Selflessness...

[Arvestaked]

Originally posted by loseyourname Arvy, you're ranting again; betraying your insecurity.

And I know you are doing that "I need to have the last word" thing again because what you posted means nothing.

[loseyourname]

It means I find your insecurity rather cute when it isn't pissing off my friends. Read a little closer, then go take a cold shower, maybe some valium.

[Arvestaked]

Originally posted by loseyourname It means I find your insecurity rather cute when it isn't pissing off my friends. Read a little closer, then go take a cold shower, maybe some valium.

No. How about you go back and read what led to this nonsense and realize that it has nothing to do with insecurity. I started the thread to incite discussion and I stated two opposing points of view. I have taken upon the resposibility to argue one of the points. I may be playing Devil's advocate; you do not know. You are being ridiculous and presumptuous. And you are misunderstanding what I am posting if you feel my arguement about selfishness is based in insecurity. I suggest you take a boiling bath after consuming large quantities of arsenic.

[loseyourname]

Originally posted by Arvestaked I appologize for trying to incite discussion. Go read sex threads.

She complimented you on starting what she felt was a great thread, and this was your response. That doesn't strike you as insecure?

[Anonymouse]

Originally posted by loseyourname She complimented you on starting what she felt was a great thread, and this was your response. That doesn't strike you as insecure?

Well, apparently when you make so many sex threads people don't begin to take you seriously after a while.

I hope a tornado demolishes your house.

[loseyourname]

Originally posted by Anonymouse Well, apparently when you make so many sex threads people don't begin to take you seriously after a while.

I hope a tornado demolishes your house.

Why are you insulting Aphrodit3? What did she do to you? And who the xxxx asked you to interject into every single back and forth between all members of the forum?

I have posted over forty threads. Two have been about sex.

[Anonymouse]

Originally posted by loseyourname Why are you insulting Aphrodit3? What did she do to you? And who the xxxx asked you to interject into every single back and forth between all members of the forum?

I have posted over forty threads. Two have been about sex.

I wasn't responding to Aphrodit3, I was responding to you. And I gave myself the right to interject.

[spiral]

Does altruism really exist on its own or is it a form of selfishness?

All decisions are based on something selfish, whether it is to alleviate guilt or make yourself feel good for making another feel better or for doing something to open another door for yourself or just to acquire an obvious gain. Sexuality is 100% selfish. Charity is a 100% selfish. Loaning your friend money even though you would prefer to keep it is 100% selfish.

Or is it?

Is it logical to have opposites be the same thing? If opposites can be referred to the same way, does that cancel out the higher classification? By that I mean: if 'selfishness1' and 'altruism' are opposites but can be classified as 'selfishness2', does that automatically negate 'selfishness2'? Or does it negate altruism as I suggested before? If 'selfishness2' is negated and selfishness and altruism exist separately, do we have to ignore the fact that acts of altruism cause benefit to the actor at a conscious level?

I believe that there is no altruistic act.

Anything and everything we do is triggered by a slefish reason/need.

I guess altruism is referred to those acts that are ultimately done for selfish reason's, but unconsciously. The person does not consciously decide to act out for selfish reasons. still, it's done for selfsih reasons. (kachal hasan, te hasan kachal)<--armenian saying.

For everyone, no one is more valuable then themselves. It's innate to love yourself, and support yourselves. Those who don't, are insecure, and find another means of reassuring their security- being "unselfish".

[loseyourname]

As I said before, there is no rational basis for coming to that conclusion, or any conclusion whatsoever. Centuries of psychology and biology have only taught us how poorly we really understand human motivation. To refute altruism is to refute free will, as you are saying that all of our actions are determined, not through a conscious act of will untraceable to any biological beginning outside of our conscious control, but by an evolutionary impulse, our selfish genes acting in their own best interest. This is a little too simple; I suspect that human consciousness is a little more complex and nuanced than this. That is why I didn't come to any conclusion, and only used the words "most likely" when discussing the case of Afro's uncle.

[spiral]

As I said before, there is no rational basis for coming to that conclusion, or any conclusion whatsoever. Centuries of psychology and biology have only taught us how poorly we really understand human motivation. To refute altruism is to refute free will, as you are saying that all of our actions are determined, not through a conscious act of will untraceable to any biological beginning outside of our conscious control, but by an evolutionary impulse, our selfish genes acting in their own best interest. This is a little too simple; I suspect that human consciousness is a little more complex and nuanced than this. That is why I didn't come to any conclusion, and only used the words "most likely" when discussing the case of Afro's uncle.

Refuting altruism has nothing to do with refuting free will.

Altruism is inner, extending out. Free will is outer, extending inn.
(from and to the individual)