Microblog Memes

I always think of this scene from A Beautiful Mind when I think about people who can’t comprehend that being selfish can be more effective if you accommodate the needs of others:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJS7Igvk6ZM

Unfortunately, the scene hinges on the objectification of women. I’ve been searching for a less problematic example. But, I do kinda think this example might be effective with male selfish asshole.

I have never been able to find it but long ago I read an article in a magazine from AAA insurance about how driving should be a dance. I remember it being along the same line of thinking, but I’m not sure.

100% I’ve been saying this for such a long time. I believe the saying is “cutting of your nose to spite your face” or something.

People follow their emotions. It feels bad for a poor person to get a "handout", and it feels good for a "bad" for a bad person to be punished. That's pretty much it. Multiply it by "my in-group is good and my outgroup is bad", and you get conservatism.

Notice that it's a stupid world view. It's at the level of toddlers.

If we want to change how these people act, we need to reach them on their level. Facts won't do it. They're not listening to facts. You need to make them feel good when they do the right thing.

It does feel like being held hostage by a cranky toddler, yes. We have to pander and beg and appease them because they're too selfish and stupid to realize it would be better for everyone, including them, if they just cooperated.

The Tragedy of the Commons is very tragic and very common.

there is a spectrum of how much comfort are you willing to give up to help others (including your future self). some people are against to give up even slight comforts in order to make things better (like, people visceral reactions to some "meatless mondays" proposals. or people being unwilling to reduce on-street parking even when by any meaningful metric it improves the quality of life for everyone)

Others are willing to give much more, but most people still have limits (for example, being willing to die for a cause is much rarer than people who are willing to go to a peaceful protest)

I like this. Well said.

Fuck me that's a good way to put it.

Kind of tall poppy-ish isn't it? Even just acknowledging that good can be done can trigger some really hostile reactions from people.

Like I get it, we've been trained into it to manage the information density and society we find ourselves in, but surely you'd expect the human part to kick in at some point right?

This. Even Hitler liked his dog and I've never heard of him abusing his wife. There are for sure psychopaths (or was it sociopaths?) who genuinely don't care about literally anybody, but you don't need that condition to massmurder.

You're taught empathy by empathetic parents.

And we see now a lot of families have a long lineage of cunts.

Western capitalistic mantra idolizes individualism. Its so ingrained in the culture that you can actually not care about anyone outside of your ingroup and do okay. In other cultures you would be cooked.

Lack of empathy is a natural consequence of the culture. I always find it fascinating that people here relish in their disdain towards others. Don't get me wrong people can be annoying.

But when you combine disdain for others with a perception of patriotism that is centered on violence, you are creating the optimal conditions for fascism to take root.

It's simply a property you have or don't have. Obviously it's a more meaningful, deeper thing than being a bootstraps sociopath. But the thing is, if someone needs an actual reason to have empathy, then they just aren't truly a good person really.

The way I try to convince them, is by saying that empathy is the reason they are here, and have what they do. And that like others gave to them, they should give to others. It's like a retroactive deal, where the reason the whole thing works, is because you pay forward to the next generation, in hopes that they will do the same.

Then we got generations of bootstrap sociopaths that leave their own children in impossible situations. They don't care about right or wrong.

Golden rule is a good one to live by.

Run for office?

it’s actually pragmatically cheaper and more efficient to care for others than to treat them like shit.

Pandemic as an example : the more you stay indoors and try to stop the spread of the virus, the faster the pandemic ends and the faster YOU can get back to normal. FORGET that it also stops people dying and protects the vulnerable, it’s in YOUR SELFISH INTEREST.

Or having a basic system of social welfare : giving bread to a poor person costs the price of the bread. Having to imprison them, pay for cops, repair of broken things, investigations etc costs more fucking money. even if you hate people and want them to die, it’s fucking CHEAPER FOR YOU.

There is no war but the class war.

Would you stand up and speak up on someones behalf if injustice was done to them and they couldn't defend themselves?

I know it's a bit harsh and just a different interpretation but one could easily read your stance as "at least i don't actively hurt others, so dont shame me for not caring about them as long as it doesn't affect me"

Again a bit harsh i know but maybe worth thinking about 乁⁠(⁠ ⁠•⁠_⁠•⁠ ⁠)⁠ㄏ

Do you care if they're locked up or killed because of who they love, what they do with their bodies, or how and where they live their life?

That's the type of care we're talking about.