Selfishness

[DrFaroohk]

It's occurred to me that I'm the most selfish person I know. It sucks. I even work really hard to be unselfish, and I try to be as giving as I possibly can most of the time....but that's just so I can feel better about myself.

[Cats]

One thing in life I have come to realize is that it's okay to be a little selfish. I mean, we'd all be lying if we didn't say we worried about our own needs first (if you don't take care of yourself, not not really equipped to help anyone else, are you?).

I think you're putting yourself down a little too much though. You say you work to try not to be selfish, and that's more than some people can say of themselves.

[Boozy]

Anyone who acknowledges their own inherent selfishness (which is a fact of human nature) and consciously tries to do better is most certainly NOT the most selfish person they know. Really selfish people don't think twice about it.

[DrFaroohk]

Yeah but that's just it. I am SO self-serving that literally every action of the day is all about me. No matter what I do. In fact even writing in this thread is just a way of acknowledging my selfishness so I can feel like I'm not one of those really selfish people and I feel better about mself.

It never ends!

[Slytovhand]

Yeah but that's just it. I am SO self-serving that literally every action of the day is all about me. No matter what I do. In fact even writing in this thread is just a way of acknowledging my selfishness so I can feel like I'm not one of those really selfish people and I feel better about mself.

It never ends!

LOL!!! Well, I thought it was funny....

Anyway - Psychological Egoism vs Ethical Egoism.

For the first, a person can only do what is in their own perceived best interests. The second is a stance that a person should only do what is perceived to be in their own best interests... even 'altruism' is a form of egoism... it makes the person feel better, or justifies their existence, their opinions etc...

(btw - I'm of the psychological egoism line of thought).

[blas87]

I must say, I agree with Boozy 100%. A real selfish person would never admit that there was anything wrong with the way they are.

[Flyndaran]

To pose the different view... while everyone may be patting themselves on the back for complimenting others, isn't it all a little insulting to automatically say that someone is wrong about how they view themselves?
Shouldn't he know himself better than some strangers on the net?

Personally I may believe that those trying to better themselves are unlikely to be the worst people, but I would try not to voice it so quickly and fervently.

[Wingates_Hellsing]

I don't see why anyone should wait to voice relatively well thought out, simple, and generally factual or logical opinions.

I think what most people are saying boils down to is:

Selfish compared to who?

Selfish compared to Ghandi = probably yes.

Selfish compared to Sadam = probably not.

If admitting one's own nature is the first step to conquering it, you're one step further than most, keep it up!

(I too despise myself for the selfish decisions I make and actively try to do giving things to compensate, or at least to my extremely self-critical, introvert, insecure thoughts that is the only reason even though I like to think of myself as giving...)