You mean like if I am on the way in the store to buy beer around Christmas, and put my money in the Salvation Army kettle instead. Then go home with no beer wishing I had went in and got beer?
Yeah maybe something like that, then you were selfless.. if being selfless is you do something for others without receiving anything good in return.. and if you give up your beer money and are pretty pissed off about it.. then that would be selfless ..
Far be it from usual, for me to quote religious stories, but do you remember the story of the old woman in the temple? That was "putting coins in a tin", so to speak.
I can't remember the story, which one was it? :redface:
I guess in Dodge's situation that would be really selfless!!!! He would probably be cursing that person when he gets home. I would! Although I must say I do feel guilty quite a lot of the time when I walk past people who are obviously down and out. I probably would put money in their tin, and buy the beer and if I had to choose between the two, and the beer is something I really need in terms of mental health, I probably would go for the beer. I'm a really selfish person :cry:
Rich people were donating a lot of money to the temple. A poor, elderly woman puts one or two coins in. Jesus says, supposedly, that she has given the greatest amount. The rich people protest. He says, this vast amount of money you give means little to you, you practically swim in it, anyway. This old woman has given what is to her, almost everything she has. I forget the phrasing and don't have a bible at hand for another week or so.
A nice story to work sufficiently on their guilt feelings to get them to contribute? But yes, probably true. The selfless part of "giving" is probably relative to how much that person has to give.
Well, I'm staying at my sisters house for a couple of days to visit with her and my 2 year old nephew...everyones sleeping right now, I work nights so I'm up. My sisters downstairs was messy with my nephews toys and stuff all over the place (kitchen, living room)...so I decided to clean up for my sister, so she'd wake up to a surprise!! 
My sister really likes to have a clean house, but I know it's hard for her with a husband and baby. So I know when she wakes up and see's that it's all cleaned up, she'll be happy!
So I just started thinking...what do other people do? I know I'm not the only person who does nice things for others. So I was wondering, what are some things you guys have done? What's the last 'act of kindness' that you've done for someone (stranger or family/friend).
My sister really likes to have a clean house, but I know it's hard for her with a husband and baby. So I know when she wakes up and see's that it's all cleaned up, she'll be happy! So I just started thinking...what do other people do? I know I'm not the only person who does nice things for others. So I was wondering, what are some things you guys have done? What's the last 'act of kindness' that you've done for someone (stranger or family/friend).
I think I answered the thread question before. But just in case:
I reckon you could probably find some sort of round about way for everything in which it benefits yourself. The examples given are adequate, giving a homeless person money may satisfy your conscience and make you feel less guilty, we get the idea. But I think this demeans both the act and the human being. Just because it is one effect, does NOT mean that was the reason to do it. Did I give the homeless person I met a while ago, that ?10 note because I wanted to feel good, or because I believe that I have a social responsibility? For my own egotistical fulfilment or because I genuinely wanted to help?
I think that this idea that there is no such thing as a selfless act is ridiculous and serves only to justify the corrupt greed of heartless people. Millions upon millions of selfless acts are carried out everyday.
I could pick on several things. I could say one act of kindness was giving my voice in support of the British Airways strike, in solidarity with my comrades in the UNITE union. Or maybe the money i'm saving to visit one of my friends in Glasgow, who is dying. Or perhaps the verbal and emotional support I gave my best friend a few nights ago, when she felt a bit upset and I helped to cheer her up. Though you could hypothetically argue that this was because I want to sleep with her. But I would assert that what was on my mind at the time was comforting a friend, who's very important to me.
I reckon you could probably find some sort of round about way for everything in which it benefits yourself. The examples given are adequate, giving a homeless person money may satisfy your conscience and make you feel less guilty, we get the idea. But I think this demeans both the act and the human being. Just because it is one effect, does NOT mean that was the reason to do it. Did I give the homeless person I met a while ago, that ?10 note because I wanted to feel good, or because I believe that I have a social responsibility? For my own egotistical fulfilment or because I genuinely wanted to help?
I think that this idea that there is no such thing as a selfless act is ridiculous and serves only to justify the corrupt greed of heartless people. Millions upon millions of selfless acts are carried out everyday.
I could pick on several things. I could say one act of kindness was giving my voice in support of the British Airways strike, in solidarity with my comrades in the UNITE union. Or maybe the money i'm saving to visit one of my friends in Glasgow, who is dying. Or perhaps the verbal and emotional support I gave my best friend a few nights ago, when she felt a bit upset and I helped to cheer her up. Though you could hypothetically argue that this was because I want to sleep with her. But I would assert that what was on my mind at the time was comforting a friend, who's very important to me.
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