kpmarine
Well-Known Member
Kindness does breed kindness, it's crazy how it works.
How do you become a better person, and why should you?
- Thread starter Padawanbater2
- Start date
Zaehet Strife
Well-Known Member
Was on my way to wallmart today to return a 16qt 70 dollar pressure cooker i used, on the way i saw a guy walking along the road, stopped and asked if he needed a ride, dude said "sure man" which usually doesn't happen, but i was overjoyed lol! Had a nice convo with him as i drove him the rest of the way to work at burgerking.
I had a few cars backed up behind me when i did it. Hopefully, it sends a good message. Hopefully, if someone does do that, the person they pick up isn't a serial killer lol.
Either way, i did something nice for someone, and it felt awesome.
I had a few cars backed up behind me when i did it. Hopefully, it sends a good message. Hopefully, if someone does do that, the person they pick up isn't a serial killer lol.
Either way, i did something nice for someone, and it felt awesome.
Padawanbater2
Well-Known Member
Good job
But as with that previous example, that dude ripping everyone off and me being forever hesitant to ever donate to something like that again (not about the money, it's about the breach of trust), in the same way I'm hesitant to pick random people up, for a few reasons.. If it's a girl, I'm automatically a creepy pervert for offering a stranger a ride, the person could (probably won't, but you still take the risk) harm you or rob you. I saw this big fat guy limping as he was walking across the intersection the other day and thought about stopping and offering him a ride but didn't. Weird, I actually felt a bit of guilt for not stopping and battling the mix of thoughts and emotions. It was hot as fuck outside too..
Padawanbater2
Well-Known Member
Holy shit, check this out;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zell_Kravinsky#Kidney_Donation
Zell Kravinsky is an American investor, poet, and utilitarian who is known for making a non-directed kidney donation to a stranger and for donating over forty-five million dollars of his personal wealth to charity.
After Kravinsky learned that many African-Americans have difficulty obtaining kidneys from family members, he sought out a hospital in Philadelphia that would allow him to donate one of his kidneys to a lower-income black person.
According to Peter Singer, writing in The New York Times, Kravinsky justified the donation mathematically when speaking to Singer's students, noting that the chances of dying as a result of the procedure would have been about 1 in 4,000. Kravinsky believed that, under the circumstances, "to withhold a kidney from someone who would otherwise die means valuing one’s own life at 4,000 times that of a stranger", a ratio he termed "obscene."
What a fuckin' guy!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zell_Kravinsky#Kidney_Donation
Zell Kravinsky is an American investor, poet, and utilitarian who is known for making a non-directed kidney donation to a stranger and for donating over forty-five million dollars of his personal wealth to charity.
After Kravinsky learned that many African-Americans have difficulty obtaining kidneys from family members, he sought out a hospital in Philadelphia that would allow him to donate one of his kidneys to a lower-income black person.
According to Peter Singer, writing in The New York Times, Kravinsky justified the donation mathematically when speaking to Singer's students, noting that the chances of dying as a result of the procedure would have been about 1 in 4,000. Kravinsky believed that, under the circumstances, "to withhold a kidney from someone who would otherwise die means valuing one’s own life at 4,000 times that of a stranger", a ratio he termed "obscene."
What a fuckin' guy!
tyler.durden
Well-Known Member
That was cool, Z, but be careful. I heard about a guy in Michigan lately that gave someone a ride as you did. They found his body in a bathtub filled with milk and a banana stuffed in his mouth. The cops think it was the work of a cereal killer. Sorry, my boy told me that one and I thought it was cute...
hotrodharley
Well-Known Member
Just try being the person your dog thinks you are.
kpmarine
Well-Known Member
To be more direct with what I was getting at before; fuck what other people think! That is the key to being who you want to be. You can't let how the world will perceive you be a block. You just have to enjoy being the person who does what is right for it's own sake. There is a strange degree of honor that comes with being "that weird guy who help the hitchhikers" .
Not to say it's entirely selfless, it's not like I don't get a fuzzy feeling helping people. Maybe that's why I do it, I genuinely enjoy making my environment a better place. No matter how you break it down, giving your last $5 to someone on the street is always more satisfying than spending it on yourself. Overall, helping someone is generally trivial when you compare it to the time spent on this forum by most; why not go out of your way here and there.
That is not to say I won't actually stand up for what I believe is right to avoid offending others. Honestly I have to say this thread has actually made me think about why I'm a "nice guy", but I haven't come up with a better answer than "It makes me happy.". To me there seems to be some merit to just trying to be a good person.
Not to say it's entirely selfless, it's not like I don't get a fuzzy feeling helping people. Maybe that's why I do it, I genuinely enjoy making my environment a better place. No matter how you break it down, giving your last $5 to someone on the street is always more satisfying than spending it on yourself. Overall, helping someone is generally trivial when you compare it to the time spent on this forum by most; why not go out of your way here and there.
That is not to say I won't actually stand up for what I believe is right to avoid offending others. Honestly I have to say this thread has actually made me think about why I'm a "nice guy", but I haven't come up with a better answer than "It makes me happy.". To me there seems to be some merit to just trying to be a good person.
Padawanbater2
Well-Known Member
Good post.
Honest question, does it matter what the person you gave your $5 to spends it on?
kpmarine
Well-Known Member
I accept the fact that it may be crack or a sandwich. If you know it is crack, don't make it a trend though. From the more personal standpoint, no; as far as I am concerned, I helped someone in need. There's no reason to be directly concerned, you didn't give them the money with the intent of them buying crack (Or at least, that's what I assume). You do have to keep an eye on who you help and how you help them though. Some people need different kinds of help.
Padawanbater2
Well-Known Member
Great answer, you're a good dude, K.
kpmarine
Well-Known Member
I can be a raging ass like anyone else. I don't know if I'd call me "good", but I'm trying.
Padawanbater2
Well-Known Member
kpmarine
Well-Known Member
In the end, all you have is your legacy. When you're buried six feet under, the only way to live beyond that is by making a difference. It's a bit selfish admittedly, but I wouldn't mind being known as the guy that always did what he thought was right.
Padawanbater2
Well-Known Member
That's the mentality of a person who has been truly enlightened. The world needs more people like you.
kpmarine
Well-Known Member
No, the world needs more people to inspire me to better my life. Feel free to take up the challenge.
Padawanbater2
Well-Known Member
Do you have any examples of such people?No, the world needs more people to inspire me to better my life. Feel free to take up the challenge.
kpmarine
Well-Known Member
I'm sure I could think of many by name, though they would be personal to me and meaningless to you. No offense meant, I just doubt you know most of the average folks I have met. Anyone who has more patience than me, more time to help, and more forgiveness. I'm a grudge-holding sumbitch.
Zaehet Strife
Well-Known Member
I would so much rather be remembered by what means the most to each individual person who i interacted with in my life.
kpmarine
Well-Known Member
I'd like to be remembered in a way that makes people want to make the world a better place. Not just "Oh, he was a good guy.", or something so generic. If that makes any sense.
eye exaggerate
Well-Known Member
...I think we become better people by being attentive and observing our own actions. Feels good to stop looking at other people like they are the ones that are fckd up. We're all fckd up, to each his own degree. When that inner observation really exposes a lot of bs we have still kicking around inside, it can be painful. But, after a while you've changed some things about you that needed changing / the world is a better place because you did your part.
Now, keep that going for the rest of your natural life
Not always easy.
Actually, I think this is one of my reasons for 'believing'. I know that the universe is further than I can reach (in a tangible sense), so (my) reason says stay within arms length, reach in and explore that universe. It's just me I guess, and obviously takes no stab at the more scientific minded.
Now, keep that going for the rest of your natural life
Not always easy.Actually, I think this is one of my reasons for 'believing'. I know that the universe is further than I can reach (in a tangible sense), so (my) reason says stay within arms length, reach in and explore that universe. It's just me I guess, and obviously takes no stab at the more scientific minded.