Thursday, August 28, 2014
I Disagree
In the piece This is Water by David Foster Wallace, he speaks an awful lot about not being self centered and to not make everything about ones self, when at that exact moment he is saying how life should be spent and that he has the answers to a happy life. In one paper he has become more cynical than helpful by any means. In his attempt to show that live are to be lived positively and with free will, he has told readers everywhere exactly how to live they lives. Although he is correct in saying that being self centered is socially unattractive, he does not note that no matter how unattractive it is, it happens to everyone. The mind is designed to take care of its "flesh and bones" and is set to self defense mode. If we were to live our lives constantly worrying about others and trying to make everyone else happy, how are we to be happy? He speaks of wanting to come home after a long day and unwind and sleep, yet says to be patient with others and ask how their day went. If I'm tired and i want to sleep, I feel like I would be doing my friends a favor by just taking a nap and not forcing them to deal with my sleep deprived being. All in all, the point being how can you truly be selfless if you have no self worth. Although being self centered is frowned upon, everyone has been found guilty of it at one point or another and I feel that it is necessary to take care of yourself and your needs first before you can fully invest yourself in the needs of others.
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When I read both articles I didn’t see it in your perspective, but after reading your blog my perspective on Wallace’s article has changed. I have come to an agreement with you, because I hadn’t realize that when I go out of my way to help others there are people that wouldn’t do the same for me. I’ve realized that being a little selfish isn’t a bad thing, especially when you are trying to get through the day. Others have a more helpful hand but those are the same people that have much more time on their hands. Some of us have to sacrifice more then others so with that being said we should all take care of our own priorities.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading your blog I do agree that you shouldn’t constantly have to worry about others, but I disagree with taking care of your needs first before other’s needs. In the speech it says you need to think about what other people are going through too. Sometimes our needs are way smaller than other people’s needs, so we should help them before we help ourselves. In your blog you also say, “we can’t live our lives always trying to make everyone else happy” and “how are we to be happy?” but I feel like helping other people’s needs make us happy inside knowing that we caused that persons happiness.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you and not David Foster Wallace. I found his view of how we as humans function and of reality to be overly cynical. The importance to which he puts on not being self centered isn’t accurate. It seems as though, and I’m sorry if this is too harsh, that he has his own problems that he has to deal with. He might be too self centered but I’ve found that yes, while we will focus heavily of our own survival and well being, we also take into consideration the well being of others naturally and on a daily basis. I also agree with your point about sustaining yourself before you can truly take care of the needs of others. In the example that Wallace gives, (of being really fed up at the grocery store) I would take that situation to understand that I am not doing well and I should focus on getting to a state of normalcy again. I think that there is only a certain degree to which one can be altruistic. For example, my mom cares so deeply about others that she will sacrifice her very own well being in order to help those in needs. Only when one is at such a place that they themselves are not in need of assistance can one benefit society. You shouldn’t have to help others at the expense of your own well being. Wallace raises some nice issues but, like you, I ultimately think that he is mistaken.
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