RE: Selfless Giving
October 1, 2017 at 12:08 pm
(This post was last modified: October 1, 2017 at 12:09 pm by The Grand Nudger.)
(October 1, 2017 at 11:29 am)Bahana Wrote: I'm wondering what you all think about the idealized notion that people should just give and not expect anything in return. An argument can be made that true selfless giving doesn't exist because it makes people feel better about themselves to do something for others and that becomes the reward. In the past, if I said to someone that I'll do this for you if you agree to do this for me, some people did not like it. I think Win-Win deals are better than Win-Lose deals. It's better than covertly expecting something in return.
I'm a big fan of the notion...but I can second the claim that giving makes me feel good. I don't worry about expectations of return. I leave all of that for business. If I tell someone I'll do or give this, in exchange for that...I'm working out a transaction.
In the end, I don't think it matters whether or not giving is selfless. If I dump a box truck worth of mixed veg to a food bank from time to time, and feel good about it, nothing about the act or consequence of that charity is modified. If I get a tax break for it (and I often do), then it's a bonus...and the food bank still gets the food.
If I -wouldn't- dump the excess production -unless- I got the tax break..well, that's not giving in any sense but a legal one, more a transaction. A sale at reduced price through a third party.
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