for some people yes, in general I’d have to say no.
Not for me… That’s selfishness. To me, at least.
unless you’re scrooge, no.
not at all
Not always. Depends on who is the number one.
i think it helps people get up the ladder in society. but if you are wishing for true friendships then no it’s the opposite.
nope.
No
No,it usually ends up making people discontent even when they have the things they thought that they wanted.
as a christian
not at all
You gotta look out for yourself… otherwise, who will?
Doesn’t mean you have to overlook everyone else, though.
According to the world… absolutely! It’s the basis for evolution, really. Ask great thinkers like Steven Covey, though, and you’ll get an entirely different response.
As a Christian, I’d have to admit that “living your life for #1″ means living it for God. First commandment and all.
Of course, you look out for yourself and then you can help others………God gave us the ability to care for ourselves.
If you don’t like being around people sure.
depends on the situation. in this society we are self-interested maximizers therefore it is our nature on one hand to look out for number 1 but on the other hand we are told to be aware of others. so it depends on the situation.
Pragmatically, if implemented carefully and with discretion, it can help. However, I think it won’t help one find contentment.
Btw, I’m treating it as if “looking out for number one” means not really looking out for number 2 and following unless it serves number 1.
It might work, but I don’t imagine that its very satisfying.
No. The phrases “Christ first” or “family first” applies, but really when it comes down to it, if I see someone has a need and I can do anything about it, then I usually try.
I think that most people are delusional. Yes it works. It’s a sad fact of life, but if you have your sights on heavenly rewards then it’s probably not the way to go. “For what doth it profit a man..” and all. You know?
yeah. step on their heads to get to the top if you have to. fags.
It always comes back to bite you.
Never. It might at first but it will bite you back in the end.
Not in general — and not according to Plato!!
Sorry, just finished my Intro to Greek Philosophy final … wrote my essay on his Ideal City. I’ll go back to being a nerd now.
No.
“You gotta look out for yourself… otherwise, who will?
Doesn’t mean you have to overlook everyone else, though.”
i think ive only ever met one person in my 30 years that wouldnt toss me off a cliff if it would be in their best interests. my philosophy, trust no one, look out for yourself, and if at all possible help others along the way.
I think everyone does this and doesn’t even realize it, so yes it is an approach to life.
Depends on who you consider to be number 1
i think it depends a lot on what you’re doing in life… it wouldnt work for me, but i know some people that use it as a policy all the time for school. when im racing and its an important race, ill admit that i do that- but so does everyone else on the course so its more about survival than anything else
well Christ is no.1 in my life. and he doesn’t need me to look out for him by any means. life is about servant-hood so if you’re referring to only looking out for yourself and your interest then no. that would be wrong and not good at all.
No (at least not for me). There are too many people out there who DO live that way, so I never trust anyone 100%…
Yes!
A fly was trying to get to the top of a tree but just couldn’t make it. A grass hopper points out a pile of dung to him: and says “The bull that craped this lastnight is the strongest of his heard. If you eat this you’ll be strong enough to get to the top of that tree.”
The fly eats till his gut just about bursts then takes off right to the top of the tree.
When he gets up there he’s so heavy that the leaf he lands on snaps and he falls back to the ground splatering on a rock.
Moral of the story: Bullshit might get you to the top. But it wont keep you there!
Sure, if you want material things instead of true friends.Thing is, when you look out for the best interest of others, you end up helping yourself. You have friends that will do anything for you when you have a problem. The simple golden rule in the Bible is always best. “Do unto other’s as you would have them do unto you” You know what the Bible says about those who are first…in other words those who MAKE themselves first, will be last. I pretty much always let myself get shafted before I let someone else if there is anything I can do about it!
let me guess, you got this from the verizon commercial. and yeah, i’d say it doesn’t work.
I’m starting to think that it’s the most intelligent way to live. Ignore yourself, think only of others and all you get is completely taken advantage of. You always have to remember to take care of yourself, because no one else will.
“Sure, if you want material things instead of true friends.Thing is, when you look out for the best interest of others, you end up helping yourself. You have friends that will do anything for you when you have a problem”
thats close to the biggest crock i have ever heard. when you look out only for the best interests of others they will only keep you around till their needs/wants are met. the instant they think you need/want something from them, well, hope you like collecting knives cause your back will look like a pin cushion.
sure, but a lonely one.
no
no
Ionekoa: it seems you have really been betrayed by friends. True friends will help each other, not stab each other in the back.
ionekoa Well, yeah, look what they did to Christ.I’d say I’m in pretty good company. I’ll take to back stabs thank you. At least I’ll know I did what was right by others and by Christ’s standards. So bring on the knives!
it depends on who or what one considers to be “number one”. If we see the people around us as number one, then it works just fine.
Nope.
Well, unless your #1 is someone else, say your spouse. Then I suppose it could. Your question was undefined.
I’ve learned the hard way you can’t rely on anyone else to do it for you, and if you don’t then it doesn’t happen.
In a perfect world, we’d all look out for each other and not need to be so dog-eat-dog but until then it is a necessary approach.
no. not at all. i’ve been on both sides of this though and neither approach has seemed to work. it’s all about how you look at things and what you truly value and who you can trust. personally, i dont trust anyone. I’ve just got me and God.
Yes and no. Success kinda depends on a delicate balance between doing what’s best for you alone, and doing what’s best for the group/community in which you live or work.
It depends on who your number one is.
No! Unless you’re stranded all alone on some deserted island or something. If you’re always looking out for yourself, others will see you as selfish and narcissistic. You may find success or that you can get material things by looking out for yourself, but you won’t find happiness or the respect of others.
I try to be as much of a servant, so to speak, to others as possible.
It’s basic human nature. Just look around. Everything is “me, me, me” or “my, my, my”. The world way is “GET”, not “give”. A child is born into a world of “me first”. Giving and sharing is something that is learned from good examples, in most cases, parents.
That theory’s a bunch of crap. Hermitism is the only outcome of that.
No…it alienates people.
I don’t see anything wrong it as long as it’s not hurtful to others. I think you can look out for your own best interest and still be a good person. One of my Jewish CD’s says something about if you don’t look out for yourself who will? If you only look out for yourself it isn’t satisifying or right.
Not really. Looking out for yourself has a tendency to create an atmosphere that leaves you alone. Then again, you gotta look out for yourself if you intend to take over the world…which I do.
Psh, I am number one.
Yes. I tried looking out for number two and it bit me in the ass!!
NO it doesn’t.
I have a saying. It’s a new one, from the experiences of 2007, borne of the wreckage of all my decisions.
How can you take care of anyone else, if you WONT take care of yourself first?
Being selflessly masochistic is not something admire.
I HAVE to take care of myself, and then I can take care of everyone else.
That saying is only interpreted by the worldview of the person reading it.
No. I really don’t understand the question but my interpretation is looking for the number one person to spend your life with. I’d say when you fall in love, stop looking. Unless you fall out of love.
Healthwise you have to look out for yourself. In the past few years I have found out that no one (even when they promise) will help you if you really need it, unless they are paid to do it, so you have to do what you can. I don’t trust anyone anymore, and it’s a shame, because I use to believe that when no one else was there, you still had family. Now I know family will screw you over far worse than other people will. I trust God, and I try to hold a little trust for people not related to me, but mostly, I do for myself.
If you don’t mind stepping on people on your way up…
according to Adam Smith’s “Wealth of Nations,” it is.
i enjoy everything about your writing.
That approach leaves you a loser in the end because you’re bitter, lonely, and depressed because your life lacks anything of true value.
If you plan to be as generous as you possibly could then absolutely – you have to ensure what you are getting in will be able to cover what you give. Its simple mathematics.
Only if your number one is God.
Not if you have kids. That’s both my parents’ approach to life and sometimes it causes problems for us kids.
as long as #1 is God.
>….as it says on my home page, It always pays to watch ones own back, and those of some fellows…….. But to address your question, not as most selfish folks reckon it. It always pays to watch out for one’s own self interest, but not to the point of exclusion of consideration of others in all circumstances. There isn’t, in my opinion, a philosophy that covers every situation, but that’s another blog….
Peace
Where I’ve been, “looking out for no.1″ is to see to it that if one is in danger a person should get out of danger, if that is possible If it is not, then figure out another way. Survival is no.1. LIVE. ..Love, Sande
Comments (70)
for some people yes, in general I’d have to say no.
Not for me… That’s selfishness. To me, at least.
unless you’re scrooge, no.
not at all
Not always. Depends on who is the number one.
i think it helps people get up the ladder in society. but if you are wishing for true friendships then no it’s the opposite.
nope.
No
No,it usually ends up making people discontent even when they have the things they thought that they wanted.
as a christian
not at all
You gotta look out for yourself… otherwise, who will?
Doesn’t mean you have to overlook everyone else, though.
According to the world… absolutely! It’s the basis for evolution, really. Ask great thinkers like Steven Covey, though, and you’ll get an entirely different response.
As a Christian, I’d have to admit that “living your life for #1″ means living it for God. First commandment and all.
Of course, you look out for yourself and then you can help others………God gave us the ability to care for ourselves.
If you don’t like being around people sure.
depends on the situation. in this society we are self-interested maximizers therefore it is our nature on one hand to look out for number 1 but on the other hand we are told to be aware of others. so it depends on the situation.
Pragmatically, if implemented carefully and with discretion, it can help. However, I think it won’t help one find contentment.
Btw, I’m treating it as if “looking out for number one” means not really looking out for number 2 and following unless it serves number 1.
It might work, but I don’t imagine that its very satisfying.
No. The phrases “Christ first” or “family first” applies, but really when it comes down to it, if I see someone has a need and I can do anything about it, then I usually try.
I think that most people are delusional. Yes it works. It’s a sad fact of life, but if you have your sights on heavenly rewards then it’s probably not the way to go. “For what doth it profit a man..” and all. You know?
yeah. step on their heads to get to the top if you have to. fags.
It always comes back to bite you.
Never. It might at first but it will bite you back in the end.
Not in general — and not according to Plato!!
Sorry, just finished my Intro to Greek Philosophy final … wrote my essay on his Ideal City. I’ll go back to being a nerd now.
No.
“You gotta look out for yourself… otherwise, who will?
Doesn’t mean you have to overlook everyone else, though.”
i think ive only ever met one person in my 30 years that wouldnt toss me off a cliff if it would be in their best interests. my philosophy, trust no one, look out for yourself, and if at all possible help others along the way.
I think everyone does this and doesn’t even realize it, so yes it is an approach to life.
Depends on who you consider to be number 1
i think it depends a lot on what you’re doing in life… it wouldnt work for me, but i know some people that use it as a policy all the time for school. when im racing and its an important race, ill admit that i do that- but so does everyone else on the course so its more about survival than anything else
well Christ is no.1 in my life.
and he doesn’t need me to look out for him by any means.
life is about servant-hood so if you’re referring to only looking out for yourself and your interest then no. that would be wrong and not good at all.
No (at least not for me). There are too many people out there who DO live that way, so I never trust anyone 100%…
Yes!
A fly was trying to get to the top of a tree but just couldn’t make it. A grass hopper points out a pile of dung to him: and says “The bull that craped this lastnight is the strongest of his heard. If you eat this you’ll be strong enough to get to the top of that tree.”
The fly eats till his gut just about bursts then takes off right to the top of the tree.
When he gets up there he’s so heavy that the leaf he lands on snaps and he falls back to the ground splatering on a rock.
Moral of the story: Bullshit might get you to the top. But it wont keep you there!
Sure, if you want material things instead of true friends.Thing is, when you look out for the best interest of others, you end up helping yourself. You have friends that will do anything for you when you have a problem. The simple golden rule in the Bible is always best. “Do unto other’s as you would have them do unto you” You know what the Bible says about those who are first…in other words those who MAKE themselves first, will be last. I pretty much always let myself get shafted before I let someone else if there is anything I can do about it!
let me guess, you got this from the verizon commercial. and yeah, i’d say it doesn’t work.
I’m starting to think that it’s the most intelligent way to live. Ignore yourself, think only of others and all you get is completely taken advantage of. You always have to remember to take care of yourself, because no one else will.
“Sure, if you want material things instead of true friends.Thing is, when you look out for the best interest of others, you end up helping yourself. You have friends that will do anything for you when you have a problem”
thats close to the biggest crock i have ever heard. when you look out only for the best interests of others they will only keep you around till their needs/wants are met. the instant they think you need/want something from them, well, hope you like collecting knives cause your back will look like a pin cushion.
sure, but a lonely one.
no
no
Ionekoa: it seems you have really been betrayed by friends. True friends will help each other, not stab each other in the back.
ionekoa Well, yeah, look what they did to Christ.I’d say I’m in pretty good company. I’ll take to back stabs thank you. At least I’ll know I did what was right by others and by Christ’s standards. So bring on the knives!
it depends on who or what one considers to be “number one”. If we see the people around us as number one, then it works just fine.
Nope.
Well, unless your #1 is someone else, say your spouse. Then I suppose it could. Your question was undefined.
I’ve learned the hard way you can’t rely on anyone else to do it for you, and if you don’t then it doesn’t happen.
In a perfect world, we’d all look out for each other and not need to be so dog-eat-dog but until then it is a necessary approach.
no. not at all. i’ve been on both sides of this though and neither approach has seemed to work. it’s all about how you look at things and what you truly value and who you can trust. personally, i dont trust anyone. I’ve just got me and God.
Yes and no. Success kinda depends on a delicate balance between doing what’s best for you alone, and doing what’s best for the group/community in which you live or work.
It depends on who your number one is.
No! Unless you’re stranded all alone on some deserted island or something. If you’re always looking out for yourself, others will see you as selfish and narcissistic. You may find success or that you can get material things by looking out for yourself, but you won’t find happiness or the respect of others.
I try to be as much of a servant, so to speak, to others as possible.
It’s basic human nature. Just look around. Everything is “me, me, me” or “my, my, my”. The world way is “GET”, not “give”. A child is born into a world of “me first”. Giving and sharing is something that is learned from good examples, in most cases, parents.
That theory’s a bunch of crap. Hermitism is the only outcome of that.
No…it alienates people.
I don’t see anything wrong it as long as it’s not hurtful to others. I think you can look out for your own best interest and still be a good person. One of my Jewish CD’s says something about if you don’t look out for yourself who will? If you only look out for yourself it isn’t satisifying or right.
Not really. Looking out for yourself has a tendency to create an atmosphere that leaves you alone. Then again, you gotta look out for yourself if you intend to take over the world…which I do.
Psh, I am number one.
Yes. I tried looking out for number two and it bit me in the ass!!
NO it doesn’t.
I have a saying. It’s a new one, from the experiences of 2007, borne of the wreckage of all my decisions.
How can you take care of anyone else, if you WONT take care of yourself first?
Being selflessly masochistic is not something admire.
I HAVE to take care of myself, and then I can take care of everyone else.
That saying is only interpreted by the worldview of the person reading it.
No. I really don’t understand the question but my interpretation is looking for the number one person to spend your life with. I’d say when you fall in love, stop looking. Unless you fall out of love.
Healthwise you have to look out for yourself. In the past few years I have found out that no one (even when they promise) will help you if you really need it, unless they are paid to do it, so you have to do what you can. I don’t trust anyone anymore, and it’s a shame, because I use to believe that when no one else was there, you still had family. Now I know family will screw you over far worse than other people will. I trust God, and I try to hold a little trust for people not related to me, but mostly, I do for myself.
If you don’t mind stepping on people on your way up…
according to Adam Smith’s “Wealth of Nations,” it is.
i enjoy everything about your writing.
That approach leaves you a loser in the end because you’re bitter, lonely, and depressed because your life lacks anything of true value.
If you plan to be as generous as you possibly could then absolutely – you have to ensure what you are getting in will be able to cover what you give. Its simple mathematics.
Only if your number one is God.
Not if you have kids. That’s both my parents’ approach to life and sometimes it causes problems for us kids.
as long as #1 is God.
>….as it says on my home page, It always pays to watch ones own back, and those of some fellows…….. But to address your question, not as most selfish folks reckon it. It always pays to watch out for one’s own self interest, but not to the point of exclusion of consideration of others in all circumstances. There isn’t, in my opinion, a philosophy that covers every situation, but that’s another blog….
Peace
Where I’ve been, “looking out for no.1″ is to see to it that if one is in danger a person should get out of danger, if that is possible If it is not, then figure out another way. Survival is no.1. LIVE. ..Love, Sande
If you want to end up alone.