Its every man for himself in this world

grahamg said:
My father used to tell all his family: "Its every man for himself in this world?"



Do you agree?
Click to expand...


Of course. You are in competition from the day you are born.

You have to prove yourself in order to survive. Overcome all kinds of diseases that invade you.

You have to struggle to get an education. You are in a competition to graduate.

You have to struggle to get a job. You are in competition with others trying for the same job.

You have to struggle in sports. Winning isn't everything. It's the only thing.

No one is ever, ever, come to you and say "You are a nice guy". "Here's some money".
 
That is a very male, egocentric, archaic way of thinking that has fouled up this world. It may serve a sperm for getting to the egg first, and work for creatures in the wild. But humans, with our higher thinking ability and moral standards, are capable of realizing that together we can achieve more greatness. This world could really be a place of peace and prosperity for all. Let's evolve to the next level.
 

Meanderer said:
What the hell is Archaid?
Click to expand...

I'm guessing Archaic

And yes in the end it is every man for himself. Society does come together to accomplish many wonderful things. However society is very judgmental and extremely fickle.

It would be a fool that would relinquish his independence in exchange for the imagined security of society.
 
The first law of nature is self preservation.

Every man for himself, and the devil take the hindmost!

Two men were walking through the woods when a large bear walked out into the clearing not more than fifty feet from them. The first man dropped his backpack and dug out a pair of running shoes. Then, as the bear slowly approached them, he furiously attempted to lace them up. The second man, somewhat confused, looked at the first man and said, "Whaddya doing? Running shoes ain’t gonna help! You can't outrun that there bear!" "I don't need to outrun the bear, buddy," said the first man, "I just need to outrun you."
 
No. I give and receive help every day. I don't live in a post apocalypse time and I don't need to fight to survive. If that time comes I'll rethink my answer.
 
The concept of every man for himself "in this world" not entirely true. Or at least not true for more primitive cultures dependent on others for survival.


For many tribal peoples, continuous immersion in nature over thousands of years has resulted in a profound attunement to the subtle cues of the natural world.


Acute observations have taught tribes how to hunt wild game and gather roots and berries, how to sense changes in climate, predict movements of ice sheets, the return of migrating geese and the flowering seasons of fruit trees.


Sophisticated hunting, tracking, husbandry and navigation techniques have also been the ingenious responses of tribal peoples to the challenges of varied, and often hostile, environments.


The development of such observations and skills is not only testament to the latent creativity of humans and their extraordinary ability to adapt, but has also ensured that when living on their lands, employing the techniques THEY have honed over generations, tribal PEOPLES are typically healthy, self-sufficient and happy.


https://www.survivalinternational.org/galleries/ingenious


I put caps on THEY & PEOPLES because that flies in the face of every man for himself.
 
Camper6 said:
Of course. You are in competition from the day you are born.

You have to prove yourself in order to survive. Overcome all kinds of diseases that invade you.

You have to struggle to get an education. You are in a competition to graduate.

You have to struggle to get a job. You are in competition with others trying for the same job.

You have to struggle in sports. Winning isn't everything. It's the only thing.

No one is ever, ever, come to you and say "You are a nice guy". "Here's some money".
Click to expand...


I think you have encapsulated my father's meaning very well, and of course as advice to one's children to be self reliant as much as possible is good advice isn't it.

There is an additional element to it maybe, which probably fitted in with my mother's way of thinking more than my father's, and that is you should never really trust what someone tells you. I know that sounds paranoid, but a lot of very wise men and women do subscribe to the view they don't "believe anything they're told and only half they see!" :D
 
......and of course as advice to one's children to be self reliant as much as possible is good advice isn't it.......

Some of the posters took the OP meaning to be very cynical. If indeed, the meaning is that one must go through life pushing themselves to be self-reliant, I fully agree. I think some posters took this advice as meaning that one might have to 'run over' other people to 'get yours'.
I have believed, for a long time, that very few people really push themselves to accomplish much of anything in their life. In short, few people seem to go through life doing much of anything to advance their health, education, or general welfare and end up in poor health, uninformed, and poor finances. If one goes through their life realizing it's their responsibility to handle their business, and not count on the government to handle it for them, they can be successful.
 
I totally disagree with the premise of the first post. I have never had to stand alone against the world for my survival. My survival depends on other people at every level. My response is to be concerned for the welfare of others and to live co-operatively within my society. As for strength, we should aim to be strong but not selfish. The strong have an obligation to lend strength to the weak when they need it.
 
Warrigal said:
I totally disagree with the premise of the first post. I have never had to stand alone against the world for my survival. My survival depends on other people at every level. My response is to be concerned for the welfare of others and to live co-operatively within my society. As for strength, we should aim to be strong but not selfish. The strong have an obligation to lend strength to the weak when they need it.
Click to expand...

Sure but you are female. Males have different philosophies.
 
I believe that in most cases you can do both but only if you have taken care or yourself first.

oxygen%2Bmask.jpg
 
Warrigal said:
I totally disagree with the premise of the first post. I have never had to stand alone against the world for my survival. My survival depends on other people at every level. My response is to be concerned for the welfare of others and to live co-operatively within my society. As for strength, we should aim to be strong but not selfish. The strong have an obligation to lend strength to the weak when they need it.
Click to expand...


Very pleased to have stimulated your interest by the provocative OP (as intended).

I used to argue with my mother as to whether life was about "love" or life was essentially about "survival".

I used to think she was wrong, but find myself now moving towards her position and view of life. She was not the one who told us "Its every man for himself in this world", and she did try to stress we kids should all be good and well mannered etc., and learn to cooperate with everyone if possible.
 
We wouldn't have accomplished the things that we have as a civilization if not for the sacrifices of people who put others before themselves and accomplished great things by doing so.
 
Mmmmmm - good point

chic said:
We wouldn't have accomplished the things that we have as a civilization if not for the sacrifices of people who put others before themselves and accomplished great things by doing so.
Click to expand...



Hmmmm, that's a good point, and I'll have to try to fit my father's advice to his children around the fact that throughout millennia mankind has collaborated and put huge efforts into goals you wouldn't have thought demonstrated our unique individuality, or the imperative for self reliance (or whatever it was my father was trying to get across?).
 
grahamg said:
Hmmmm, that's a good point, and I'll have to try to fit my father's advice to his children around the fact that throughout millennia mankind has collaborated and put huge efforts into goals you wouldn't have thought demonstrated our unique individuality, or the imperative for self reliance (or whatever it was my father was trying to get across?).
Click to expand...

It's not easy to face, but there's also the possibility that your father wasn't the genius you seem to have believed. One of the things that happens when we grow up is that we allow ourselves these realizations. He may have been asking you to be less dependent on him so his life was easier. If that's what he expected or wanted, he should have remained childless.
 

You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top