Comment by Sean Wookie (sean-wookie) on Is Altruism Selfish? · 2020-05-08T05:52:09.913Z · LW · GW

Perspective, can change the way you try to define a word or action. Perspectives can change based on many things, such as maturity, experience, a long thought process (months, or even years), and circumstances, to list just a few of the infinite possibilities.

A man walking down the street pauses to put some money in a cup of a man who appears to be panhandling. Many people view this event at the same time, but with different perspectives.

One thinks "that's nice, but I wish I had enough to share as well"

Another thinks "sucker! he's just a lazy bum!"

Another thinks "is that helping, or not? I'm not sure"

Another thinks "I see he doesn't just preach kindness, his actions speak louder than his words"

Another thinks "he's an addict and you are just enabling him! you are NOT Helping!"

Another thinks "I can't afford to donate, but I'm going to anyways, I remember when I was on the street...."

I have always had the inclination to give a person the shirt off my back, as the expression goes. I think most of my family, on both sides, grew up that way. But I have also had to learn that to take care of others, you must take care of yourself first. I think I could see and understand all of the perspectives above, as I have lived life and experienced many things, including being homeless twice, and working so much I got employee of the year and made $6,000/month for a few years.

We are capable of mentally or emotionally understanding many perspectives, but they have much more meaning, and clarity, when you have lived through each of them. I thought I knew what the expression "the gift is in the giving" meant when I was younger, but I did not truly understand for many years.

I had helped someone, and someone asked why, when we both thought this person might be just taking advantage of that help, and I explained that it was the right thing to do no matter what, which is a reflection of who I am, and part of my inner peace, AND that the act may have helped someone else, even if we were not aware of it. It was then that it clicked with me, and I felt I truly understood, and I no longer wondered about the people who thought I might be giving to make myself feel better.

The words about my experiences shared above are for you. But even if they do not help you, maybe they will help someone else?

Safe Travels!