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

1. STUBBORN x FLEXIBLE
2. ETHICS ARE VIA NEGATIVA
3. OBEDIENCE & DISCIPLINE
4. The Motive of Criticism
5. Ethics are Social
6. Anti Role Models
7. What is Greed?
8. On Having the Courage to Make Your Own Decisions
9. How *NOT* to Get Duped or Suckered
10. Why Help Others?
11. The Duty of the Strong
12. Why I’m So Intolerant Towards Intolerance
13. The Ethics of Criticizing Others
14. Consult Your Own Conscience
15. The Ethics of Shit Talking
16. The Ethics of Personal Enrichment
17. I’m Easily Distracted
18. On Forming Your Own Opinion
19. ERIC KIM Philosophy of Tolerance
20. Tolerance
21. Aesthetics are Ethics
22. Morality and Ethics