies as evidence it doesn't work. It is in this training and programming by the very groups we are trying to escape that holds us back, separates us and makes sure that we act in the short-term so our long-term view, is aligned with theirs.
You might be acting greedily, but at the end of the day, you are controlled and the greed you feed is that of the people who hold your leash. We have a chance to do different at the very least, if not much better.
Taraz
[ a Steemit original ]
Mate, reading this paragraph reminded me of a conversation in one episode of Friends, the conversation about the fact that all people are selfish, with a comedy twist of course. If you watched Friends you must know what scene I am talking about.
If you don't know what I am talking about, this is the scene :P
I watched the whole clip, it has been too long :)
We all want what is best for the community (but no one wants to break his back to help). We want others to help us, but we don't want to help them. Ask a person for money in exchange for your time, why not? We're not slaves to someone's whims. But every transaction, every event, every deed has its own value and there is much value in emotions, in friendship, honesty. Some people value that more than anything.
We're all selfish, no point in hiding it. From our birth we scream for attention. But we should judge for ourselves when to go out of our way - because sometimes the return on our investments is far greater than a lifetime of salary.
Perhaps this is the problem, the blockchain doesn't record these kinds of transactions.
I agree and disagree at the same time . For the most part it is true that we expect something in return . Or that our contribution is not wasted . There have been many times where I have with full awareness new this act was going to hurt in one way or another . The only way it could possible be in my best interest would be not to do it .
I do not loan money . Will not . I will give it to you and we will never speak of it again . Never , as if it never happened . Most of the things I or we do are anonymous . We don't do alot but we do , do things .
It's a slippery slope . That's why I prefer to be anonymous . There will always be People in need and they are in no other position then to be self serving or manipulative . The problem is that when the wants of people come into play instead of needs .
The path to suffering.
Hi taraz. Very few do anything for free. There is always an angle. I have learned to look for the angle. To make it on here it has to be a two way street. It's give and take. The selfish ones will realize this later on and by just taking won't help them grow. one can't just feed of others and expect everything to be ok. It's a bit like the scenario when someone accepts drinks in a bar and after some time doesn't get offered any more because he didn't reciprocate. The community you are in will notice and you will become an outcast.
Interestingly, it is because of this that people don#t shout rounds in Finland. The culture is coming in recent years.
tight bastards lol.
@tarazkp I have often argued on this issue with my annoying best friend. We all act in our best interest - some interests nay not be material.
For instance, when I give, it makes me feel good and I feel like a decent human bein contributing to society. We all expect something in return one way or another
The majority of the time I don't feel good about it . I wonder that if I kept it I could do much better with it then they could . But I do it anyway , because of my wife she has the biggest heart . thats to individuals as far as societies go, I'm all in . Even though they have disappointed me . I will keep trying all it takes is one to make my day .
it doesn't have to be for a good feeling, it can be for the avoidance of a worse feeling. Giving so as not to feel bad.
exactly. There is always something wanted in return.
My peers often claim I am trying to "get something out of it", when I argue with them about how our gubberment deep down just wants us dead.. and they are right!
I want them to see the truth so that we can all thrive as a community! End the vile filth controlling us thru taxes, medicine, education and so on as a whole, so that for once we are truly free. That is really what I want out of it, freedom.
I don't think a community can be free (technically) as by definition, there is responsibility in reciprocity to make it work. It doesn't mean it has to be repressive though.
I guess you're right. A "community" needs some sort of "common" ground.
Good issue you tackle from different angles mate. I had a real heart to heart with my wife some months back and made the decision to pay off all debt, close pretty much all accounts and instill a policy of "if we don't have the cash we can't buy it" and as hard as it has been, we stumbled a bit in the beginning, but it is getting easier and easier all the time to live on less and less while more and more gets pumped into settling all debt which is shrinking at a good rate.
A nice feeling to know that at some point I will know wealth, not stinking rich, but true wealth, no debt and spending my own money whatever I buy, not the banks. That freedom is wealth enough, then starts the real investment strategies. Steemit so far has been the only investment I could start that didn't need me to outlay any money and I will leave whatever I make here in here for as long as possible, hopefully the next ten years or so. I did tell you this is part of my retirement plan.
I'd rather leave earnings in here and help members of the community rise than buy another banker a beach house.
Bro's before those who treat us like hoes, if you get my drift?
I am am trying hard to get to that point too but, I have limits on what lines.
I think like this too and again, I could push it much harder but will cross lines I am ethically unwilling to. I am hoping that it will all come together if enough people realize the opportunity they are squandering.
It's not bloody easy is it? I feel your pain man. We have clawd, sacrificed, dipped our fingers in the cooky jar and regretted it, started afresh and so we keep inching forward one step at a time. People, yup, getting the so called smart people to actually act smart is another thing.
I did not read the post, But the title that's me, I tell everyone my motives are selfish, that I gain in some way from what I have done
this time you gained a vote for honesty.
Another great post. I'm enjoying the writing. Keep it coming Sir.
very true
Thanks for shearing your post.I am always read your post and i am inspire.
@tarazkp You're a prolific writer. You deserve a noble prize for this astute piece of information. Selfless actions should be encouraged amongst ourselves. We always get back what we give. Hence, we should not cease giving back to the communities we find ourselves in- including this steem community.
You are absolutely correct sir, I support your opinion, self interest and greed are two different thing entirely. greed always lead to violent when there is too much accumulation of anything, I'm right.