Altruism

[Darwins_Folly]

I will be altruistic occasionally, but only to the point of it not having a negative impact on my self, unless its for close friends and family. Some family, anyways. I won't put myself out for people I don't know. My girlfriend got mad at me because I thought it was stupid for someone to rush into a burning building or jump into a river to save someone they didn't know at great personal risk for no reward.

Maybe I'm just a dick.

 

[Hookman]

I often practice it. My friends call me selfish but to be honest if I can choose between keeping £2.50 in my pocket or giving it to some homeless guy I will probably never see again...Fuck the homeless guy, I want my money! As far as charity goes I find it disgusting that I get dirty looks or snide comments from the charity vultures if I choose not to give money for their cause simply because I just cant be bothered to go through the whole rigmarole of pretending to care about people I dont know.

 

[Lord Mountbatten Reborn]

I often practice it.

Altrusim? You just said the opposite of that.

 

[Jaranja]

I am altruistic by my very nature.
I cannot help but help others, even if at no reward to myself.
Of course, not much I can do about monetary support unless I have money...

I noticed this when I asked for your help with my avatar.

Anyway, no. I do not practice altruism at all. I get concerned about people I like. It sounds completely selfish but I don't care about people I don't know or like. Also, there's plenty of other people willing to help situations like Haiti, me putting £2 in a jar won't help anyone.

Also, don't give me the "every little bit helps" speech because, quite frankly, it doesn't. As long as no one follows my example, I'll be fine, Haiti will recover and balance will be kept.

 

[reg42]

It's your right to not give your money, but on the other hand... They have like, next to nothing.

 

[Abedeus]

I'm a cynic. And not the ancient Greece type of cynic.

So, no. I don't care about charities, foundations or even Haiti.

I'll consider altruism when someone does something good for me without an agenda. Hasn't happened yet.

 

[The Bandit]

I don't donate, nor do I have a problem with other people donating. If it makes you happy, I don't care. If you donate enough that it leaves you poor and makes you miserable, I also don't care. I DO have a problem when people think it's my responsibility to help everyone out.

My only responsibility to anyone is to myself. Same with everyone else. I don't "need" to do anything.

Speaking of which, a quote from my avatar:

Person: What about mercy and compassion?
Spike: 'Fraid I'm fresh out of that stuff.

(Don't quote me telling me the quote's wrong, that's the basic gist of it and I don't care about your insecurities.)

 

[Thaius]

Well concern for others is a good thing: there has to be an extent, of course, that you are willing to go, though. Don't run yourself into the ground for things like that, but why would you not want to help your fellow man? If you could, and it wouldn't adversely affect you, wouldn't you help out people in need, even if you didn't know them?

I don't have a problem with helping my fellow man, but I can do that without giving money. This is an issue of the current economical climate and people are expecting me (a student living off a pittance) to give to Haiti, Comic Relief, Sport Relief and when I don't they make me feel like trash for it.

I help out at my local library, I'm a volunteer IT Buddy and I teach basic IT skills to anyone from the age of 6 to 60. I've done community service and I help old ladies get their shopping onto the bus. But if I'm asked to donate to some obscure charity, I usually skip out.

I definitely get that: I'm in the same basic situation myself. But I think then the answer is more along the lines of "I can't afford it right now" than "I don't want to." You have a legitimate reason not to donate, but acting like you don't care just makes you look like a douche (not saying you are, it's just a matter of perception based on your actions).

 

[JediMB]

I am altruistic by my very nature.
I cannot help but help others, even if at no reward to myself.
Of course, not much I can do about monetary support unless I have money...

This, pretty much. As far as financial support goes, though, I tend to try to help specific people when they are in need... assuming that I have any kind of decent income myself.

As for charities, I'd rather pick one myself than let someone guilt me into donating. It's the more honest deed, and there's no guilt over not being able to donate.

I have a hard time saying no to people asking me for favors.

 

[ribonuge]

You could have given better reasons and a more reasonable response for not donating though, I feel your attitude was extremely immature.

It pretty much was yeah. I just didn't want to, simple as that. It's my money, I have little of it and it's all I have to live off, I need it. I don't see why I should have to give a reason for not wanting to donate.

I can understand not wanting to not donate. However you could have simply said everyone but the last sentence to them and left it at that, you don't have to give a reason to them, but why the hell not? Are a couple of words really that difficult? You don't come off as a jerk that way and their day is that much more pleasant.

I don't blame people for not wanting to be altruistic, but there is no excuse for a lack of basic courtesy.

Spoiler: Ayn Rand disapproves of this thread.

OT: It's a very noble virtue, don't see how anyone could disagree with it in principle.

Then again this is the internet...

I am reading 'Atlas Shrugged' at the moment funnily enough.

Interesting I am just starting The Fountainhead.

OT: You could have been somewhat more polite. Not caring about less fortunate people is a token of Western society. Church goers only do it because they want to "get into heaven". I would do it because I believe that selflessness is extremely important for personality growth and you are helping people. I often give to homeless people who I think deserve it.

You're disregard is disappointing. As you state you don't care care about people Haiti. I agree with not giving to random people considering that it probably doesn't even make it to it's intended destination but a little compassion and empathy is important.

 

[yoyo13rom]

I do not give money to charities upon request however, registered charities are a business more than anything. I also resent strangers asking me to give money for a cause they probably don't give a damn about.

Gotta go with this guy's opinion.
I really like helping people and try to be altruistic(because a little love never hurts in a fucked up world where no one care about nothing and nobody). But I usually try anything other but donations. I just don't trust the people how come representing a charity. Usually they're con men or drunks looking for some money.(If I'd "help" these people I would only be helping their vices, so by not doing anything I'm trying not to be their "fuel for bad")
But I do donate when I'm 100% sure it's for a just cause and the person is honest(e.g. when one of my school mates had to undergo cancer operation and didn't have the necessary funds)

 

[Azure-Supernova]

Anyway, no. I do not practice altruism at all. I get concerned about people I like. It sounds completely selfish but I don't care about people I don't know or like. Also, there's plenty of other people willing to help situations like Haiti, me putting £2 in a jar won't help anyone.

Also, don't give me the "every little bit helps" speech because, quite frankly, it doesn't. As long as no one follows my example, I'll be fine, Haiti will recover and balance will be kept.

I tend to see it that way. If I slip a couple quid into their little money box, am I going to see an improvement in Haiti? Am I going to be informed of what my small donation went to? Will it really help?

 

[Kortney]

I've never donated to Haiti, although I haven't had someone blatantly come up face to face and ask me to.

I don't feel a huge need to donate to Haiti. Yes, I can appreciate that people are suffering and I know it must be horrible - but unless I know someone I have a hard time feeling strong feelings of compassion.

 

[yoyo13rom]

I'm a cynic. And not the ancient Greece type of cynic.

So, no. I don't care about charities, foundations or even Haiti.

I'll consider altruism when someone does something good for me without an agenda. Hasn't happened yet.

Let's consider karma... Or more better a relationship axiom: You don't receive anything if you don't give anything

 

[Jaranja]

Anyway, no. I do not practice altruism at all. I get concerned about people I like. It sounds completely selfish but I don't care about people I don't know or like. Also, there's plenty of other people willing to help situations like Haiti, me putting £2 in a jar won't help anyone.

Also, don't give me the "every little bit helps" speech because, quite frankly, it doesn't. As long as no one follows my example, I'll be fine, Haiti will recover and balance will be kept.

I tend to see it that way. If I slip a couple quid into their little money box, am I going to see an improvement in Haiti? Am I going to be informed of what my small donation went to? Will it really help?

No, as long as other people donate, I don't have to.

*big cheeky grin*

 

[Abedeus]

I'm a cynic. And not the ancient Greece type of cynic.

So, no. I don't care about charities, foundations or even Haiti.

I'll consider altruism when someone does something good for me without an agenda. Hasn't happened yet.

Let's consider karma... Or more better a relationship axiom: You don't receive anything if you don't give anything

Yes, and if I don't give anything, I don't receive it.

On the other hand, if nobody gives nothing, then nobody receives anything. Sorry, but this is like the argument "he loves you, so he hurts you". Also, karma doesn't exist on small scale.

 

[Azure-Supernova]

I definitely get that: I'm in the same basic situation myself. But I think then the answer is more along the lines of "I can't afford it right now" than "I don't want to." You have a legitimate reason not to donate, but acting like you don't care just makes you look like a douche (not saying you are, it's just a matter of perception based on your actions).

But the point is, I really don't care. I understand that they're going through a hard time over there, but I've got to think locally here. I'll gladly help out a friend or my family, hell even if it's a stranger within the community I'll help, but that's as far as it goes.

The people in Haiti have no impact on my life. I don't believe in Karma either, so I pretty much have no real reason to give to them. Yes I have compassion, but for the people I know.

 

[bassdrum]

they weren't expecting altruism, they were using guilt to try and leech money out of your pocket--and it (kind of) worked, you said that you feel like you were being selfish despite the fact that there shouldn't have been an expectation for you to donate.

OT: yeah, altruism's admirable, but it's damn hard to live for everyone else first.

 

[Sparrow]

I try to.

I mean, I donate to charity, but sometimes it comes down to "I could donate... or I could get that new widescreen."

What? Mass Effect 2 in full HD is hard to pass up.

 

[JMV]

I try to be altruistic, but I hate when people say I'm not because I don't give money. The little money I often see myself with is of utter necessity, so I can't reasonably give it away. I wish I had more money to give, but it would be more than none, so... However, I've always tried to help people in need and support my fellow classmates and whatnot, even if it isn't exactly comfortable for me to do so.