Is anyone ever rewarded for doing good?
  • Cazb0tCazb0t October 2011
    Posts: 1,439
    I used to live an almost completely private life, with no intrusion of any kind. I was free from the influence of others and able to develop my mind into the tool I needed it to be. However, there was the call of my peers, from within my soul, as if etched into our being was the need to communicate and love and wander. So I thought that I had been mistaken, and there was no good in solitude and stillness, and I left my self in search of others. In every place I looked, there was the stain of human hatred and suffering.

    I would not accept that this is an immutable property of our world, so in every interaction with others, I would try to bring a drop of happiness or awe or wonder to dilute the pain they feel from their misfortunes. With every attempt, I have been struck down by our world. I offer a
    smiling face and an open hand, and I am met with cynicism and
    selfishness. Is it not the proper path to wish greatness upon our race?
    Then why is the road so long and full of woe? Has any person ever
    succeeded from being selfless and kind? Or is wrong to think of others
    when we can live a relaxing and privileged life by furthering our own
    selves?
  • creedcreed October 2011
    Posts: 2,201
    Keep trying, focus your efforts on those that will use your help, disregard those that don't, consider that helping others is a never-ending effort so be calm with having no concrete victories, consider every exchange a victory, smile more

    Helping others is way more fun than helping yourself, yourself is easy, you know yourself
  • BlazeBlaze October 2011
    Posts: 3,232
    People are much nicer the further you get from the east coast.
  • The+Cheshire+CatThe Cheshire Cat October 2011
    Posts: 3,693
    Helping others, as well as anything else, is its own reward. I believe everything we do is completely selfish in origin. 
  • creedcreed October 2011
    Posts: 2,201
    The Cheshire Cat said:

    Helping others, as well as anything else, is its own reward. I believe everything we do is completely selfish in origin. 



    I agree, though I agree with friends who have different opinions based solely on how stringently they define "selfish"
  • Eterna1Eterna1 October 2011
    Posts: 2,562
    Every attempt? Sounds like horrible luck. Or perhaps its something to do with people perceiving a noble affectation in your friendship. Or maybe your post here is an affectation for the purpose comforting yourself from all the horrible luck you've had. Need some elaboration so I can make up my mind :) 

    From my experience, people usually receive genuine friendliness positively. To different degrees, of course, and not everyone does; but the people who take to my style of pep end up being the people who become my friends. 
  • hfswjyrhfswjyr October 2011
    Posts: 3,317
    Helping others is its own reward
  • LemonLemon October 2011
    Posts: 3,002
    Upon seeing the thread title I was guessing either Cat or Shoshone had posted this.
    SO CLOSE!
  • TheMightyPeonTheMightyPeon October 2011
    Posts: 5,753
    when doing some work of charity, don't expect anything in return. that's what gives me satisfaction. i did it for no one's praise.
  • RanksRanks October 2011
    Posts: 524
    From the first paragraph is just sounds like you want close friends. From my experience finding good friends is a long and time-consuming process, so don't be disheartened if your initial interactions with people don't meet your expectations. Continue being kind, learn to appreciate it without needing another person's validation, and at some point your kindness will click with someone.
  • Bryce October 2011
    Posts: 3,522
    I find fewer people all the time that live up to the standard of friendship I developed in my childhood and adolescence. Additionally, I find that the time and spaces in my life are more fractured and separated. I am a very friendly person, and always looking for new friends, but in the last 6 months I've made only one friend and a dozen friendly colleagues and acquaintances. Where are you meeting these people who disappoint you so badly, cazbot?
  • 3+Ball+Wonder3 Ball Wonder October 2011
    Posts: 3,266
    tl;dr

    actually, started too but it sounded like artsy fartsy crap.
  • fusi0nfusi0n October 2011
    Posts: 1,765
    Rewards exist for doing good but the biggest reward is not paying the consequences for doing bad.

    Doing bad provides much, much greater rewards if you look at it from a selfish perspective, but you may have to deal with potentially negative consequences of your actions.

    Alternatively, remaining neutral allows you to coast through life with everyone generally having a decent opinion of you but without relying on you for anything or asking for favors.  This is me.  I am the France of the social world.
  • Eterna1Eterna1 October 2011
    Posts: 2,562
    Doesn't having friends and relationships make remaining neutral is impossible?
  • fusi0nfusi0n October 2011
    Posts: 1,765
    My social habits are extremely complicated.
  • TheMightyPeonTheMightyPeon October 2011
    Posts: 5,753
    France was never neutral. unless you mean you're gay and that's why you're like France.
  • The+Dunwich+HorrorThe Dunwich Horror October 2011
    Posts: 6,863
    Swiss.  Horde that Nazi gold.
  • hfswjyrhfswjyr October 2011
    Posts: 3,317
    France is quite radical I think.
  • Eterna1Eterna1 October 2011
    Posts: 2,562
    Sarkozy's right wing in a wacky sort of way. Sometimes he seems to be sort of a lefty but not really. 
  • shoshoneshoshone October 2011
    Posts: 1,279
    Switzerland is mad neutral.

    Anyways, I think not going through the consequences of of negative actions (stealing, cheating etc) are in a sense the reward of not doing them in the first place. I think a lot of people have a false sense of entitlement. Life isn't fair and you have to agree with it and take the actions necessary in order to see get the results you want.
  • fusi0nfusi0n October 2011
    Posts: 1,765
    Switzerland it is then.
  • LemonLemon October 2011
    Posts: 3,002
    3 Ball Wonder said:

    tl;dr

    actually, started to but it sounded like artsy fartsy crap.



  • TheMightyPeonTheMightyPeon October 2011
    Posts: 5,753
    fusi0n said:

    Switzerland it is then.



    they're pretty gay too.
  • fusi0nfusi0n October 2011
    Posts: 1,765
    Says the Canadian
  • TheMightyPeonTheMightyPeon October 2011
    Posts: 5,753
    oh be nithe.
  • LemonLemon October 2011
    Posts: 3,002
    TheMightyPeon said:

    oh be nithe.




  • 3+Ball+Wonder3 Ball Wonder October 2011
    Posts: 3,266
    I be a gentlemen on ma dates ALL the time, why at end of date girl not be ladies?
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