(no subject)

[bloodyrosemccoy]

I’m beginning to suspect that a lot of the problems of the world stem, at least partially, from peoples misinterpretation of “benefits everyone” as “benefits somebody else.”

So, hey, humans, I post a reminder for you. The Greater Good: It Includes You.

Comments

[gryphart.livejournal.com]

*chants, a la Hot Fuzz* THE GREATER GOOD.

(On a more intelligent note, I thoroughly agree. I wish we got to have rational, logical national debates instead of nonsensical shouting. Sigh.)

[mfb.livejournal.com]

Not if you've already got yours.

[padparadscha.livejournal.com]

That's the thing ... people think of it in terms of "I've got mine," under the mistaken assumption that they can't LOSE it, and that they would NOT benefit if other people did.

CHAENG LOL

[mfb.livejournal.com]

I agree with you, but once you're in the "I've got mine" mindset, what do you care if other people benefit, and why wouldn't you do everything in your power to foil change?

Re: CHAENG LOL

[gethenian.livejournal.com]

Well, you see, not everyone is a tunnel-visioned narrow-minded shallow asshole.

Re: CHAENG LOL

[mfb.livejournal.com]

... what. You do realize I'm playing devil's advocate, right?

Re: CHAENG LOL

[gethenian.livejournal.com]

I wasn't saying you're one. I have no idea who you are. I was just answering your comment.

Re: CHAENG LOL

[padparadscha.livejournal.com]

Exactly my point. After that you just wind up assuming that The Greater Good will actively take things AWAY from you.

Slacktivist had an interesting discussion on the tendency for those with privilege to not want to give it to others because then they figure the privilege will disappear--when in fact what will disappear is the LACK OF privilege. But the scorekeeping will be skewed that way--we don't like to end in a tie; we like to have someone we've won over. It seems to be an understandable human trait, but one we can work against with logic. I'll dig around for the post, but I'm not sure where it would be ...

Re: CHAENG LOL

[queenlyzard.livejournal.com]

Yeah-- I read something like this in a paper about Women's Suffrage-- something like, people think there's a finite amount of freedom to go around, but it doesn't work that way.

Re: CHAENG LOL

[padparadscha.livejournal.com]

Exactly. It's treated like a finite resource, which is weird because it's an abstract ...

[pandoras-closet.livejournal.com]

I think Terri Clark said it best; The World Needs a Drink

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcyalZ-tyEk

[packbat.livejournal.com]

My part of the world, anyway. Thanks.

[queenlyzard.livejournal.com]

This. My roomie, who's pretty darn liberal on most counts, does grouse quite a bit about having to pay for the education of Other People's Children. I feel compelled to point out that those "children" will be the doctors, lawyers, politicians, and so on, of our future. I sure as hell don't want them to be poorly educated ones.