Is everything we do for selfish reasons?

G-MAN2004 · 16 Mar 2011 at 15:44

'Wes said:
So me sitting on the loo, having a **** is selfish?

Yes, you should have held it in, got constipation and then bought some tablets for it. By not doing so, some business has lost out. Selfish.

Zefan · 16 Mar 2011 at 15:46

G|mp said:
You're wrong.

Care to explain?

G|mp · 16 Mar 2011 at 15:47

Not really, I was trying to lull you into an argument but the joke has clearly passed you by.

Zefan · 16 Mar 2011 at 15:48

Gah I fell for it

I really can't let the opportunity for an argument pass me by

G|mp · 16 Mar 2011 at 15:48

Dumbass

platinum87 · 16 Mar 2011 at 15:55

Zefan said:
I ultimately agree with him, but then again I am known for loving to argue for the sake of it.

I got banned for saying the exact same thing?

Ev0 · 16 Mar 2011 at 16:04

Dj_Jestar said:
There was a "Friends" episode on this. Not that that should have any meaning on the convo, just a bit of useless trivia

First thing I thought of when I read the thread title

Participant · 16 Mar 2011 at 16:07

gjrc said:
i went and helped my bro move stuff in his house despite having a rank hangover.

i did that for no other reason than he is my twin brother and he asked for help.

So you wouldn't feel guilty for saying no. Selfish

.

Zefan said:
I really can't let the opportunity for an argument pass me by

Yes you can.

Nitefly · 16 Mar 2011 at 16:10

I disagree with the statement. Not everything I do is selfish and I'm sorry if you think otherwise

semi-pro waster · 16 Mar 2011 at 16:58

G|mp said:
Not really, I was trying to lull you into an argument but the joke has clearly passed you by.

Shirley you were trying to lure him into an argument rather soothe him into one?

Haggisman · 16 Mar 2011 at 17:36

Nitefly said:
I disagree with the statement. Not everything I do is selfish and I'm sorry if you think otherwise

Can we have an example then please?

I've got to agree with this, on a base level everything we do is for our own benefit, whether tangible or simply just to make yourself feel good.

The real question you should be asking is why is it seen as being so negative?

Nitefly · 16 Mar 2011 at 17:38

Haggisman said:
Can we have an example then please?

Giving money to charity, for one.

Haggisman · 16 Mar 2011 at 17:39

Nitefly said:
Giving money to charity, for one.

And why do you do that?

Edit: Im not trying to be faecetious here - I genuinely can't think of an act which can't be put down to selfishness

Nitefly · 16 Mar 2011 at 17:43

Haggisman said:
And why do you do that?

Edit: Im not trying to be faecetious here - I genuinely can't think of an act which can't be put down to selfishness

To help raise awareness of issues that I am personally not affected by.

... :confused:

Haggisman · 16 Mar 2011 at 17:44

Nitefly said:
To help raise awareness of issues that I am personally not affected by.

...

I meant what motivates you to do it?

Nitefly · 16 Mar 2011 at 17:47

Haggisman said:
I meant what motivates you to do it?

My desire to help others less fortunate than me / to raise awareness of related issues.

Thunderbolt · 16 Mar 2011 at 17:49

semi-pro waster said:
Shirley you were trying to lure him into an argument rather soothe him into one?

Don't call him Shirley

Nitefly said:
My desire to help others less fortunate than me / to raise awareness of related issues.

Thus selfishly fulfilling your desires.

RomanNose · 16 Mar 2011 at 17:50

Nitefly said:
My desire to help others less fortunate than me / to raise awareness of related issues.

Fulfilling your desires=Selfishness.
No one shall Beat this logic!!!!

Haggisman · 16 Mar 2011 at 17:51

Nitefly said:
My desire to help others less fortunate than me / to raise awareness of related issues.

There we go. The bit in bold is the selfish part.

If YOU didn't WANT to do it, you wouldn't. This is essentially selfish.

The problem with telling someone that their actions are selfish is that the word has such negative connotations that they instantly get defensive and deny it, when actually, there are many selfish actions which benefit everyone.

The only problem arises when selfish actions benefit one person to the detriment of others, which is what most people assume when they think of "selfish".

Edit:

To summarise:

1. Everything we do is selfish.

2. There is nothing wrong with this!

Nitefly · 16 Mar 2011 at 17:51

Thunderbolt said:
Thus selfishly fulfilling your desires.

lol?!!

That is some of the most ridiculous logic I have ever heard on the forum. My desires are clearly unselfish. But if I act on them, I will be fulfilling my desires, thus I'm being selfish?

That is nothing but a 'smart-alec' fabrication by asserting that doing something you want to do is selfish, and secondly by fabricating that doing someone you want to do is selfish, when in reality being selfish means to do something at the expense or inconsideration of somebody else.

I scratch my leg - it's selfish. I'm hungry and I want food - it's selfish.

What crap.