Thread: ... and the Pursuit of Happiness

Originally Posted by jockeys

maybe that's only because people are conditioned (usually) to feel guilty when they are selfish. I, for one, have abandoned the conditioning of my younger years and have discovered the joys of good old fashioned selfish hedonism, and will never turn back. Spent most of my formative years doing a lot of charity work and such, 'cause I was told it would make me happy, but it never really did. Selfishness (minus the imposed guilt) has worked out a lot better for me.

Guess I agree with Jimbo here. Everyone's got their own thing, different people find happiness different ways. xman, if you find helping others makes you happy, that's awesome, but it's a little shortsighted to think there aren't exceptions to that rule, scientific studies notwithstanding.

You selfish bastard...no wonder we tend to get along

I like helping others, simply because I'm a giving sort of person. However, if I'm not happy, I likely will not go out of my way to help others. This isn't to say that I would ignore someone in dire need (car crash, etc), but I'm not going to go help out at the soup kitchen either. I promise that I feel fantastic after I've bought myself something nice

Originally Posted by Quick Orange

I promise that I feel fantastic after I've bought myself something nice

most folks underestimate the importance and emotional-healthiness of occasionally being good to yourself. it makes all the difference.

Originally Posted by JMS

Sounds rather Christian to me X! Better be careful or you might turn into one of us "bitter clingers"!

Are you suggesting that being good to others is somehow monopolized by those who have sworn some allegiance to Jesus Christ?

Originally Posted by JMS

Sounds rather Christian to me X! Better be careful or you might turn into one of us "bitter clingers"!

"To practice five things under all circumstances constitutes perfect virtue; these five are gravity, generosity of soul, sincerity, earnestness, and kindness."

-Confucius (551 BC - 479 BC)


If I remember correctly, BC means "before Christ". Christianity has no more claim to originating morality and kindness towards others than do the Chinese.

Eh, let's maybe not bring religion into this (Mark!) as we all know I'd have to get involved and bring up the Egyptian god Horus (aka Jesus)...

But yeah, Russel brings up a great point.

Don't let's get our nickers in a knot. Mark and I have a relationship and he's just poking a bit of fun at me. I KNOW it wasn't meant in earnest and he knows I don't take it that way. Nobody else should either. ... But yeah, we shouldn't beat that mythical horse anyhow.

X

Originally Posted by xman

Don't let's get our nickers in a knot. Mark and I have a relationship and he's just poking a bit of fun at me. I KNOW it wasn't meant in earnest and he knows I don't take it that way. Nobody else should either. ... But yeah, we shouldn't beat that mythical horse anyhow.

X

And I was just about to set them straight X! You took all my fun away!

Originally Posted by JMS

And I was just about to set them straight X! You took all my fun away!

The pleasure was all mine.

Originally Posted by xman

The pleasure was all mine.

I thought it might be!