The Higher Cause meme

[Jasper]

On Judaism:

I smell threadjack.

I have a hunch that most of the people who actually did change the world for the better, did this out of indulgence - out of curiosity, out of keen interest, out of compassion.

That checks out, in a sense.  Tesla didn't change the world forever because he was a hero paladin of some sort, he changed it because he was smarter than anyone else at the time, and refused to stop researching the thing he loved most.  The fact that he set the groundwork for almost all of our technology today was just the byproduct of his passions.  There are a lot of people like that.

I guess that is what really changed the way I look at what I want out of my life, is my children.  Now do I want THEM to change the world, OH HELL YES.  Will I be disappointed if they don't?  Nope.

Something I've noticed about people and their kids is that they almost never share the same vision for how to bring about change. 

[Verbal Mike]

That checks out, in a sense.  Tesla didn't change the world forever because he was a hero paladin of some sort, he changed it because he was smarter than anyone else at the time, and refused to stop researching the thing he loved most.  The fact that he set the groundwork for almost all of our technology today was just the byproduct of his passions.  There are a lot of people like that.

Excellent example. I also think this is true of well over 99% of all Great Artists, from poets to painters to writers to whatnot.

[BootyBay]

I don't think most people have such high expectations on our behavior.  It would be awesome if higher ideals permeated into everyday living (beyond the noble expectation that you just do (almost) whatever you want - which is a negative freedom), for they inspire us, but that just doesn't happen in a system driven by the "free market."  It seems almost every facet of society is based on the assumption that $ is the most efficient means of compensation/motivation.  For instance, G.W. Bush said he would encourage green energy through market incentives.  I don't entirely agree with this method of inspiration, but I can't entirely disagree, either.  It would get some expected results, but is ultimately flawed because its fundamental assumption that money is the only means of motivating ultimately yields all kinds of unwanted side-effects (manipulation of ledgers and other numbers to further their interests instead of what the incentives were originally created for is one of them).
If I were in charge of the system, I would make the ideal of human prosperity (as yet undefined in an exact sense) valued over fiscal prosperity, but I'm told that will never happen for reasons that sound unfamiliar to me.

[Verbal Mike]

You guys (BB and Peregrin, so far) keep confusing the cheese with the cake. It's not about the actual ideals. It's about the guilt complex associated with them. Verily, most people in the Western World today don't actually have a very developed moral code or ideal for themselves or for mankind. But a vast majority feels very, very guilty, deep down, for not being more moral.
It's illogical, thus practically unshakable.

[BootyBay]

Lol.  Whoops.  I guess I should've kept the second paragraph in mind when I wrote that.

[Raphaella]

Burnstoupee Posted this link in the random links thread, but I think it may have some relevance here. http://www.gapingvoid.com/Moveable_Type/archives/000932.html
I particularly liked the idea of ignoring everyone. When you latch on to something that you enjoy, or are very fond of it may indeed go over better of you just keep your blinders on and keep plucking away on it. Perfecting it over time and eventually reaping the rewards for your efforts, or not, but that is not really the point is it?

Insofar as morals, or the lack there of and the guilt associated with that I would say that the first step in outlining said morals would be the feeling of guilt associated with the lack of them.

When we grow up in this world we are bombarded with images of how special we all are and how each and every one of us will some how become immortal, famous, rock stars, writers, we are told that if we just buy this book, listen to this lecture, don these shoes, that our success is a given. 

When we come to realize that somehow it never worked out for us, here at X years old surrounded by our books, our crap, our decaying ideas, yes you can bet your ass it's depressing. We can look back and say, "I should be important by now!" or "What the fuck happened? I went through all the proper channels and look at what I have accomplished... nothing."

You have become one who goes to work, comes home, eats dinner, goes to bed and occasionally goes out on the weekends. Dose this mean you are somehow inferior, that you do not matter to those who depend on you for sustenance, guidance, like your children? No. Each of us dose have a particular destiny to discover, something important to accomplish, whether it shall be earth shattering in proportion, or if it's only that you have successfully completed embryogenesis it is still an accomplishment.

If we are ever feeling guilty or sulky about our failure to better mankind, then perhaps we should do something on the micro level. Something small to jumpstart the process, plop a quarter into a donation box or better yet, sprinkle the sidewalk with all the coins in your pockets. Don't over think it just go about it like Cram was saying in the Meme bomb thread, like a monkey at a typewriter. Perhaps it won't elevate the guilt, or even make you realize that the guilt itself is unnecessary, but it will help others to find more quarters on the sidewalk.     

[Bu🤠ns]

what's funny, my dad actually sent me that link, heh.  i think i may have said this before (i think it was at eb&jelly, though),  in light of everyone wanting to do something extordinary it seems that now the most extordinary thing to do is be ordinary.  i work at a print shop... in short, i make copies.  most of what i do is copy things for mr. corporate executive.  the 'damn the man' attitude driven person would be absolutley miserable at this job. although i really enjoy what i do.  i was having a conversation with a fellow coworker and we were talking about how some customers tend to be total dicks and how he felt that he was wasting away doing this job day after day.  i mentioned that he should try looking deeply into what he really does.  fathers, mothers...humans....come into my work and have things printed so they can sustain their lives. the presentations i do (for the most part) are done so that people can survive. (i.e. maintain their jobs in order to get those greenish security papers to feed themselves and others etc.)  to throw a moral righteousness into the job is only going to necessitate a feeling of guilt. i don't need that added stress.  so i work to make sure that i do what i do with carefulness and mindfulness.  what happens is i achieve many, many little successes and occasionally failures. the lack of an objective keeps me focused in the momentary work i'm doing.  so perhaps an effective way of using the higher power meme is to use it to within practical circumstances rather than a grandiose objective.

[ñͤͣ̄ͦ̌̑͗͊͛͂͗ ̸̨̨̣̺̼̣̜͙͈͕̮̊̈́̈͂͛̽͊ͭ̓͆ͅé ̰̓̓́ͯ́́͞]

You guys (BB and Peregrin, so far) keep confusing the cheese with the cake. It's not about the actual ideals. It's about the guilt complex associated with them. Verily, most people in the Western World today don't actually have a very developed moral code or ideal for themselves or for mankind. But a vast majority feels very, very guilty, deep down, for not being more moral.
It's illogical, thus practically unshakable.

Evidence pls.

[Verbal Mike]

No, that was just my opinion based on observation. Not scientific fact or even scientific Theory, no siree.

[PeregrineBF]

Oh, I understand the point, just saying that there is a reason for some of that stuff. Not that the reason doesn't get distorted and forgotten, and I think that's part of why people feel bad. They have RULES to follow, and no reason to follow them. So they break the RULES and feel bad for doing something wrong. Jewish dietary law doesn't make sense with USDA/FDA approved stuff, but it makes a ton of sense if you live in Mexico.

As for not having a moral code, see the murder of Kitty Genovese.

[Verbal Mike]

What about it? You mean the thirty-odd people who watched and did nothing?

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

Fuck a higher cause. I just like to laugh.

[P3nT4gR4m]

In my experience the ones with the loftiest causes tend to provide the biggest lulz.

I'm just here for the ride - rest of the world can take care of itself

[Jasper]

Fuck a higher cause. I just like to laugh.

For the lulz was inevitably going to be mentioned, wasn't it?

[BootyBay]

No, that was just my opinion based on observation. Not scientific fact or even scientific Theory, no siree.

I'm sure with enough grant money it could become a scientific theory.