Signals Question of the Day -16

[Signals]

Would you say generosity is driven more by self-interest or obligation??

 

[Hostile]

It depends on the person and the donation.

 

[big dog cowboy]

When a law enforcement agency calls seeking a financial donation to further their cause my generosity is driven by self interest. Last week someone from the sheriff's department called trying to raise money for MADD so I donated.

A few days ago I shoveled my neighbor's driveway after a 5" snow. She has been a widow for 2 years now and isn't able to do something that physical so I make sure she is taken care of. In cases like that, I feel obligated to help.

 

[jubal]

When a law enforcement agency calls seeking a financial donation to further their cause my generosity is driven by self interest. Last week someone from the sheriff's department called trying to raise money for MADD so I donated.

A few days ago I shoveled my neighbor's driveway after a 5" snow. She has been a widow for 2 years now and isn't able to do something that physical so I make sure she is taken care of. In cases like that, I feel obligated to help.

Good answer,thats the way I feel also !

 

[Faerluna]

Seems to be an equal mix of both.

Obligation to help those in need, most animals and sometimes people, because they need it.

Self-interest because if I can help, but don't, it makes me feel terrible.

 

[YosemiteSam]

It's a moral obligation that makes me feel better after doing so. That makes it both.

Of course, I don't hand cash or other items / services to just anyone. I'm more likely to help someone that isn't asking for help rather than someone who calls / comes up to me and ask for it.

 

[Kangaroo]

I never really think about nor do I care to think about why.

 

[Teren_Kanan]

Self interest is the only answer. It's factual. Even if the answer is "Obligation" it's really still self interest at it's core.

 

[SaltwaterServr]

Would you say generosity is driven more by self-interest or obligation??

If I pick up the tab at Papadeaux's for two returning soldiers from Afghanistan, leave before they can thank me, it qualifies for neither.

 

[Teren_Kanan]

If I pick up the tab at Papadeaux's for two returning soldiers from Afghanistan, leave before they can thank me, it qualifies for neither.

Still self interest at it's core. Unless you were really pissed off about doing it.

 

[Kangaroo]

Still self interest at it's core. Unless you were really pissed off about doing it.

I disagree because some times I get no benefit at all. I do not care if I get a thank you, I do not always get pleasure out of something like that and since I do not believe in a check box religion I do not get a benefit there.

 

[Teren_Kanan]

I disagree because some times I get no benefit at all. I do not care if I get a thank you, I do not always get pleasure out of something like that and since I do not believe in a check box religion I do not get a benefit there.

I don't really have the words to explain it correctly, but I could dig up articles about it. Even if it just does something as simple as making you feel better about yourself, it's self interest, even if that's not the reason you would describe for doing it. I used the word "core* for this reason. It's somewhat semantics because it's not really the context in which the OP was referring to.

We simply don't do things that hold no self interest for us. We just don't. You might think feeding the poor is a good thing to do, and you might gain nothing from it, perhaps even lose something doing it, but it's still serving your own self interests.