Selflessness

[Mekk]

How much of yourself would you sacrifice for someone else?

If you were offered the chance to sacrifice your life for the benefit of the whole human race, would you do it? If it cured cancer, AIDS, stupidity? If it prevented a comet from destroying Earth?

What if nobody else knew about it? I know a lot of people would sacrifice themselves for eternal glory, but would you do it if you were the only person that knew you were saving the world?

Our inherent nature is to be selfish. Our biological bodies are designed that way so that we may survive. Does it matter then how selfish we are?

Tell me.

[Finn]

What the fuck is wrong with this place?

[Sniper]

What the fuck is wrong with this place?

Ahh Finn, we missed you

[riffer]

The world - or KB?

Either way, this could be a loooooong discussion.

[Hitcher]

Selfishness is only acceptable as long as this behaviour doesn't impinge on the rights and wellbeing of others.

Who would I "sacrifice" myself for, in whole or in part? Only for my family and those I love or respect. Anything more than this would be pure oversight on my part.

[Finn]

The world - or KB?

The problem with the world is religion and dictators. I was referring to posts like this on KB.

[Mekk]

The world - or KB?

Either way, this could be a loooooong discussion.

Wtf, the world!

KB isn't real. Shhhh.

[Jantar]

For someone I loved, for my country, or for the whole human race? - yes.

To cure a disease? - No.

Everyone must die of something, so finding a cure for a disease just means that person will die of something else.

Consider the situation that man has got so smart that there are only three fatla diseases left: Lets say Heart disease, Aids and toenail cancer, and that 33.33% of the population die of each. Dr Joe discovers an amazing drug that finally cures the last remaining cancer - no more toenail cancer. Now we find that 50% of the population die of Aids and 50% die of heart disese. Dr Joe's amazing drug has just caused a 50% increase in heart disease.

[Mekk]

For someone I loved, for my country, or for the whole human race? - yes.

Even if it was seen by the rest of the world as a meaningless suicide?

[Karma]

What the fuck is wrong with this place?

+1

[Hitcher]

there are only three fatla diseases left

Caused by riding sprotsbikes, scroters, or crusiers? Or spending too much time in one's evel gargre?

And I share your fascination for bogus statistics. Like LTNZ's latest campaign that alleges that 50% of road accidents occur on corners. Which means that... 50% of road accidents must occur on straights! Where is the "hard-hitting" campaign and freshly-trashed Falcon as a result of driver error on a straight stretch of road? Why do these "people" have to make shit up to make a point? It does their credibility no favours.

[klingon]

I got cancer a while ago and one of the most touching things anybody said to me was when my Dad said "I wish I could have it instead of you." The fact that he was prepared to put my life ahead of his own was a lovely gesture.

Anyway I had an op and they removed my cancer so I'm fine now. My darling Dad died last month (of cancer).

__________________________

To answer your question, I would risk my life for someone I love. I would take progressively smaller and smaller risks for people I had less empathy with.

[NighthawkNZ:Me]

Even if it was seen by the rest of the world as a meaningless suicide?

Terrorist or freedom fighter, martyrs or killer, fighting or sucide, meaningless wars through out the ages, the list goes on...

What you think is doing good is thought totally different by someone on the other side of the world anyway... by its what you believe is good and believe should be fighting for or dying...

[Mekk]

Terrorist or freedom fighter, martyrs or killer, fighting or sucide, meaningless wars through out the ages, the list goes on...

Yeah, ok I need to clarify.

The suicide notion was really more to separate the glory from the act. As mentioned in the first post, I know people who would sacrifice themselves knowing that sacrifice for others is seen as something admirable and therefore doing it for that reason. In essence doing it more for themselves.

I mean a sacrifice for something that would benefit the whole race, eg averting a meteorite from destroying Earth.

The focus shouldn't be on the example but the principle, if you get me.

[Mekk]

I got cancer a while ago and one of the most touching things anybody said to me was when my Dad said "I wish I could have it instead of you." The fact that he was prepared to put my life ahead of his own was a lovely gesture.

Anyway I had an op and they removed my cancer so I'm fine now. My darling Dad died last month (of cancer).

Condolences, sorry to hear.

__________________________

To answer your question, I would risk my life for someone I love. I would take progressively smaller and smaller risks for people I had less empathy with.

Risk or sacrifice?