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Altruism
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Mehreen
(last edited Aug 22, 2016 06:10PM)
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Aug 21, 2016 02:47AM
For better or for worse, to practice altruism is not such a bad idea. Let's not forget "how the other half lives".
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Agree, 100% and I wish more were on the same page.My own approach - is even more to help those near - friends, employees, people you meet, rather than outsource your help to charities, where funds are often 'consumed' on coverage of 'expenses', standing for salaries, overheads, etc, on par with actual charitable purpose
When I see the poor being charitable, it really melts my heart,
I think it is important to remember that not everyone who needs our social support is in a situation of their own making. I also think a distinction should be made between medical and biomedical research.
It's unrealistic to expect everybody turning big altruist all of a sudden and maybe it'll be against our own selfish nature, but I think that bearing in mind concern about others and desire to extend a helping hand is a good starter.What cracks a wry smile on my lips, is when I see big donations coming from someone, who sees them as indulgence for committing every day sins elsewhere. Like I remember a rumor that a construction of some law faculty at some uni was financed by someone known to run a big chain of brothels.
Also, my thought that charity is fine but not at the expense of overlooking situations, where a help is needed in everyday life, like willing to contribute to charity, but less willing to lend/give some money to a friend in need
Nik wrote: "It's unrealistic to expect everybody turning big altruist all of a sudden and maybe it'll be against our own selfish nature, but I think that bearing in mind concern about others and desire to exte..."Great thinking.
Tim wrote: "I always offer a helping hand if I'm in a position to do so and if I feel they deserve it. I have learned through experience that it is folly to offer money to an alcoholic or drug addict because y..."Yeah. Wisdom is the keyword. Idle handouts can also make people lazy and dependant. While being greedy may not be a great idea, but then neither is being totally unambitious.
But if we're talking about social support systems how do we know the difference between deserving and undeserving, lazy and misfortunate?
OMG! Sooo I'm a sucker for street bums, eh? Not like, "Ooooh, sexy" but like, "Awww, you're hungry" hahaha!! I NEVER give em cash cuz I dunno where it's gonna go, but I've bought hundreds of them food in my lifetime.Anyhoo, this one time, this lady bum asked me for money. As usual, I said no but offered to buy her dinner instead. We go into this bubble tea cafe (it was my hangout like a decade ago *smirks*) and I order her burgers and fries. You know what she does? Starts making demands: "Oh, I actually want onion rings and soup as well. And some of those pastries to go." No please, no thank you. Seriously??
Well, okay. No more dinner for you. Bye bye now.
*smiles sweetly*
Yeah, I'll do stuff for people. But the second they get demanding and unappreciative...
*shuts off the faucet*
^_^
Ha! You tell 'em, Annie! Living in NYC I have grown to love/hate bums. Some are scam artists, some are angels with dirty faces.
Tara wrote: "But if we're talking about social support systems how do we know the difference between deserving and undeserving, lazy and misfortunate?"It is not necessarily social support system we are talking about. It could also be mother Teresa style of charity. A little poor boy once donated a spoon of sugar to her orphanage. She not only accepted it but said that is donation was worth a million. I think it is not that hard to understand who is fortunate and who is not.
Annie wrote: "OMG! Sooo I'm a sucker for street bums, eh? Not like, "Ooooh, sexy" but like, "Awww, you're hungry" hahaha!! I NEVER give em cash cuz I dunno where it's gonna go, but I've bought hundreds of them f..."Good on you Annie for not being totally blind. Let's not forget how 'the other half lives'.
Yes, clumsy wording on my part. By social support I mean the things people in society choose to do as opposed to institutionalized supports. Also, I do not think it is easy at all to always know who the desrving are. And technically, they're all unfortunate to some degree so how to decide without judging. In Annie's case it was clear the bum was an opportunist. Okay maybe not clear but highly likely. She could have been rudely demanding more food in order to share or horde. Who knows?
Tara wrote: "....I have grown to love/hate bums. Some are scam artists, some are angels with dirty faces."I'd add - just like super-rich
Annie wrote: "OMG! Sooo I'm a sucker for street bums, eh? Not like, "Ooooh, sexy" but like, "Awww, you're hungry" hahaha!! I NEVER give em cash cuz I dunno where it's gonna go, but I've bought hundreds of them f..."totally agree with the approach: if you ask for help - be appreciative not insolent
Tara wrote: "Yes, clumsy wording on my part. By social support I mean the things people in society choose to do as opposed to institutionalized supports. Also, I do not think it is easy at all to always know wh..."If there are some scam artists among them, shouldn't project on all of them... And I think if someone managed to cheat you out of a sandwich or a dollar - not a big deal. It's probably the least of what we are being cheated during our lives -:)
If oligarchs are altruistic. What are your views on that?
I think there is a paradox. Altruists can't become oligarchs, because to become an oligarch you need to be a super-egoistic. But oligarchs can become altruists. Because at first, you are hungry, you want to accumulate more wealth, more yachts, more influence and so on. But when you are on top of the heap, some of them realize that they can't cruise two yachts simultaneously and that their relatives already have more than they would ever possibly spend. Then comes an 'enlightment' period. Some really want to address many problems this world has unsolved, while some others may be simply afraid that one day those poor people way below would come and won't be too subtle, so it's better to have an excellent public image .In general, self-made, legit billionaires have my profound respect and admiration, but this doesn't mean I waive my idea on putting a very high cap on enrichment -:)
Nik wrote: "Altruists can't become oligarchs, because to become an oligarch you need to be a super-egoistic."Totally disagree.
Yes, you need a healthy ego to succeed. In anything. I mean, try telling yourself you can't do something and then go do it. Not easy, is it?
But to do really amazing things in life you NEED to have a vision bigger than yourself. Because getting down in the trenches is no easy task. It's dirty. It's tiring. And let's be real for a second here...
Some days you think to yourself, "Why am I even doing this?" or "Is this even worth the effort?" THOSE are the days you'd better have your eye on something past your own wallet or nose. Wealth and yachts? Everyone dreams of stuff like that. Those that achieve them? Had their eye on a bigger prize all along.
Brain vomit for the day.
Hugs,
Ann
Tim wrote: "Vincent van Gogh.."Vincent and absinthe .... might've had influence -:)
Annie wrote: "Totally disagree. Yes, you need a healthy ego to succeed.
Because getting down in the trenches is no easy task. It's dirty. It's tiring...."
If anything, a legit opinion -:)
Never met any businessman getting down in trenches, dirt and so on for his employees or out of concern for others, only for his personal goals BIG or small.... You need a vision, but this vision rarely concerns others, what altruism imply. 'Others' is not a big concern until a very advanced stage, if at all. In my opinion and from my observations, of course.
Nik wrote: "You need a vision, but this vision rarely concerns others, what altruism imply. 'Others' is not a big concern until a very advanced stage, if at all."Hmm. Maybe I'm in the minority then, eh?
My vision INCLUDES my team because I can't achieve it by myself. And truthfully? I'm nothing on my own. I have zero qualms admitting that.
I dunno about you, but my team is not expendable. They were hand-picked and chosen by me for very specific reasons. Each person is invaluable and I will NEVER miss an opportunity to show them that. Of course, I make the final decisions. That's a given. But believe me, I always take their opinions into account. Because I respect them a great deal.
Don't get me wrong, though. I expect a heck of a lot in return. You wanna play on my team? You'll work hard. You'll be tired. You'll be pushed to the max. You'll hate me 1/2 the time (no joke). But you'll be rewarded. Often. You'll always feel valued. And I will always, ALWAYS have your back.
Running a business without consideration for your employees is incredibly short-sighted, imho. Since when have people forgotten that mansions are built one brick at a time? Seriously, oligarchs of the world, get your heads outta your butts already! Geez!!
*giggles*
@Mr Tim: Why do you laugh at me?? *sobs openly* I was being serious!!!OMG, riiight? We totally need 'like' buttons! I just use little hearts hahaha!!
Big hugs,
Ann
Annie wrote: "Nik wrote: "You need a vision, but this vision rarely concerns others, what altruism imply. 'Others' is not a big concern until a very advanced stage, if at all."Sure, I agree with that, but that's a description of a team work in my opinion, not of altruism. What's altruistic in that? You pursue your goals, the team helps and gets rewarded. All is cool.
Annie wrote: "Running a business without consideration for your employees is incredibly short-sighted, imho...."
When you have a small team - of course. But a lot move their biz to the cheapest and least protected jurisdictions, exactly for that purpose - not to hear, not to care and not to know about the employees at some remote location. Ah, sometimes to fire the "expensive" and "protected" employees at home. Agree with 'get your heads out..." -:)
Nik wrote: "What's altruistic in that? You pursue your goals, the team helps and gets rewarded. All is cool."Sorry, but you're missing the point here.
I never lead from the top. I always lead from the middle. Therefore, the team doesn't help me. The team IS me. We think as one. We act as one. We are a singular unit. If something happens to me *knock on wood* we will not be affected. And...
Now I sound like a cult ROFLMAO! Let's just agree to disagree before I say something really stupid, eh? ^_~
@Mr Tim: I was just teasing you, good sir. You're more than welcome to laugh at me AND enjoy my...umm...personality hahaha!!
Big-squeezy-hugs,
Ann
Oh, and I believe it becomes MORE important as your team grows, not less. Alright, oligarchs, get your heads outta your butts and turn around, boys. Cuz you're totes going in the wrong direction...
^_^
My own point was that altruism is when you do something for the benefit of the others, as opposed to your own or your own and your team's. So more for what purpose and who's benefit rather than howAgree to disagree though -:)
My own point was that altruism is when you do something for the benefit of the others, as opposed to your own or your own and your team's. So more for what purpose and who's benefit rather than howAgree to disagree though -:)
Pressed twice by mistake. Pls delete one of them, don't think I can from the phone-:)
Umm. I can't on my phone either. We need Miss Tara hahaha!!!
She avoiding this thread cuz she's smart unlike some other people...Oh, right. Bye.
Wow! Oligarchs turning altruistic. Is this the cause for dissension? It can happen for many reasons but mainly and most importantly for them to expunge guilt. How about that for a legit reason?
