I think SELFISHNESS is a quality. This is my ethical philosophy, if you got time to read it:
Everyone is familiar with ceremonial traditions, whatever they may be.
Here, when a member of our service that is well respected goes through some sort of crisis... usually someone within that service will arrange for some sort of fundraising for that person.
Now, nobody likes the collections bucket put out on payday. It's intrusive to the "donors", and insults the dignity of the "recipient."
So, we throw parties. Around here, they are drunken bashes that cause drama, but hey... they're fun, they're social, and money is raised at these events. One person even found a local clubowner that would shut down a very popular nightclub for him, give him the whole door fee and 1/2 the bartab. It was well promoted, and we had very tightest of security: the NYPD at a location on a restriction list for their officers to prevent "organized crime" (which used to be a big problem before Giuliani).
Now, let's say one member goes to every one of these events for years because he is completely UNSELFISH. He doesn't drink. And, by his UNSELFISH nature... he will pack his car with the drunkest people and drive them wherever they want to go before he goes home himself.
He admittedly enjoys it... so that is a SELFISH quality. He's no longer doing it for them altruistically, because he gets social fulfillment in return.
Now, let's say our friend one day has a crisis of his own.
He feels being unselfish is a good quality to have. So, he refuses to accept any collection for him. He wants no party in his honor.
He receives a good feeling when he aims to achieve UNSELFISHNESS.
But he fails to realize, that he is being rather SELFISH:
- to the people that enjoy socializing at these gatherings, which includes himself.
- to whoever is burdened by his crisis. If not him or his family, the charity of his choice.
So, in fact.... our UNSELFISH friend ends up achieving extreme SELFISHNESS.
Everyone is familiar with ceremonial traditions, whatever they may be.
Here, when a member of our service that is well respected goes through some sort of crisis... usually someone within that service will arrange for some sort of fundraising for that person.
Now, nobody likes the collections bucket put out on payday. It's intrusive to the "donors", and insults the dignity of the "recipient."
So, we throw parties. Around here, they are drunken bashes that cause drama, but hey... they're fun, they're social, and money is raised at these events. One person even found a local clubowner that would shut down a very popular nightclub for him, give him the whole door fee and 1/2 the bartab. It was well promoted, and we had very tightest of security: the NYPD at a location on a restriction list for their officers to prevent "organized crime" (which used to be a big problem before Giuliani).
Now, let's say one member goes to every one of these events for years because he is completely UNSELFISH. He doesn't drink. And, by his UNSELFISH nature... he will pack his car with the drunkest people and drive them wherever they want to go before he goes home himself.
He admittedly enjoys it... so that is a SELFISH quality. He's no longer doing it for them altruistically, because he gets social fulfillment in return.
Now, let's say our friend one day has a crisis of his own.
He feels being unselfish is a good quality to have. So, he refuses to accept any collection for him. He wants no party in his honor.
He receives a good feeling when he aims to achieve UNSELFISHNESS.
But he fails to realize, that he is being rather SELFISH:
- to the people that enjoy socializing at these gatherings, which includes himself.
- to whoever is burdened by his crisis. If not him or his family, the charity of his choice.
So, in fact.... our UNSELFISH friend ends up achieving extreme SELFISHNESS.
