Are People Doing The Best they can?

[SearchingforPeace]

Ok, do you believe that, in general, people are doing the best they can or doing far less than they can?

 

[Forever]

I would say it wouldn't matter what we should be thinking of others, expectations leads to frustration and disappointment.

 

[/DG/]

What does it mean to be doing the best that one can? I'm sure even the most productive members of society are not productive all the time when technically they could still be productive.

There are some classes in school that I worked on a lot, but I didn't really do that for the ones I didn't like as much. Technically I could have worked harder with them, though you tend to get burnt out with things. Would I EVER say that I am doing "the best that I can?" No. I always could have worked harder or done more.

So if you mean this in a supremely literal sense, then no. Absolutely not. Maybe monks and such are the closest to this concept.

In a more broad sense, though? I would say that many are doing the best that they can, but a portion are not.

 

[á´…eparted]

I am inclined to say yes, simply because saying no implies systemic laziness, which is not the case.

Humans by their nature will look for short cuts and cut corners when they can. Often times this is a benefit to the individual (other effects notwithstanding), however cutting corners sort of goes counter to trying their best. Doing your best all the time is impossible, and most know that trying to do so can over the long term result in lowered productivity.

I suppose the way I look at it, people try their best because they strive to move forward to the best they can. Is that objectively their best? No, but subjectively it is.

 

[Cellmold]

The best within a series of causal chances and circumstances maybe.

I know I'm not, expectations or not because I have the power to change it but I'm not taking it and I'm not sure i want to make the sacrifices needed. Plus being a volatile wreck at the best of times.

 

[Thalassa]

It really depends on the individual. I think you have to be raised with that value. I know a fat fuck with a PhD who never even voted in the primary, who isn't even registered to vote in California, and it's not because he's so busy being a PhD. I think it's more likely because he feels entitled that his life's work is behind him, so now he can sit around, smoke weed, drink beer, weigh 300 pounds, not vote and watch episodes of South Park...because he went to grad school. I see entirely too much of this shit in America, people who voluntarily waste space as middle class white lazy obese apathetic slobs, because they have degrees. My African American roommate mentions this often, how education can't buy intelligence.

But what it can't really buy are values. If the only values you had in life were to be able to brag about degrees, own a condo and a Honda, and then you could sleep in silence for the rest of your life, then no matter how educated you are, you've never been taught to value anything beyond selfish bourgeois complacency.

It really makes me angry. Like, the world is burning down and people are playing Pokémon Go.

It's weird because a lot of these people are the ones who call people at low income jobs who have public assistance "lazy. " It's kind of like, no, actually you're the person who is lazy you pathetic piece of entitled shit.

This election year has brought out both the best and worst of my character. I'm at once amazed at the bravery, sacrifice and compassion of some, and of the absolutely oblivious self absorption of others.

So ...it really depends on what a person's values are. Doing your real best is a value.

 

[Yama]

It really makes me angry. Like, the world is burning down and people are playing Pokémon Go.

Yes, how dare people find enjoyment in anything and have some harmless fun instead of spending 100% of their time focused on politics. I hate that shit.

 

[Thalassa]

Yes, how dare people find enjoyment in anything and have some harmless fun instead of spending 100% of their time focused on politics. I hate that shit.

People are dying in the street. We are dealing with major environmental issues, police brutality, massive homelessness...all you have to do is pick just one, even if you aren't equipped to address everything, be a political delegate, or volunteer for everything...pick one and do it.

The Pokémon Go craze is absolutely inappropriate to what is happening in our nation at this time, unless you are under eighteen. There's nothing wrong with having hobbies, I like music and books, and I've never attacked gamers, per se, but yeah this whole bullshit is disgusting three weeks before the Democratic convention and in the middle of all the violence, and trying to shoot down TPP, and one of the most bizarre elections in history happening in November.

There's nothing wrong with having fun. There's something wrong with large groups of fully grown adults obsessing over a corporate child's toy to the exclusion of real engagement in human society.

In fact a lot of African Americans, poor students and working class whites are about to march across the country with pitch forks, so if you're so concerned with having fun, I'm sure you won't mind when the zombie apocalypse feeds on your useless corpses.

My cousin posted the most hilarious meme from Silence of the Lambs, about Pokémon being in the basement, and she's not even a Bernie supporter or BLM activist.

Be very afraid. Be useful to society or be overthrown.

 

[Bush]

Best for themselves, for their families, for society,...?

 

[SearchingforPeace]

Best for themselves, for their families, for society,...?

Just "best they can"

 

[prplchknz]

I dunno why do you care?

it's so easy to look at someone and decide they aren't doing their best how do you know?

 

[cascadeco]

I think all in all, probably yes. Given what it must be like to be in X persons' brain, having their conscience and perceptions, they are probably doing what they are able to do. I don't think most people deliberately sabotage their life or do less than they think they can; they're locked in their own mind after all. (Doesn't mean person Y won't look at X and not get it or think X is not living up to their 'potential', and so on. Also, it could mean X has the perceptions that make him an asshole, but he's not going to in the blink of an eye realize he's an asshole or even think anything is wrong with what or why he does what he does)

 

[Showbread]

I am inclined to say yes, simply because saying no implies systemic laziness, which is not the case.

Humans by their nature will look for short cuts and cut corners when they can. Often times this is a benefit to the individual (other effects notwithstanding), however cutting corners sort of goes counter to trying their best. Doing your best all the time is impossible, and most know that trying to do so can over the long term result in lowered productivity.

I suppose the way I look at it, people try their best because they strive to move forward to the best they can. Is that objectively their best? No, but subjectively it is.

See, I am inclined to say no. And I would also distinguish between laziness and apathy/lack of motivation. Because if we say for the most part they are always "doing their best" what do we call it when they eventually do better?

 

[Grand Admiral Crunch]

Yes, people do the best they can. Limitations in knowledge, mental faculties, resources, time and energy are reasons why people don't do better.

 

[Siúil a Rúin]

When I look at individuals I assume they are doing the best they can.
When I look at humanity it sure looks like people are doing far less than they can.

On some level this is unknowable. This is something of a topic on my mind lately when looking at people from all economic levels and the question of entitlement. I think the more entitled a person feels, then perhaps the less likely they are doing the best they can. Although I can think of specific examples that calls that into question as well. I think I'm doing the best I can.

I think all in all, probably yes. Given what it must be like to be in X persons' brain, having their conscience and perceptions, they are probably doing what they are able to do. I don't think most people deliberately sabotage their life or do less than they think they can; they're locked in their own mind after all. (Doesn't mean person Y won't look at X and not get it or think X is not living up to their 'potential', and so on. Also, it could mean X has the perceptions that make him an asshole, but he's not going to in the blink of an eye realize he's an asshole or even think anything is wrong with what or why he does what he does)

Great post. Even when people function below their potential, it is often because their self-concept was damaged during their development. The complexity of each person's psychology makes this a difficult question. Perhaps this also speaks to internal vs. external motivation. There are some people who expect others to motivate them, so perhaps they do less until that happens? I find it offensive when people intrude into others' personal space with the assumption they need to do better or be motivated or controlled by someone else. If some people actually need or like that interaction, then I'll leave it to others to intrude.

 

[Fidelia]

Motivation (want to), as well as belief in their ability and also the impediments that get in the way all influence whether people's optimum functioning level is achieved. No one really sets out to fail, but often they don't live up to their potential greatness for a variety of reasons.

What people believe about themselves and how much they want to work often are bigger indicators than natural ability or latent potential. I've been shocked to realize how much more people can accomplish than I believed they had the potential for when those two things are engaged and they know how to break it down into achievable steps.

 

[meowington]

I think people in general don't have their priorities straight (egocentrism, etc.) and are missing the big picture (which in my opinion, as objective as possible, is a species living on a sphere).
So my answer is "no". Interesting thread.

 

[SearchingforPeace]

Thanks everyone for your responses. I ran into this question last night reading Brené Brown's Rising Strong and thought I would throw it out.

She had a very bad experience giving a speech once and left very angry, angry enough that she scheduled an appointment with her therapist and angry enough to be angry for days. Her therapist pointed out that they were just doing the best that they could, given everything in their lives to that point.

This is a far different thing than living up to potential.

Anyway, she then started to research this and found that those who believe others are "doing the best that they can" are more wholeheated and generous than those that believe others are doing less than the best they can. Moreover, her research tied believing others are doing less than the best that they can is related to perfectionism.

The healthier and happier someone is the less judmental they are, per her research.

And finally, it refernces self-acceptance by noting that we ourselves are doing the best we can.....

She ties this all together as BIG--Boundaries, Integrity, and Generosity.

For her, even serial killers are really doing the best they can, which is why they should have no freedom......

If you haven't read her books, they are very accessible and powerful.....highly recommend them, but be prepared for some kicks to the backside....

 

[/DG/]

People are dying in the street. We are dealing with major environmental issues, police brutality, massive homelessness...all you have to do is pick just one, even if you aren't equipped to address everything, be a political delegate, or volunteer for everything...pick one and do it.

The Pokémon Go craze is absolutely inappropriate to what is happening in our nation at this time, unless you are under eighteen. There's nothing wrong with having hobbies, I like music and books, and I've never attacked gamers, per se, but yeah this whole bullshit is disgusting three weeks before the Democratic convention and in the middle of all the violence, and trying to shoot down TPP, and one of the most bizarre elections in history happening in November.

There's nothing wrong with having fun. There's something wrong with large groups of fully grown adults obsessing over a corporate child's toy to the exclusion of real engagement in human society.

In fact a lot of African Americans, poor students and working class whites are about to march across the country with pitch forks, so if you're so concerned with having fun, I'm sure you won't mind when the zombie apocalypse feeds on your useless corpses.

My cousin posted the most hilarious meme from Silence of the Lambs, about Pokémon being in the basement, and she's not even a Bernie supporter or BLM activist.

Be very afraid. Be useful to society or be overthrown.

Then why are you wasting your time posting to forums? What makes your leisure time actions "better" than playing phone games?

 

[EJCC]

People are dying in the street. We are dealing with major environmental issues, police brutality, massive homelessness...all you have to do is pick just one, even if you aren't equipped to address everything, be a political delegate, or volunteer for everything...pick one and do it.

The Pokémon Go craze is absolutely inappropriate to what is happening in our nation at this time, unless you are under eighteen. There's nothing wrong with having hobbies, I like music and books, and I've never attacked gamers, per se, but yeah this whole bullshit is disgusting three weeks before the Democratic convention and in the middle of all the violence, and trying to shoot down TPP, and one of the most bizarre elections in history happening in November.

There's nothing wrong with having fun. There's something wrong with large groups of fully grown adults obsessing over a corporate child's toy to the exclusion of real engagement in human society.

In fact a lot of African Americans, poor students and working class whites are about to march across the country with pitch forks, so if you're so concerned with having fun, I'm sure you won't mind when the zombie apocalypse feeds on your useless corpses.

My cousin posted the most hilarious meme from Silence of the Lambs, about Pokémon being in the basement, and she's not even a Bernie supporter or BLM activist.

Be very afraid. Be useful to society or be overthrown.

[MENTION=6877]Thalassa[/MENTION], as a progressive and an activist, you more than anyone should know the importance of self-care. In the words of Audre Lorde: "Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare."

As for judging the supposed hypocrisy of people's chosen hobbies:

Then why are you wasting your time posting to forums? What makes your leisure time actions "better" than playing phone games?

^ basically this.

Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.