Ask — will this benefit or harm me?
Contrary to popular belief, those with bad intentions are not the most harmful. In fact, those with good intentions are the most dangerous.
Why? We are easier to get suckered by them, and more likely to have them do harmful things to us (when in actuality they are trying to “help” us). Nassim Taleb calls them the “interventionalistas”— those who intervene with good intentions, and actually end up doing far more harm than good.
For example, an insane amount of bad was done during the Crusades, for “good”. I wonder also those who are also promoting GMO foods (to help end “world hunger”) are also doing 1000x worse than good.
Why are those with good intentions so dangerous?
Because we are more likely to listen and obey them, even though it may run contrary to our own instincts.
Thus when others offer “help”— don’t think about their intentions (whether good or bad). Rather think —
Will this benefit or harm me?
ERIC
ETHICS by KIM
Your Own Personal Code of Ethics
ETHICS by KIM
Your Own Personal Code of Ethics
- STUBBORN x FLEXIBLE
- ETHICS ARE VIA NEGATIVA
- OBEDIENCE & DISCIPLINE
- The Motive of Criticism
- Ethics are Social
- Anti Role Models
- What is Greed?
- On Having the Courage to Make Your Own Decisions
- How *NOT* to Get Duped or Suckered
- Why Help Others?
- The Duty of the Strong
- Why I’m So Intolerant Towards Intolerance
- The Ethics of Criticizing Others
- Consult Your Own Conscience
- The Ethics of Shit Talking
- The Ethics of Personal Enrichment
- I’m Easily Distracted
- On Forming Your Own Opinion
- ERIC KIM Philosophy of Tolerance
- Tolerance
- Aesthetics are Ethics
- Morality and Ethics