Does altruism exist or is it just a word?

[devilof76]

Emotions arise from ideas. If you think a bear is a cuddly toy, when you see one walking toward you, your emotional response will be affectionate. If you know it's something that can eat you, your emotional response will be fearful.

Gaining pleasure from murder arises from a set of ideas which could not sustain your life long term. The pleasure you are experiencing is as much against yourself as it is against your victim. It's an anti-life emotion, and that includes your own.

Same goes for killing in cold blood to save your own child.

 

[devilof76]

Does that make any sense whatsoever?

 

[King Darkness]

No. None. Not even a little bit.

 

[devilof76]

Your self is more than just what emotion you're feeling at any given time. Saying that something makes your emotions happy doesn't make it good for you. To be truly selfish, your actions have to be something that does good for yourself.

If you like pounding nails into your face, you're not being selfless by resisting the urge, and you're not being selfish if you take the plunge and hammer in the first spike.

Better?

 

[thenammagazine]

By the very definition of the word, you can't murder yourself.

 

[King Darkness]

To be truly selfish, your actions have to be something that does good for yourself.

No no no no. NO!

Selfish actions can be, and often are, self destructive.

 

[thenammagazine]

I know you're playing the WWE heel Dev, so I'll just ask you this. If you were walking in the woods with your niece and came across a mother bear who charged both of you from a distance so close only one of you could escape, would you do like you're talking and shove her into the bear to escape? Or would you sacrifice yourself so that she can escape?

It's rhetorical because I know you'd save her, which means you're full of ____.

 

[intothevoid]

I believe altruism exists, and can be seen in many ways, and daily if you look for it.

There are many examples of self-sacrifice in the face of imminent or immediate danger. And no not just because if may be part of your job: ie Police, Fire, Ambulance, Military etc...

There are many good deeds done by people to complete strangers that may be small gestures, but could be considered altruistic.

Hope this isn't just another thread, geared for sarcasm and self-effacing wit (not directed at the creator of the thread, more to the typical responses of sarcastic responses herein)

 

[devilof76]

I know you're playing the WWE heel Dev, so I'll just ask you this. If you were walking in the woods with your niece and came across a mother bear who charged both of you from a distance so close only one of you could escape, would you do like you're talking and shove her into the bear to escape? Or would you sacrifice yourself so that she can escape?

It's rhetorical because I know you'd save her, which means you're full of ____.

And it wouldn't be a sacrifice. It would probably be the most selfish thing I ever did.

What would be a sacrifice is feeding my niece to the bear. You have your terms all backwards.

 

[devilof76]

By the very definition of the word, you can't murder yourself.

By the very nature of the action, you render yourself deserving of murder, and conversely, undeserving of life.

Murder is selfless.

 

[devilof76]

No no no no. NO!

Selfish actions can be, and often are, self destructive.

How is destroying yourself in the interest of your self?

 

[King Darkness]

How is destroying yourself in the interest of your self?

How is it not?

If your interest is in the destruction of yourself, by whatever means that may be, then the act is itself, selfish.

Self gratification, regardless of the repercussions, is selfish. Is it not?

 

[thenammagazine]

I've come to the conclusion that devilof76 turns into Bizarro devilof76, when he's lit or overtired or both.

 

[King Darkness]

I'll take 100 Bizarro devil's over the 95% of the riffraff that troll these hallowed halls

 

[thenammagazine]

I'll take 100 Bizarro devil's over the 95% of the riffraff that troll these hallowed halls

I just wish Bizarro would fly into the Boba thread and unleash his sesquipedalian power on the tards in there flipping out over sorryassed pics.

 

[devilof76]

I've noticed that big words just complicate and confuse things. I like swearing and name calling much better. Keeps things clear and simple.

How is it not?

If your interest is in the destruction of yourself, by whatever means that may be, then the act is itself, selfish.

Self gratification, regardless of the repercussions, is selfish. Is it not?

I don't think so. I think once you've begun actively pursuing death, you've stopped valuing altogether and terms like selfish and selless don't have any meaning.

Death is a negation of self. Self-destruction isn't pro-self. It may be pro-desire, but there is more to acting in favor of yourself than wanting and getting. The things you want have to be good for your life.

Also, you guys make me blush.

 

[King Darkness]

I don't think so. I think once you've begun actively pursuing death, you've stopped valuing altogether and terms like selfish and selless don't have any meaning.

Death is a negation of self. Self-destruction isn't pro-self. It may be pro-desire, but there is more to acting in favor of yourself than wanting and getting. The things you want have to be good for your life.

Also, you guys make me blush.

What? No...no no no.

Self preservation and selfishness do not go hand and hand. One can easily have selfish tendencies that display a very clear lack of concern for their general well being.


Actively pursuing death is on the extreme end my argument, I don't think its even part of my argument, I will say that for one to "actively pursue" death, they have crossed a line somewhere into something. What? I don't know what, but it seems like a different distinction entirely. Who even said actively pursing death, well you did, but no. What? No. That's not what I'm saying here.

Anyway. You originally said...

To be truly selfish, your actions have to be something that does good for yourself.

My only argument here is that selfishness being "something does good to yourself" is not necessarily true. Fat guy selfishly eats the last 5 donuts at work with no concern for anyone who may have not gotten one. Is eating 5 donuts good for you? No. Not really. Is he "actively pursuing death"? No. Not really. But he's still being selfish and self destructive.

Damn it. I'm not gonna argue with you.

I simply refuse to accept your opinion in this matter.


That is all. Good day sir.

 

[devilof76]

Fine.

 

[King Darkness]

.

 

[thenammagazine]

What? No...no no no.

Self preservation and selfishness do not go hand and hand. One can easily have selfish tendencies that display a very clear lack of concern for their general well being.


Actively pursuing death is on the extreme end my argument, I don't think its even part of my argument, I will say that for one to "actively pursue" death, they have crossed a line somewhere into something. What? I don't know what, but it seems like a different distinction entirely. Who even said actively pursing death, well you did, but no. What? No. That's not what I'm saying here.

Anyway. You originally said...



My only argument here is that selfishness being "something does good to yourself" is not necessarily true. Fat guy selfishly eats the last 5 donuts at work with no concern for anyone who may have not gotten one. Is eating 5 donuts good for you? No. Not really. Is he "actively pursuing death"? No. Not really. But he's still being selfish and self destructive.

Damn it. I'm not gonna argue with you.

I simply refuse to accept your opinion in this matter.


That is all. Good day sir.

Took you long enough.