Analyzing life

Pre-College Issues High School Life
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<p>Motherly love is something I’ve always thought about. It seems so strong, that no matter how hard it can be to love their child, most mothers do, very much. (Same goes for fathers). Would my mom still love me as a person if I was not her daughter? Probably. But what if I was one of those kids that could be hard to love, say I was constantly rude and heartless. Take the motherly bond out of the equation, and she would have no reason to love me.</p>

<p>I find this very hard to take in. It all makes sense, just something interesting to ponder. And it really shows you how strong a parent’s love is, what it can overcome.</p>

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<p>maternal instincts are pretty special.</p>

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<p>I disagree here. I don’t think infatuation has to be the initial step.</p>

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<p>I have not read through this whole thread, but I do plan on reading every single post, as I see some very deep thinking going on.</p>

<p>Regarding the debate on whether there is true altruism or not, I would like to say a couple of things. While I don’t mean for this to be a religious “rant”, I do think I should introduce you to a couple of individuals who I have always admired, and who I seem are the “perfect human”. their actions were done with pure intentions and their actions define the true definition of altruism. Here is the story of a true event: </p>

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<p>The following are names: Hasan, Hussein, Fatima, Fudda, Ali…(Imam and Al- are titles that people give them)</p>

<p>The Prophet, with some of his companions, visited al-Hasan and al-Hussein who were sick. They suggested that Imam Ali should vow a three-day fasting if they would recover their health. The Imam, as well as their mother Fatima and Fudda their bondwoman implemented that suggestion. When al-Hasan and al-Hussein were healed, the group fasted. The Imam had no food at that time; therefore, he had to borrow three measures of barley from Shimon the Jew.</p>

<p>In the first day, Fatima (a) milled and baked one of these measures. In the very time of breaking fast, a poor man knocked their door and said: “Peace be upon you; the family of Mohammed. I am a poor Muslim. Serve me with food and God may serve you from the food of Paradise.” The Imam gave him his share. The others pursued him and gave their shares. They passed that night without eating anything.</p>

<p>On the second day of their fasting, an orphan complaining hunger knocked their door in the time of breaking fast. They offered their shares and passed the second night without having anything except water.</p>

<p>On the third day and in the very time of breaking fast, a prisoner complaining hunger knocked their door asking for some food. They all offered him their shares before having anything of it.</p>

<p>On the fourth day, Imam Ali took al-Hasan and al-Hussein to the Prophet while they were trembling because of hunger. “I am very touched for what I see,” said the Prophet who walked with them to their house. There, he saw Fatima standing in her place of prayer while her belly was stuck to her back and her eyes were deep-set. He was affected by such a view. </p>

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<p>What do you guys think? Isn’t this pure altruism? I have not seen, read, or witnessed any event that personifies altruism more than this event. </p>

<p>Sorry for this very long post, but I just felt that I had to put some input regarding the issue of altruism. If you don’t read this, I completely understand.</p>

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<p>@YoungProdigy it’s funny you bring up the Prophet. the first thing I thought of when I heard the true altruism debate was the Battle of the Karbala</p>

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<p>Same here man, but I thought that this was much more easier to explain. You Shia?</p>

<p>What do all of you think? Is there something as true altruism based on the event I wrote.</p>

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<p>I agree. Just ask Tess D’Urberville. </p>

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<p>I know how you feel. It’s very hard to maintain that initial spark in a relationship. The initial spark might start a fire, but that fire eventually turns into smoldering embers, and then completely extinguishes. I believe the same metaphor was used in Tess.</p>

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<p>this thread just abruptly ended- bumpbumpbump.</p>

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<p>@98beebee I was actually thinking about this thread, wanting to make a bump post, but I didn’t have much to say…</p>

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<p>What is Kony? And what is this thread about anyway?</p>

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<p>^google Kony. And go to the first page of this thread to find out.</p>

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<p>um, bump?</p>

<p>The other day I was thinking about National Honor Society and how much I’m dreading my induction. It’s never really been something I aspired to, and I assumed that since I never asked anyone about, no one would ask me about it. Then I noticed how some people were genuinely disappointed when they weren’t recruited.
I began to dig toward the roots of this, to find out why I hate NHS so much, and came to the conclusion, that I hate the organization because it negates altruism. It supports the idea that the only reason anyone would ever do anything, is with a promise of reward (in this case, a pen, a special scarf-thing, and resume-padding). This view was only reinforced when I went to the first meeting and overheard a senior girl complain about how much work /she/ (and her fellow seniors) had to do in /their/ junior year to get in, while we juniors, had done nothing to deserve recognition (She was wrong, and I’m only waiting a chance to prove her so; she was speaking out of prejudice, not facts). So apparently she, and most of the others who surrounded me at that meeting, were passionate about NHS, not so much so about the activities they did, or the hours they spent volunteering, but about the glory of it all. This, I cannot understand. NHS really perpetuates egoism, rather than altruism, charity, and self-improvement, which then led me to believe in altruism whole-heartedly (though not in the form of NHS or my high school. Because if egoism exists (you’d be hard-pressed to argue that it doesn’t), then altruism /must/ exist, as a sort of yin-yang reasoning.
Thoughts?</p>

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<p>^interesting argument. </p>

<p>then you can get into what <em>extent</em> to which egoism can grow, and then, basing it on your idea, altruism could go equally as far</p>

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<p>“I CAN’T” IS ONLY AN EXCUSE FOR THOSE WHO CAN.
THE ONLY THING YOU HAVE TO LOSE IN LOSING IS WINNING.</p>

<p>fin.</p>

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<p>I always sort of knew that people were very selfish. :rolleyes:
However, it’s only recently that I’ve realized how much so. No matter how many times we deny it, we often associate ourselves with people who will benefit us somehow. Whether we try to befriend the popular kids to make ourselves more popular, befriend the smart kid so we can boost our GPA, talk to people less attractive than ourselves to boost our self-esteem, talk to kids with tons of friends so we can gain more friends as a result, etc.
I’m guilty of using people, and I’m not even going to try to deny it. I think all of us have used someone at least once. I’m ashamed of it, but I’d say it’s human nature to seek to be recognized. </p>

<p>Think of the influx of people suddenly diagnosed with Austism and Bi-polar disorder: Is everyone suddenly giving birth to children with these illnesses? Of course not. In the past, these people had to adapt to society somehow, but it’s only recently that it’s been deemed as “abnormal” (i.e. an illness) instead of just “unusual” behavior. I’m not saying that <em>all</em> of these people people are misdiagnosed (so don’t freak out on me, haha), but many are. </p>

<p>“Standing out” is one of the main goals that many people set for their lives, whether it be through their career choice or whatever. If someone has a mental illness, they’re different than the majority, and this is one way of standing out. I hear so many people saying “I have OCD”, “I have trouble talking with people; I think I have Autism”, “I have mood swings, thus I am bipolar”, etc. Some are joking; others are being serious.</p>

<p>It also explains hipsters. Being different and knowing about something before everyone else did makes them feel like a special snowflake. :D</p>

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<p>I don’t think that “pure altruism” exists; however, I see no need why it must. Pure altruism connotes an almost lack of emotion. The biological purpose of altruism is genetic preservation through kin selection (as seen in certain species of rabbits, for example). Humans, with our large brains and great capacity of emotion, have extended the concept of altruism beyond the normal bonds of biological relation. That, in itself, is a great achievement. When a firefighter saves a child and dies in the process, he of course has motives. First and foremost, it is his job. He committed to being a firefighter, so any lack of commitment on his part would be grounds for excruciating embarrassment and guilt. In this case, “committing” is saving the life of a child. Another motive is the “hero complex.” He’s aware that people who give their lives for others often receive recognition and lasting esteem after death–a very enticing concept indeed. To be sure, he isn’t going to be analyzing this completely as he does his heroic deed, but these are just a few influencing factors. But does the fact that he is influenced by completely reasonable motives mean that he is any less of a great man for doing what he did? His actions surely require a great amount of willpower and self-sacrifice–if these are accompanied by a few honest persuasions, why does it matter? </p>

<p>In the sense that people always have some self-satisfying motive(s) for their actions, pure altruism does not exist. As altruism itself is driven by evolutionary factors, it is to be expected that humans will always have internal justifications for their actions. However, I honestly do not see why these justifications make feats any less impressive. As we all have these motivations, they should be ignored (sort of leveling the playing field). Once one views the world from this new playing field, one sees the greatness in people.</p>

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<p>not necessarily. Pure altruism can refer to complete selflessness. like transferring one’s own self interests to someone else’s self interests. in other words, your will becomes the same as someone else’s will.</p>

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<p>not true hipsters :p</p>

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<p>Stressedout, let me clarify. I think altruism approaches pure altruism asymptotically and never quite reaches it. One can perform quite a selfless and heroic act (as evidenced by numerous examples in this thread) without there being pure altruism present. Everyone has reasons for doing what they do. Those reasons are justifications for what someone thinks is sensible to do at a certain time. The accomplishment of an act–like donating money or entering a burning building to save someone (not necessarily achieving the goal)–in itself stimulates satisfaction. In doing something “selfless,” one accomplishes what they decided to do, which is in their self-interest. Perhaps a better phrase is that completely pure altruism connotes a lack of sanity. I don’t believe it exists because there is always a motive and reward for someone’s actions. </p>

<p>Finally, I’d like to stress that the impossibility of pure altruism does not diminish human acts of greatness. Just because people have their own motives for their actions does not make their actions any less beautiful and kind. A man saving a child from a burning building is deservedly called a hero, not because he was purely altruistic but because he did a wonderful thing.</p>

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<p>Maybe altruism is something that we just don’t notice. Maybe altruism lies in instinctual habits rather than conscious, deliberate decisions. I mean, we hardly ever notice that we’re breathing, because we do it so often and we almost forget that it’s necessary. But of course, once someone coughs, sneezes, chokes, or drowns, we realize how vital respiration is… I think altruism exists, but it’s something we overlook, because it’s by no means devastating. I think everyone cares for someone or something above themself, and for the most part, cares about others rather than themself, but it’s something we just set aside without realizing.</p>

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<p>i don’t really see what this phenomenon has to with selfishness… </p>

<p>i would sort of say that the increase in all these illnesses has a lot less to do with the people who are diagnosed with them than you might think. there are incentives to make money off of the newer (safer) medications that can be prescribed to alleviate anxiety and so on, and there is the fact that our environment has changed quite starkly in the last century (in terms of diet and how many people are living in urban areas), which has no doubt had affects on people’s development. </p>

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<p>I would really question the number of people for whom ‘standing out’ is one of their main goals in life. first, the proportion of people who set life goals is probably rather small… and for the people who have them think they would be more social objectives - like standing out in order to prove to people that you are valuable, not to stand out be better than other people for the sake of being superior. really i think a lot of people want to be accepted. that desire seems much more pervasive than wanting to stand out (though standing out can certainly be a means to be accepted, if you are appealing to people for who standing out is a good thing).</p>

<p>hope that made sense.</p>