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Comment by ChrisClark | Hacker News Reader

And this is exactly what's wrong with the US right now. No one cares to help anyone else.

Even in healthcare! "I have my money, if they die it's because they chose to be poor."

Chris, I understand what you are saying. Of course we care to help other people. Collectively, the US might be seen as "selfish" but I think at a certain point, you have to understand you do not want to harm yourself just to help someone else. I really feel for people who will go to great lengths to help others, even if it reduces the quality of their own life just because it's the "right thing to do"

My mother-in-law is like this. She would let a convicted murderer that was down on their luck move in with her because "everyone deserves a roof over their head"

Again, I GET IT. But do you understand why some may have these selfish viewpoints?

> but I think at a certain point, you have to understand you do not want to harm yourself just to help someone else.

What's special about the US among highly developed nations is that we've convinced ourselves that most of us would be harmed, when it's likely that only a very well-off minority would be harmed (where "harmed" means "be slight less well-off, but still well off").

You're making it completely about monetary value. I'm talking about people taking time away from their own families, going to extreme lengths just to help another human being. That's crazy to me.

That's crazy to me too, but it is also so rare that it is irrelevant to questions about societal resource distribution.

>Again, I GET IT. But do you understand why some may have these selfish viewpoints?

A complete lack of empathy for fellow people

Cue the violins.

>Again, I GET IT. But do you understand why some may have these selfish viewpoints?

Psychopathy.

Sound analysis from one sentence.

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