Pay it forward.

[Alvito]

I thought I would share an odd, but happy run in my mother had today at the grocery store. So my mom was at Fry's in Tucson today getting groceries and as she was about to pay a lady came up and asked the cashier if she could pay for it. The total was just under 120 dollars, while not a huge sum of money, but more then most want to just give away. It seems this nameless lady does things like this from time to time after she gets her groceries. While this is a nice story the odd part is she asked my mother if she wanted cash back also. Which still makes me laugh to think about. So the lady paid for everything and left with a sometimes you just want to do nice things for other people statement as she walked away.

Far too often on the forums here or in life in general we are hammered with bad news and negativity. So I wanted to share some kindness that was extended to my family and hope that it inspires some or renews a little faith in others. If nothing else find a way to be kind to others and share stories of others kind acts and courtesy when you witness them. Enjoy your week mmo champs.

[I Push Buttons]

I paid for a guy to print some papers at a library once...

[May90]

Once in a grocery store my credit card turned out to be locked for some reason. The guy standing behind me paid $25 for me, saying, "I just feel like helping people today". I think this event changed my life; I didn't care for charity much before that, but now helping people is one of the things making me feel the best.

World definitely needs more people like that guy and the lady from your story!

[Mistame]

I paid for a guy to print some papers at a library once...

At a nickle per sheet, that's some serious business.

[Deleted]

Sounds like socialism to me.

[May90]

At a nickle per sheet, that's some serious business.

What if it was 100,000 sheets?

[Elegiac]

Sounds like socialism to me.

That's typically the preferred economic model for small groups of humans, oddly enough.

[Mistame]

What if it was 100,000 sheets?

Um, it would be serious business?

[Deleted]

That's typically the preferred economic model for small groups of humans, oddly enough.

Wonder why so many people hate and despise that economic model, then? Ignorance? Stupidity? Greed? Selfishness? Or do they have a point?

[PACOX]

One time I let my GF eat the last bite of my sandwich, does that count?

[Nefarious Tea]

That's typically the preferred economic model for small groups of humans, oddly enough.

Capitalism is only espoused by those already on top.

Or those brainwashed by them.

[Hooked]

I don't like people paying for me, I don't like to owe people.

[TrumpIsPresident]

Far too often on the forums here or in life in general we are hammered with bad news and negativity.

I come here specifically for the negativity.

But "pay it forward" means to take a kindness visited upon you by being kind to another.

Have you paid this forward yet?

[Captain N]

Wonder why so many people hate and despise that economic model, then? Ignorance? Stupidity? Greed? Selfishness? Or do they have a point?

Ignorance sounds good. Just using the Universal Healthcare thread as a reference. People would rather pay $1000/month family policies all on their own than paying an extra $200/month on their taxes. But as long as them poor people don't get any handouts they're happy.

[Elegiac]

Wonder why so many people hate and despise that economic model, then? Ignorance? Stupidity? Greed? Selfishness? Or do they have a point?

I'M GLAD YOU ASKED.

It has a lot to do with the concept of debt; we think of 'debt' as a bad thing but really, debt is the social glue if you think of it in the sense of obligation. When humans are in small groups (up to about several hundred) where everyone can know everyone else, the enforcement of debt is fairly simple because a fairly to reciprocate an obligation comes with an attendant loss of social standing.

Once groups become larger than that, however, debt becomes increasingly faceless and requires more coercive means of enforcement than the idea of social standing. It's significantly easier to exploit someone you've never seen and likely never will; faceless masses, for instance.

[Ratboy]

Um, it would be serious business?

About $6000.00 would be some serious business for me.

[May90]

Capitalism is only espoused by those already on top.

Or those brainwashed by them.

Socialism is only espoused by those already on bottom.

Or those brainwashed by them.

---

These two arguments are equally wrong.

[Simulacrum]

I always feel like being charitable in the same way whenever I see someone who seems like they have problems with money... but I've also always decided against it since I feel like it'd seem creepy for some random guy to offer to pay for their shit for no apparent reason, and because I sure don't want to have to entertain the social niceties they might feel compelled to engage me with should I decide to do something charitable for them.

World definitely needs more people like that guy and the lady from your story!

Interestingly though, unconditional charity can only exist within an environment where the overwhelming majority of people don't engage in it, since charity is only sustainable when reciprocity is both expected and the failure to reciprocate is heavily punished. Otherwise, free riders will simply outcompete all the charitable people, wiping out the behaviour... and probably causing lots of other negative outcomes as well.

[Piglord]

I once paid for some dog food this lady was trying to purchase, but her card was declined. I got called a pervert. I didn't actually do it to be nice. I did it to because I was in a hurry and didn't want to wait another 15 minutes while she "ran out to her car and get some cash."

[techgeek]

Wonder why so many people hate and despise that economic model, then? Ignorance? Stupidity? Greed? Selfishness? Or do they have a point?

For myself personally, it's because I risked almost everything in my life from my financial future to my family and everything between. Some of those risks eventually rewarded me with a business that I may either work as much (or little) as I want to.

I was very aware that my bills per month were X and a 40 hour work week left little (imo) after bills. I genuinely could not stand the idea that other people had nice things that I could not have because I could not afford them. I concluded that for myself personally to see a change at a rapid pace (without expecting handouts) that I had to work exceptionally hard for what many would consider insane hours. It started HORRIBLY, I thought that work would just appear out of nowhere, that it would always be predictable, and that I would be able to work on my own terms/hours.

I am absolutely not exaggerating when I say I have cried my fucking heart out several times over my work and the hours I put in. Blood, sweat, and tears were all repeatedly part of what (eventually) brought me success. I'm into general contracting (now) and sheet metal/hvac work primarily, but, we're finally starting to get to the point where we can fill supply contracts for things like private/government tenders.

The reason I don't agree with socialism is because I've put in efforts and risked family relationships that most people literally would not dare to dream of. I am fine with paying tax, I am fine with supporting others but when you start to take it to the degree of socialism... I'm out. Give me my god damn guaranteed income because I'm done working this hard.