In response to Cameron’s question, “Is it ok to be selfish on the path to your dreams if your dream is an altruistic one?”

First I want to say this is a great question…good play on words.

Before anyone can answer this question first they have to decide what selfishness is. To me selfishness is when you don’t consider others in your actions especially when these other people are near. But I also feel not everything you do in the absence of consideration for others is selfish. Many times our actions are performed with consideration of others just the consideration may be unconscious. Usually if you go back and think about something you did you can come up with a reason as to how or why it was considerate of others but then there are times when you can’t.

For example many times one of my family members including myself will be in the kitchen getting ourselves a drink and we don’t offer each other a drink even when they are right there. Or if we are pouring ourselves a drink and someone ask us if they can have some they reply with a no. This is a classic example for my brothers (note they are both younger) if they are pouring a drink or popping some popcorn and I ask if I can have some they always reply, “no, get it yourself, get your own, were not your slave, you have two legs” and on and on and on. Now these are examples of selfishness but I don’t believe they will affect the path way to our dreams and goals.

So to answer your question I guess it depends on the degree of selfishness and whether or not if the act just appeared selfish rather than actually being selfish. So I suppose yes to some degree I would agree it is ok to be a little selfish to achieve your altruistic goals and dreams.

Question:

What is your definition of selfishness….how does it affect what you consider to be a truly selfish act??

In response to Mariah’s question, “If beauty is really in the eye of the beholder, why do you think that people go to such extremities to modify themselves?”

I believe the main reason why so many go to such extremes to modify themselves into something that they think is beautiful is due to the pressure from the media and their social environment. No matter where you go there are always advertisements for the next new beauty treatment such as new make-up that’s actually good for your skin, new pimple treatments, anti-aging treatments, ways to straighten and whiten your teeth, etc. etc. etc. Even in the work environment there is pressure to be beautiful. Many times people who are viewed as more beautiful even if they are less qualified are hired over the person viewed as less beautiful. These pressures not only apply to women but also to men to be handsome. Hygiene and physical weight (which are both a part of appearance) are also big factors. You wouldn’t believe how many times  at my work comments have been made about other employees or customers such as, “it’s called a toothbrush and toothpaste”, “some water and soap would be nice”, “does so and so know how to use a brush with their hair?”, etc. etc. We have been taught through the media and for most of us our parents since the day we were born anyone who smells, is dirty, has crooked, dirty, smelling teeth (if they even still have teeth), dirty clothes or torn clothes, messy hair, etc. is gross and thus they are ugly.   

Question:

Although hygiene is very important do you think it is right to discriminate people in the workforce based on beauty instead of qualifications??

Theism, Agnostic, or Atheism….Who Cares?

We can all agree that theism is the belief that a God or Gods exist, atheism is the belief that any God or Gods are non-existent, and agnostic is somewhere in the middle. We established in class that being agnostic could mean that you might believe or you might not and/or you may not have a clue.

Personally I would say I am agnostic. I was raise as a Christian and thus to believe in a God. After some issues with the church (a long story I believe I already told) I no longer practice. Also thanks to science being a requirement in school I have come to believe in scientific reason; proof that you can actually see and touch. But occasionally I still talk or pray to God and sometimes I wonder whether or not I should start going to church again. The reason why I say I am agnostic is because I am really unsure and I really don’t care. I don’t understand how anyone can believe in a God when there is physical evidence as to how something’s happened. But then again I suppose I couldn’t believe in things like destiny and fate if it wasn’t for a God. So as you can see I am stuck in the middle but normally I don’t think about it and let it run my life; to me it’s not that important and it doesn’t really matter.

Question:

Why are we so worried about “fence riders”…is it really that important for them to choose a side?? Many times it is the fence riders that open us up to things that we normally wouldn’t see if we were completely on one side…the fence riders get to see it both ways….what is wrong with that??