I tend to agree for the most part. Why do i eat, the fear that if i don't i might starve. Or... just hungry, but why? Because our body is telling us if we do not eat, we will feel pain. As we fear pain, most of us do, which is why we shy away from it for the most part. Why go to work, why go to the bathroom, why do this or that? Most of it is based on fear of what might happen if we either do, or don't do something.
But what about doing something out of love, compassion or empathy? Does that even exist? What we think we do out of empathy, is it because we genuinely feel empathetic? Nothing but love and compassion? Or do we do it because we empathize with the fear that is being felt by the other, and try to ease the fear being felt by the person we are trying to help.
I like to think that when i help someone, i do it because it makes me feel good... rather than based on fear. The other day i was eating out at the pizza hut buffet with my girl, the people next to us were kinda worn down, southern type if you know what i mean. They all ate a shit ton of food and got a bunch of drink refills, as they left they didn't leave a tip, but a man came walking back and threw a dollar on the table. I thought to myself, what fucking assholes! For real? They are gonna leave that and just split? So i snatched out my wallet, grabbed a five out and set it on the table next to the the other bill. I don't think anyone saw me, and it doesn't matter either.
I like to think i did that out of the kindness in my heart and how it would make that girl feel when she went back to that table expecting next to nothing finding something quite enticing awaiting her... rather than the idea of doing it out of fear.
It's a great question, and awesome idea to think about, how we derive our behaviors and why we do what we do, when we do it.
Great post Brotes. Got me thinking.
---Greatest, i guess if you want to pm me a link to your awesome thread starter i'll check it out on my down time if you want.