Why do people care?

[Ulyaoth]

I've always wondered, why do some people care so much about what other people do, other people's problems, whatever. I never understood it. Why should people care? For all spectrums of people, why religious people should care who's having abortions, or to go off to helhole's to try and help people, why Bono cares so much to tell us to take care of Africa. I don't get why people get so worked up about 'stopping' racism, since it's mostly only white people I ever see that get all uppity about it getting deeply offended.

I just don't get why people should care about things that don't affect them in the least. I really think the world would be much better if people were more selfish and self involved like me and just didn't give a damn what other people do.

[Yaga Shu Ra]

Could be; empathy, intolerance to a deviation from their own set of morals/beliefs, or self-interest.

Btw, are you not doing the same with such a rant?

[Playfishpaste]

If no body cared no countries would function. lotta people wouldn't even know about starving kids in africa if it weren't for live aid.

[Yaga Shu Ra]

We function despite starving kids in africa.

[Ulyaoth]

If no body cared no countries would function. lotta people wouldn't even know about starving kids in africa if it weren't for live aid.

My question is, why should I give a about starving kids in Africa? What does it affect me? Am I starving, is someone I know starving, no, so why should I care. The population of Ethiopia has tripled in the past 20 years I think the statistic is, they were starving then, charity people pulled at heartstrings to get people to feed them, so they stop dying, and multiply, and now you've got 3 times as many people, in the same situation, starving. See what your caring accomplished? You brought more starving people into the world.

[Justice and Mercy]

If no body cared no countries would function. lotta people wouldn't even know about starving kids in africa if it weren't for live aid.

Fine with me.

[Chaigidel]

yeah I figure its something built in-- we all selectively care about something, it binds us to this earth and to the people around us; in our modern society we function on caring about money; oh wait we have always functioned on some sort of monetary or exchange system, an investment if you will on all levels; so we care because we care, it is what we are.

[Playfishpaste]

Yaga-I wasn't saying functionality and starving kids were related. If the entire populous of every country was apathetic, it's leadership would enslave them because they all wouldn't care.

ulyaoth- food is not the only thing charity goes to. Service to africa has improved it's living quality and aids awareness and clinics have helped as well. Though this isn't the point. No one's asking you to care about other people, if you don't want to that's honestly all well and good (not trying to be holier then thou here, I really think people should live as they like). Some people care about other people because they'd like to help those like them, they don't like suffering. I would not like to be in a large dump and raised as a tortured and abused child, this is why I care about them, put myself in their shoes.

[Probe]

Because it makes them feel good if they are helping a starving child.

[Thanatos]

Because it makes them feel good if they are helping a starving child.

Are you trying to say that every action is inherently selfish?

[Probe]

Are you trying to say that every action is inherently selfish?

No, I was just being general. People help because its the right thing to do. Feeling good about it is just a small reward.

[Yaga Shu Ra]

Are you trying to say that every action is inherently selfish?

No, I was just being general. People help because its the right thing to do. Feeling good about it is just a small reward.

Because we are bound to our own body, mind and perspective it grants we can but only act from ourselves. A degree "selfishness" will therefor be inevitably present in every single action.
It get's more interesting to look at the results of an action other than this "given", "obvious" or "inherent" when trying to uncover it's nature.

[Probe]

A degree "selfishness" will therefor be inevitably present in every single action.

Not in every single action. Look at the other thread in the Themia Devia and see how many people will gladly give their lives up for some of the things they love most, even intangible things like faith.

[jankren]

I always donate about 5% of my income every month to an orphanage? Why? Because Im grateful of having a complete and happy family and I would like to ease the pain of those who arent as lucky even if only a little bit.

[Maverick]

Btw, are you not doing the same with such a rant?

That's a good observation, it's all about self-image, Ulyaoth defines himself by not being Bono.

I just don't get why people should care about things that don't affect them in the least. I really think the world would be much better if people were more selfish and self involved like me and just didn't give a damn what other people do.

Everyone is selfish and self-involved, it just satisfies some people to help others...a total lack of empathy is not a good thing, it's not necessary for your survival, it's not a trait of a civilized, emotionally healthy human being.

[Rextherock]

To help others who have a wish that i you and i have the power to do.

But the african proplem is not solved by throwing money at it.

[boofhead]

I don't know. Sometimes I just care about people. This old hobo who hangs near my work picking up other people's cigarette butts and smoking the remains came up to me the other day and begged me for a feed. I mean, I'm not going to tell a guy to his face that he isn't worth a meal.....so I bought him a burger. It was kind of annoying, really, I didn't get much satisfaction out of it as it ate up my 15 minute break, and I was a bit cranky.

I would hope that if I was genuinely that hungry, hungry enough to beg, that someone would feed me.

And I'm sure he was genuine. He's never done it before, and I've been watching this guy for months.

[jankren]

I would hope that if I was genuinely that hungry, hungry enough to beg, that someone would feed me.

Theres something called karma.

[Pivra]

Theres something called karma.

Indos. converted, dont use Karma... lol

im kidding hehehehe tuan Jankren aku jintamu hehehe

[boofhead]

Theres something called karma.

Sure. "What you give you shall receive...."

But by the same token, if I lived in an area where people begged every day of the week, I think I would be truthful to say that eventually I wouldn't give a crap anymore. Like I see on TV those beggars in India...everywhere...what can you do?

I gave a begging kid a US quarter in Tijuana many years back, and the next thing I was mobbed by about 50 kids in an alleyway...I started to get scared and just flung some coins in the air so they all ran that way....and I ran the other way.