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Burnt Hill wrote:So what motivates someone to be charitable?

Charity. Pity. Fellow-feeling. Empathy. Imagination. The correct awareness that you are neither alone in the world -- and could not possibly be alone in the world -- nor alone in your capacity to suffer.

Love, even.

(Unless by "someone" and "charitable" you are referring only to millionaires with a potential tax problem and an accountant who also understands PR. Not everything that calls itself charity is truly charitable, no, obviously.)

And do you accept the Maslow pyramid as a valid representation of human needs?

It's a useful model. Certainly you cannot be charitable if you cannot survive. But many people have been charitable rather than survive at the cost of being uncharitable. Surviving (or even flourishing) at all costs is not, and has not ever been, everyone's priority. Examples are legion.

Charity. Pity. Fellow-feeling. Empathy. Imagination.

Love, even.

All emotionally satisfying actions.
We do these things to feel good about ourselves.

1. Speak for yourself, please.

2. Are you suggesting that the only rational or recommendable actions are those that make people feel bad about themselves?

3. Does it make someone feel good or bad about himself to believe that he has seen through (and risen above) the pathetic self-deceptions of other people? I think we should be told.

MacCruiskeen » Thu Jan 19, 2017 11:28 pm wrote:Speak for yourself.

Yes. You too.

2. Are you suggesting that the only rational or recommendable actions are those that make people feel bad about themselves?

What are you talking about? Absolutely not.

I am not sure, are you equating self-esteem with selfishness? Or thinking that I am?

3. Does it make someone feel good or bad about himself to believe that he has seen through (and risen above) the pathetic self-deceptions of other people? I think we should be told.

So tell us.

Nothing motivates my charity except self interest and arbitrary reaction to circumstances.

But you guys are cute with your arguing and stuff.

OP ED » Thu Jan 19, 2017 11:11 pm wrote:Nothing motivates my charity except self interest and arbitrary reaction to circumstances.

But you guys are cute with your arguing and stuff.

You're cute with your hit-and-run superciliousness, above the fray as ever.

Burnt Hill, can I suggest you start another thread? Call it "Is selfishness ever avoidable?" or something like that, and transfer our conversation there, if you want. Obama's legacy will require a lot more discussion and this is the thread for that. It'll be tomorrow earlest before I can get back to you, though, because it's very late here.

OP ED » Fri Jan 20, 2017 12:11 am wrote:Nothing motivates my charity except self interest and arbitrary reaction to circumstances.

But you guys are cute with your arguing and stuff.

Always looking for a decent discussion.
Often descends to a petty power struggle though, yeah.

Acting in self interest, when your interests are met, how does it feel?

MacCruiskeen » Fri Jan 20, 2017 12:17 am wrote:

OP ED » Thu Jan 19, 2017 11:11 pm wrote:Nothing motivates my charity except self interest and arbitrary reaction to circumstances.

But you guys are cute with your arguing and stuff.

You're cute with your hit-and-run superciliousness, above the fray as ever.

Burnt Hill, can I suggest you start another thread? Call it "Is selfishness ever avoidable?" or something like that, and transfer our conversation there, if you want. Obama's legacy will require a lot more discussion and this is the thread for that. It'll be tomorrow earlest before I can get back to you, though, because it's very late here.

That's fair and good advice.
Sleep well Mac.

You too, Burnt Hill.

Burnt Hill » Thu Jan 19, 2017 11:18 pm wrote:

OP ED » Fri Jan 20, 2017 12:11 am wrote:Nothing motivates my charity except self interest and arbitrary reaction to circumstances.

But you guys are cute with your arguing and stuff.

Always looking for a decent discussion.
Often descends to a petty power struggle though, yeah.

Acting in self interest, when your interests are met, how does it feel?

I don't know really. I don't do things for feel. I do things because they ultimately benefit me.

I don't feel much, to be honest as I can Express here. I also don't think feeling is that important. Not for me, at any rate, but it does seem to be a motivational factor for most people.

Sometimes when the arguments descend into psychology and emotionality, I don't have an adequate response. People are obvious. They do what makes them feel nice. You only need to watch them for a few minutes to see that much.

I wouldn't apologize for Obama. I don't just dislike him for what he did but for what he could have done but chose not to. He was weak and the DNC apologists who still shill for him are weaker.

Despicable.

I don't hate them because they're not good, but because they aren't even good at it.

only a couple hours left for Obama to take all of our guns.......

seemslikeadream » Fri Jan 20, 2017 2:56 pm wrote:only a couple hours left for Obama to take all of our guns.......

I wish him a happy retirement in Kenya and Jakarta, happiness in his career as a secret document forger, peace in his chosen Islamic faith and a long and happy marriage to Mike.


Does that cover every Beckian angle?