Thank you VERY Much for your Reply, Simple Minded.Simple Minded wrote:MG,
Thanks for the reply and kind words, but I think you are missing my humor.
Most of the world seems to think selfish is a word with negative connotations. I don't. I think selfishness is one of man's most positive traits. Of course, like any other human trait, it can be channeled for any reason, either positive and constructive, or negative and destructive.
Parents go to great trouble for their children for selfish reasons. They love their children, and their children bring them a very personal, selfish, sense of pleasure.
Lots of people donate to charity and strangers for selfish reasons. Donating to the less fortunate makes one feel good (thank God for that part of our BIOS). Helping a stranger feels good. Or perhaps they donate to worthy causes because the donor (selfishly) wants to live in a better world.
I would bet that 90%+ of those who help others in need, do so, not out of a sense of duty, but out of a sense of self-fullment. Damn, theres that word again.
Perhaps the simplest measure may be the happiness of the individual. Unhappy people are selfish in a negative, destructive manner, while happy people seem to selfish in positive, constructive manner. Broad terms with imprecise meanings to be sure.
I think we need to develop a smiley that denotes "Hey, I'm not using this word in the same way that many of you are going to read it."
Of course, using it after every third word may defeat the origninal intent.
Yes. You are correct. I was missing that. Thank you for the explanation. It helps.but I think you are missing my humor.
Most of the world seems to think selfish is a word with negative connotations. I don't. I think selfishness is one of man's most positive traits.
Not always...... Sometimes my very depraved nature makes me feel stupid when I do thatDonating to the less fortunate makes one feel good
As far as selfishness being good.............
It is the way most of us INCLUDING Me are.......
To a sometimes greater or lesser degree......
And systems that take it into consideration and channel it like capitalism tries to do are IMVHO usually better than systems like atheistic socialisms that assume or try to make people be good without G_d/Saints etc....
IMVHO Socialism can work with some difficulty G_d as in Monasteries, Convents and Hutterites........
But not everyone wants to live like they do.........
Also in cases where there are pressing external enemies and simple survival is a much important than monetary gain......
Duty is VERY important when you don't feel like doing it but it needs to be done......not out of a sense of duty,
Another important point is that often better a corrupt criminal overlord whose passion may eventually be sated than a religious/political fanatic control freak overlord determined to make you be "good" for your own good....*
ADDENDUM:
*Not an original thought of mine....
But Jesus seems to endorse it: With a few exceptions (the Rich Young Ruler) He seems to like the sinners more than the good/meticulously observant Jews.....
Which at first glance is REALLY Weird because through so much of the OT/Tanakh, the emphasis is OBEY!
Yes I know some of the Prophets talk otherwise but OBEY is IMVHO largely the emphasis of the History Books.......
2. Per the Humor angle........
Is this the Fred who works at Walmart.......
3.
I may resemble that remark......I think we need to develop a smiley that denotes "Hey, I'm not using this word in the same way that many of you are going to read it."
Of course, using it after every third word may defeat the origninal intent.