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It's quite annoying to see emotion tied in with altruism, for they are largely orthogonal concerns. Emotion only leads to altruistic behavior in a small set of

It's quite annoying to see emotion tied in with altruism, for they are largely orthogonal concerns. Emotion only leads to altruistic behavior in a small set of circumstances that we have been programmed to react to. And just following your emotions often makes things worse, so if you care about helping people it should be avoided. Being an unemotional altruistic, one who does it for rational reasons, it more reliable and scalable.

hutzlibu 8y ago
"And just following your emotions often makes things worse, so if you care about helping people it should be avoided." Sources or arguments? Because I see things different. If I don't feel like helping, I don't. I made the experience if I force myself to it, it often leads to a worse outcome. (Like breaking things) Fun fact: Hitler felt that Antisemitism is wrong, but at some point he choose his rational over his feelings and became what he became. Because his rational reasons were that the jews were clearly poison to the good aryan people so to help them, he had to fight the enemy. ("literally stated somewhere in Mein Kampf") ... but feelings and emotions and rational and instinct and intuition often gets mixed up and I doubt you clearly seperate it.
- akvadrako 8y ago
  I don't understand your personal story - if your helping is likely to break things, then it's not rational to keep doing it. Charities are a good example - lots of people donate to charities to feel good, regardless of the effectiveness of that donation. Most of that money is wasted, for example on fundraising. What sense does it make to donate to charities that spend more on fundraising? But if your goal is altruistic, instead of selfish, you should donate to charities that give the best results.
  - hutzlibu 8y ago
    "I don't understand your personal story - if your helping is likely to break things, then it's not rational to keep doing it." Yes you did not understand. The keywords were "feeling like it". Meaning I only help if I feel like it - then it is effective. Otherwise not. Very simple.
    - akvadrako 8y ago
      So you just aren't altruistic then. As I said, they are orthogonal concerns.

hutzlibu 8y ago

"And just following your emotions often makes things worse, so if you care about helping people it should be avoided." Sources or arguments? Because I see things different. If I don't feel like helping, I don't. I made the experience if I force myself to it, it often leads to a worse outcome. (Like breaking things) Fun fact: Hitler felt that Antisemitism is wrong, but at some point he choose his rational over his feelings and became what he became. Because his rational reasons were that the jews were clearly poison to the good aryan people so to help them, he had to fight the enemy. ("literally stated somewhere in Mein Kampf") ... but feelings and emotions and rational and instinct and intuition often gets mixed up and I doubt you clearly seperate it.

akvadrako 8y ago
I don't understand your personal story - if your helping is likely to break things, then it's not rational to keep doing it. Charities are a good example - lots of people donate to charities to feel good, regardless of the effectiveness of that donation. Most of that money is wasted, for example on fundraising. What sense does it make to donate to charities that spend more on fundraising? But if your goal is altruistic, instead of selfish, you should donate to charities that give the best results.
- hutzlibu 8y ago
  "I don't understand your personal story - if your helping is likely to break things, then it's not rational to keep doing it." Yes you did not understand. The keywords were "feeling like it". Meaning I only help if I feel like it - then it is effective. Otherwise not. Very simple.
  - akvadrako 8y ago
    So you just aren't altruistic then. As I said, they are orthogonal concerns.