--- Doug Pensinger <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> Dan Minette wrote:
>
> >>Our culture glorifies heroism, does it not? It's been ingrained upon us
> >>from the time we are small children that to sacrifice one's own short
> >>term self interest for the good of a larger group - especially helpless
> >>individuals - is a good thing and will generally be rewarded.
> >
> >
> > You are seriously arguing that "I'm going to be on TV if this looks good,
> > so I'll risk death" is a more likely motive than "My God, those people
> will
> > die if I don't do something, I better act." I know, Gautam risked his
> > life to save another...do you want to ask him if it was a bid for glory?
> >
>
> Read what I wrote, Dan. It is ingrained upon us by our culture that
> saving others is a good thing. If I were a goat or a chicken, sensed
> danger and saw a way out (and none of my offspring were threatened), I'd
> bag ass because nothing in my upbringing taught me that I should help
> the other chickens, or that it was a good thing. Indeed, many humans
> (most?) fall back upon these instincts when their life is threatened.
>
> Why does he say "My God, those people will die if I don't do something,
> I better act."? Would the stories he's been told from youth about the
> good guy saving lives - the television shows, the movies, the real life
> stories on the news at least be a factor? We're taught, hell, _trained_
> that to be the hero is the right thing to do and has its rewards.
I disagree. I think that most are tought in real life (and on TV) to "simply
mind their own buisness". Most people are far too scared in such situations
to do anything but flee. It is the oposite, One thinks about the aftermath,
but it is the fact that they are cool headed enough in the situation, that
they know, they will not be able to live with themselves later if they do not
act.
The only way that your model works is if the individual allways thinks of
nothing but themseleves and what ~benifit~ they can achieve. You are focusing
on reward and not on punishment. You also need to think of what ~detriment~
one might have for non action.
=====
_________________________________________________
Jan William Coffey
_________________________________________________
__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
SBC Yahoo! DSL - Now only $29.95 per month!
http://sbc.yahoo.com
_______________________________________________
http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
