Poll: Why do YOU do what is right?
- Thread starter Doitpow
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I generally don't if you don't consider avoiding people at all costs and hating babies along with the people who insist on making more the right thing to do. But when I do it's generally for a spiritual "heaven" idea.
I act nice because people who see you be nice believe you are nice and will inadvertedly let you get away with shit more often.
Well it really is complicated. I think it's really two separate questions.
Why do I do "what is right"?
And:
Why do I think that I ought to do "what is right"?
The first one is deeply introspective and I can't really answer with full certainty. And in any case it is bound to be caused by a great deal of factors that science has yet to uncover. So I will spare you the arrogance of pretending to know.
The other one I am all to happy to answer though. I adhere to the "tit for tat" system derived from game theory. It states that one should always begin interactions with others in a friendly way and then repay in kind any behavior the other person displays towards you. In some cases it however might be reasonable to employ a variation of this tactic known as "tit for tat with forgiveness". That is simply to every now and them restart the interaction with a friendly attitude to prevent the it from spiraling into a constant stalemate of revenge and retribution. That way you can minimize the hostility (and therefore mutual loss) that could arise from misunderstandings or accidents.
The point of this system of behavior is to maximize both your personal gain and the gain of all others around you. And the success of the system is determined by how big a proportion of the people you interact with adhere to the system and how prolonged your interaction with them is.
Why do I do "what is right"?
And:
Why do I think that I ought to do "what is right"?
The first one is deeply introspective and I can't really answer with full certainty. And in any case it is bound to be caused by a great deal of factors that science has yet to uncover. So I will spare you the arrogance of pretending to know.
The other one I am all to happy to answer though. I adhere to the "tit for tat" system derived from game theory. It states that one should always begin interactions with others in a friendly way and then repay in kind any behavior the other person displays towards you. In some cases it however might be reasonable to employ a variation of this tactic known as "tit for tat with forgiveness". That is simply to every now and them restart the interaction with a friendly attitude to prevent the it from spiraling into a constant stalemate of revenge and retribution. That way you can minimize the hostility (and therefore mutual loss) that could arise from misunderstandings or accidents.
The point of this system of behavior is to maximize both your personal gain and the gain of all others around you. And the success of the system is determined by how big a proportion of the people you interact with adhere to the system and how prolonged your interaction with them is.
Beyond a very basic core morality 99% of us can agree on -- do not kill, do not rape, do not steal -- I think one man's right is another man's wrong. I don't take a strong stance on too many things. When I do, I tend to think of the pragmatic answer as being the right one.
Why do I tell the truth, pay my taxes, stop for pedestrians, hold the elevator door? It's just how I was raised. There is no reward expected.
But that's only a basic level of right. Why do I volunteer at the homeless shelter, mentor struggling math students, and mow the lawn of the elderly lady down the street without being asked or expecting payment? Simple. I *don't* do those things.
Why do I tell the truth, pay my taxes, stop for pedestrians, hold the elevator door? It's just how I was raised. There is no reward expected.
But that's only a basic level of right. Why do I volunteer at the homeless shelter, mentor struggling math students, and mow the lawn of the elderly lady down the street without being asked or expecting payment? Simple. I *don't* do those things.
I do what's right whenever I can because... it's right. I'm right-handed, so I guess it all checks out.
Depends. Oddly (maybe it's common) but I act very kindly in public and around friends. When I'm alone with close family (parents and siblings) I'm generally kind of a dick. Don't know why though. It seems better to be a jerk around them than anyone else :/
I voted no reward because I don't exactly expect a reward when I decide to do the "right thing". I mean, it's the right thing. I was raised to do it. it's good.
Then again, the subtler motives that may not be at the forefront of your mind but makeup the way you see the world? dunno. maybe there isn't one, or maybe I just do it for the immage. I like to think it's just because I'm a good person though. I guess I'd have to leave it to a psychoanalyst to decide.
Then again, the subtler motives that may not be at the forefront of your mind but makeup the way you see the world? dunno. maybe there isn't one, or maybe I just do it for the immage. I like to think it's just because I'm a good person though. I guess I'd have to leave it to a psychoanalyst to decide.
I'm a bit altruistic because I don't like the attention and I don't like feeling like I'm only helping for a physical reward. I'd rather earn my reward through hardwork rather than merely do something nice for it. Plus, if more people acted out of altruistic motives, the world wouldn't be in such shitty shape.
Ego, I want people to remember and think of me as someone nice, that they would want to be friends with.
My rule of thumb, is: I want the world to have been a better place, for having me lived in it.
If you had to chose between a world I live in, and a world I never existed in, I want the world with me in it to be the no brainer.
To be honest I don't know if this falls under Ego or Altruism.
My rule of thumb, is: I want the world to have been a better place, for having me lived in it.
If you had to chose between a world I live in, and a world I never existed in, I want the world with me in it to be the no brainer.
To be honest I don't know if this falls under Ego or Altruism.
"Always leave people and places better for having known you."
As an aside, having just finished up Fallout 3 (again), on this playthrough I decided to try to be a completely self-serving manipulator when it came to my decisions. Right off the bat I blew up Megaton (first time ever, impressive explosion) because I wanted to get in good with Threepenny and get a nice suite rather than the mud-and-airplane-parts hut I was used to. As I pushed the button on the remote detonator, my karma dropped to 'Very Evil', so I figured, "What the heck!" and killed Threepenny as well. I stole, killed, lied, cheated, and did anything I could to not only survive but to try to better my place in the wasteland.
But funny thing; by the end of the game, just making decisions that I felt would lead to the most beneficial outcome for me personally, I ended up with 'Very Good' karma. I guess on a day-to-day basis, even in-game my good decisions outweigh my bad ones.
As an aside, having just finished up Fallout 3 (again), on this playthrough I decided to try to be a completely self-serving manipulator when it came to my decisions. Right off the bat I blew up Megaton (first time ever, impressive explosion) because I wanted to get in good with Threepenny and get a nice suite rather than the mud-and-airplane-parts hut I was used to. As I pushed the button on the remote detonator, my karma dropped to 'Very Evil', so I figured, "What the heck!" and killed Threepenny as well. I stole, killed, lied, cheated, and did anything I could to not only survive but to try to better my place in the wasteland.
But funny thing; by the end of the game, just making decisions that I felt would lead to the most beneficial outcome for me personally, I ended up with 'Very Good' karma. I guess on a day-to-day basis, even in-game my good decisions outweigh my bad ones.
Because I know what it feels like when someone does something that makes my life better, so I like having other people feel that way.
Also, I'm not a religious/superstitious person, but just in case karma does exist, it's always helpful to be on its good side.
Also, I'm not a religious/superstitious person, but just in case karma does exist, it's always helpful to be on its good side.
I don't understand the poll.
It might as well read "Why are you altruistic?" Answer: "Because I'm altruistic!"
But whatever. I know why I'm always 'paragon' in real life-- because of my self-image. If I had to choose which Deadly Sin best represented me it would be pride. I don't like people disliking me. I need to be Number One always.
It might as well read "Why are you altruistic?" Answer: "Because I'm altruistic!"
But whatever. I know why I'm always 'paragon' in real life-- because of my self-image. If I had to choose which Deadly Sin best represented me it would be pride. I don't like people disliking me. I need to be Number One always.
Because it feels bad if I do wrong. If I pull a dick move, I always feel guilty about it. Unless the guy deserved it, like that damn camper in CoD, he needs a good teabag.