Results 1 to 40 of 105

Thread: Why are some people more selfish than others?

Hybrid View

  1. #1
    Banned
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    TIM
    TiNe
    Posts
    7,858
    Mentioned
    11 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    Default Why are some people more selfish than others?

    Your opinion.

  2. #2
    Hot Message FDG's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Location
    North Italy
    TIM
    ENTj
    Posts
    16,615
    Mentioned
    235 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    Default

    Because it is "evolutionarily advantageous" in a social sense.
    Obsequium amicos, veritas odium parit

  3. #3
    Robot Assassin Pa3s's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    Germany
    TIM
    Ne-LII, 5w6
    Posts
    3,629
    Mentioned
    46 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    Default

    I think it often has something to do with a lack of empathy. But that's just one aspect, there are different reasons why someone is selfish.
    „Man can do what he wants but he cannot want what he wants.“
    – Arthur Schopenhauer

  4. #4
    InkStrider's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Posts
    419
    Mentioned
    1 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    Default

    Define selfishness.

    IME, selfishness (or rather, the complaint of such) is a label some people slap onto other people who have the guts to go for what they want, when they themselves do not.

    If selfishness is defined as being true to ourselves and going after what we want, then selfishness is a duty everyone owes to themselves. It is everybody's right to pursue their own personal desires, and it is silly to accuse other people of being inherently selfish due to it, when we too are acting out of selfishness in the pursuit of our own desires.

  5. #5
    Hot Message FDG's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Location
    North Italy
    TIM
    ENTj
    Posts
    16,615
    Mentioned
    235 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by InkStrider View Post
    IME, selfishness (or rather, the complaint of such) is a label some people slap onto other people who have the guts to go for what they want, when they themselves do not.
    Ahaha, c'mon you know it's not like that.
    Obsequium amicos, veritas odium parit

  6. #6
    Let's fly now Gilly's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    TIM
    3w4 sx/so
    Posts
    24,685
    Mentioned
    95 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    Default

    Jadedness or poor upbringing.
    But, for a certainty, back then,
    We loved so many, yet hated so much,
    We hurt others and were hurt ourselves...

    Yet even then, we ran like the wind,
    Whilst our laughter echoed,
    Under cerulean skies...

  7. #7
    Creepy-Snaps

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Gilly View Post
    Jadedness or poor upbringing.
    Environment/association is huge. If people aren't taught to invest in people, build relationships, they don't know any better, than to think for themselves.

    Use the sanctuary model: don't ask why someone is a certain way, ask, what happened to them?

  8. #8
    Robot Assassin Pa3s's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    Germany
    TIM
    Ne-LII, 5w6
    Posts
    3,629
    Mentioned
    46 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by InkStrider View Post
    If selfishness is defined as being true to ourselves and going after what we want, then selfishness is a duty everyone owes to themselves. It is everybody's right to pursue their own personal desires, and it is silly to accuse other people of being inherently selfish due to it, when we too are acting out of selfishness in the pursuit of our own desires.
    as Ashton said before: selfishness ≠ self-interest

    Of course it's right to improve your own personal situation, but in some situation, this can be easily called selfishness. For example when you don't consider any other people but negatively affect them with your actions.
    „Man can do what he wants but he cannot want what he wants.“
    – Arthur Schopenhauer

  9. #9
    Banned
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    TIM
    LSE
    Posts
    17,948
    Mentioned
    162 Post(s)
    Tagged
    1 Thread(s)

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Pa3s View Post
    I think it often has something to do with a lack of empathy. But that's just one aspect, there are different reasons why someone is selfish.
    I wrote once in chatbox when blabbing with BnD that empathy is a psychic ability that enables one to sense the emotions of others and being highly aware of the health and state of mind of their loved ones.

    I don't think I can do that. I can't even fake it to begin with.

    Quote Originally Posted by InkStrider View Post
    It is everybody's right to pursue their own personal desires, and it is silly to accuse other people of being inherently selfish due to it, when we too are acting out of selfishness in the pursuit of our own desires.
    Quote Originally Posted by FDG View Post
    Ahaha, c'mon you know it's not like that.
    That's the first post coming from InkStrider I actually agree with to some extent for according to your sympathy, you will take pleasure in your own happiness or in the happiness of other people. The most profound egoist may be the most complete altruist so bare that in mind.

    Quote Originally Posted by Pa3s View Post
    as Ashton said before: selfishness ≠ self-interest

    Of course it's right to improve your own personal situation, but in some situation, this can be easily called selfishness. For example when you don't consider any other people but negatively affect them with your actions.
    That's called being an utter idiot.

    Quote Originally Posted by Slacker View Post
    [...]it's fair for other people to get what they want some of the time too, even if it conflicts with what you want.

    Not everyone is taught that.
    No doubt about it.

    Quote Originally Posted by EyeSeeCold View Post
    Generally, we are conditioned to "get along", respect and sometimes even to act with others' best interests in mind. The lack of such conditioning in individuals would definitely have them as selfish.
    I don't think it is the case here. I don't have to like nor get along with certain people just because it is nice to do so. I'm not going to please everyone nor it is my intent.

    But its only when such conditions are extreme that they are clinically diagnosed, truth is, all people lean towards some area(s) of a disorder(s), such as psychopathy, narcissism and sociopathy.


    Last edited by Absurd; 02-20-2012 at 10:10 PM.

  10. #10
    Banned
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    TIM
    TiNe
    Posts
    7,858
    Mentioned
    11 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    Default

    Absurd whenever someone mentions altruism, I am reminded of Abraham Lincoln's words on the subject. To wit, he claimed himself to be exactly what you suggest: the most profound altruist out the most profound egoism.

    Conscience hurts. Yes, yes it does.

  11. #11
    Humanist Beautiful sky's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    EII land
    TIM
    EII INFj
    Posts
    25,960
    Mentioned
    669 Post(s)
    Tagged
    6 Thread(s)

    Default

    No comment at both of you.
    -
    Dual type (as per tcaudilllg)
    Enneagram 2w1sw(1w9) helps others to live up to their own standards of what a good person is and is very behind the scenes in the process.
    Tritype 1-2-6 stacking sp/sx


    I'm constantly looking to align the real with the ideal.I've been more oriented toward being overly idealistic by expecting the real to match the ideal. My thinking side is dominent. The result is that sometimes I can be overly impersonal or self-centered in my approach, not being understanding of others in the process and simply thinking "you should do this" or "everyone should follor this rule"..."regardless of how they feel or where they're coming from"which just isn't a good attitude to have. It is a way, though, to give oneself an artificial sense of self-justification. LSE

    Best description of functions:
    http://socionicsstudy.blogspot.com/2...functions.html

  12. #12
    Banned
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    TIM
    LSE
    Posts
    17,948
    Mentioned
    162 Post(s)
    Tagged
    1 Thread(s)

    Default


  13. #13

  14. #14
    Humanist Beautiful sky's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    EII land
    TIM
    EII INFj
    Posts
    25,960
    Mentioned
    669 Post(s)
    Tagged
    6 Thread(s)

    Default

    Being selfish requires no thought and no work; it's expedient on their part to be that way.
    -
    Dual type (as per tcaudilllg)
    Enneagram 2w1sw(1w9) helps others to live up to their own standards of what a good person is and is very behind the scenes in the process.
    Tritype 1-2-6 stacking sp/sx


    I'm constantly looking to align the real with the ideal.I've been more oriented toward being overly idealistic by expecting the real to match the ideal. My thinking side is dominent. The result is that sometimes I can be overly impersonal or self-centered in my approach, not being understanding of others in the process and simply thinking "you should do this" or "everyone should follor this rule"..."regardless of how they feel or where they're coming from"which just isn't a good attitude to have. It is a way, though, to give oneself an artificial sense of self-justification. LSE

    Best description of functions:
    http://socionicsstudy.blogspot.com/2...functions.html

  15. #15
    Korpsy Knievel's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Posts
    4,231
    Mentioned
    33 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Maritsa33 View Post
    Being selfish requires no thought and no work; it's expedient on their part to be that way.
    Being selfish requires a different sort of work and thought than that required to be conscientious.

  16. #16
    Memory of Tomorrow Reuben's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Oh baby, baby, baby
    TIM
    No idea
    Posts
    1,927
    Mentioned
    6 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by tcaudilllg View Post
    Your opinion.
    If you don't love yourself, you can never love people.

    Selfish people are those who never got past the first clause.
    She is wise
    beyond words
    beautiful within
    her soul
    brighter than
    the sun
    lovelier than
    love
    dreams larger
    than life
    and does not
    understand the
    meaning of no.
    Because everything
    through her, and in her, is
    "Yes, it will be done."


    Why I love LSEs:
    Quote Originally Posted by Abbie
    A couple years ago I was put in charge of decorating the college for Valentine's Day. I made some gorgeous, fancy decorations from construction paper, glue, scissors, and imagination. Then I covered a couple cabinets with them. But my favorite was the diagram of a human heart I put up. So romantic!

  17. #17
    Humanist Beautiful sky's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    EII land
    TIM
    EII INFj
    Posts
    25,960
    Mentioned
    669 Post(s)
    Tagged
    6 Thread(s)

    Default

    Inherent
    Forced to
    To fend for themselves
    Raised to be

    Self oriented and selfish are two different things. To take care of oneself out of necessity is not a selfish act.
    -
    Dual type (as per tcaudilllg)
    Enneagram 2w1sw(1w9) helps others to live up to their own standards of what a good person is and is very behind the scenes in the process.
    Tritype 1-2-6 stacking sp/sx


    I'm constantly looking to align the real with the ideal.I've been more oriented toward being overly idealistic by expecting the real to match the ideal. My thinking side is dominent. The result is that sometimes I can be overly impersonal or self-centered in my approach, not being understanding of others in the process and simply thinking "you should do this" or "everyone should follor this rule"..."regardless of how they feel or where they're coming from"which just isn't a good attitude to have. It is a way, though, to give oneself an artificial sense of self-justification. LSE

    Best description of functions:
    http://socionicsstudy.blogspot.com/2...functions.html

  18. #18
    Shazaam's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Lamp
    TIM
    AB-IEI-Ni
    Posts
    13,810
    Mentioned
    596 Post(s)
    Tagged
    2 Thread(s)

    Default

    People see how most people are selfish, rude and arrogant - and not concerned at all with the welfare of others, and instead of using all that to be a nicer/giving person themselves, they say 'that's just the way things are' and they act the same way. Rude and obnoxious, laughing brutally at everybody's weaknesses, etc.

    It's like it spirals out of control.

    I remember a Buffy episode where Andrew was feeling sorry for Johnathon and then Warren goes "That's a weakness" and it kind of made me laugh. I think that is the typical American mentality you know. Empathy, feeling sorry for somebody is a weak thing and should be perished in the individual self, instead of festered. And so since most people think that way, that's why we have a world that feels dark and scary and brutal with no love in it. People sort of narcissistically and intellectually yap at each other instead of talking to people with their hearts. It's like the world has lost its heart.

  19. #19
    Humanist Beautiful sky's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    EII land
    TIM
    EII INFj
    Posts
    25,960
    Mentioned
    669 Post(s)
    Tagged
    6 Thread(s)

    Default

    Heeeeheeeeheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
    -
    Dual type (as per tcaudilllg)
    Enneagram 2w1sw(1w9) helps others to live up to their own standards of what a good person is and is very behind the scenes in the process.
    Tritype 1-2-6 stacking sp/sx


    I'm constantly looking to align the real with the ideal.I've been more oriented toward being overly idealistic by expecting the real to match the ideal. My thinking side is dominent. The result is that sometimes I can be overly impersonal or self-centered in my approach, not being understanding of others in the process and simply thinking "you should do this" or "everyone should follor this rule"..."regardless of how they feel or where they're coming from"which just isn't a good attitude to have. It is a way, though, to give oneself an artificial sense of self-justification. LSE

    Best description of functions:
    http://socionicsstudy.blogspot.com/2...functions.html

  20. #20
    "Cool Mafia Godfather" ~SLE Leader's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    TIM
    ESTp 8
    Posts
    918
    Mentioned
    10 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Maritsa33 View Post
    Heeeeheeeeheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
    ...So you've really gone mad.

  21. #21
    Humanist Beautiful sky's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    EII land
    TIM
    EII INFj
    Posts
    25,960
    Mentioned
    669 Post(s)
    Tagged
    6 Thread(s)

    Default

    Because they don't know how to be any other way.
    -
    Dual type (as per tcaudilllg)
    Enneagram 2w1sw(1w9) helps others to live up to their own standards of what a good person is and is very behind the scenes in the process.
    Tritype 1-2-6 stacking sp/sx


    I'm constantly looking to align the real with the ideal.I've been more oriented toward being overly idealistic by expecting the real to match the ideal. My thinking side is dominent. The result is that sometimes I can be overly impersonal or self-centered in my approach, not being understanding of others in the process and simply thinking "you should do this" or "everyone should follor this rule"..."regardless of how they feel or where they're coming from"which just isn't a good attitude to have. It is a way, though, to give oneself an artificial sense of self-justification. LSE

    Best description of functions:
    http://socionicsstudy.blogspot.com/2...functions.html

  22. #22
    Creepy-male

  23. #23

    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Posts
    13,331
    Mentioned
    1265 Post(s)
    Tagged
    3 Thread(s)

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by tcaudilllg View Post
    Your opinion.
    Just impression. Because not all people give you what you want "by low prices" due to different types values.
    Types examples: video bloggers, actors

  24. #24
    Humanist Beautiful sky's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    EII land
    TIM
    EII INFj
    Posts
    25,960
    Mentioned
    669 Post(s)
    Tagged
    6 Thread(s)

    Default

    Ask yourself why do you and I seek to understand things that are not understandable (sometimes).
    -
    Dual type (as per tcaudilllg)
    Enneagram 2w1sw(1w9) helps others to live up to their own standards of what a good person is and is very behind the scenes in the process.
    Tritype 1-2-6 stacking sp/sx


    I'm constantly looking to align the real with the ideal.I've been more oriented toward being overly idealistic by expecting the real to match the ideal. My thinking side is dominent. The result is that sometimes I can be overly impersonal or self-centered in my approach, not being understanding of others in the process and simply thinking "you should do this" or "everyone should follor this rule"..."regardless of how they feel or where they're coming from"which just isn't a good attitude to have. It is a way, though, to give oneself an artificial sense of self-justification. LSE

    Best description of functions:
    http://socionicsstudy.blogspot.com/2...functions.html

  25. #25
    Banned
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    TIM
    TiNe
    Posts
    7,858
    Mentioned
    11 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    Default

    Anything can be understood.

    I think the limited mind theory road has potential. I'm going to prepare a talk about how mind theory influences immanence.

  26. #26
    Banned
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Location
    Bay Area, Ca.
    TIM
    ISTP Se-LSI 6w5cp sx
    Posts
    687
    Mentioned
    9 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    Default

    Because they feel like it.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •