Self-Sacrifice

[pietimer]

So I was reading this article and there are a lot of insect colonies where one will sacrifice their life for the greater good, but this is somewhat rare for humans. Would you be willing to give up your life for family, community, the "greater good"? Where do you draw the line on what is worth sacrificing for and what isn't?

[rlodge]

For my family....Definitely.

Community.....Definite Maybe.

Greater Good? What greater good? (I should also tell you that I am very much an "anti-social" type so people in general don't interest me at all.)

I served 20+ years in the US Army and, thankfully, I didn't have to make the "Ultimate Sacrifice", it was always understood that if the need arose, I would. Mission First.

[Dazz]

Yes totally, for my family, friends or even a stranger in trouble

This has been something I've always done but cannot explain why, maybe I'm sick of life

[Twinkie]

I would for friends, family, even for a stranger if an opportunity presents itself (like a burning car). If I had time to think about it, then it would make it much harder.

[John Klyne]

Self Sacrifice.....

Some people don't have a family and would do anything for anyone else to be able to preserve their family. If I did not just create my own family I would not mind having sacrificed myself for another person to still have theirs.

Would I sacrifice myself for another person, or the community....yes. I would, just like the tens of thousands of soldiers who fight in wars every day, trying to protect not only their own home with their own family but entire countries.

If a person would not sacrifice themselves for everyone else....not sure what kind of person, that person would be...( i was using the thought of an atomic war in the world or something like War of The worlds with aliens and all that other stuff ( lol ).

[scottnj]

I would definitely risk my life for my family. And I do plan on joining the Air Force to serve my community/country. But as for 'Greater Good,' that would come on a case-by-case basis as that is not well defined.

[naerey]

Sacrifce...
Personally I don't believe in sacrifice, I believe that there's always some way to accomplish good without having to loose everything (that is, life).
Every situation has more than one way of exit.
And if one really hasn't, I'm not sure I'd sacrifice, since my philosophy says I might be of more use alive then dead, maybe for a bigger/better sacrifice.
You can't do any good when you're dead!!!
(call me egoist, but that's how I see life... )

[cased]

So I was reading this article and there are a lot of insect colonies where one will sacrifice their life for the greater good, but this is somewhat rare for humans. Would you be willing to give up your life for family, community, the "greater good"? Where do you draw the line on what is worth sacrificing for and what isn't?

I would sacrifice myself for my family definitely. I don't know about anymore than that. It depends on the situation and it also depends on how my sacrifice would ultimately affect my family. Basically it all comes down to my family. If it's not good for my family, I won't do it. Nothing else matters.

Now does that mean I would not give my life for a stranger? Not at all because this could still benefit my family. It could set an example for my children on how to be a good and caring person and it could bring great honor to my family to be a hero. Also by sacrificing myself for a stranger, the act could be contagious. Perhaps one day, my action would spur a stranger to action and they would sacrifice themselves for my family.

[unlikely]

So I was reading this article and there are a lot of insect colonies where one will sacrifice their life for the greater good, but this is somewhat rare for humans. Would you be willing to give up your life for family, community, the "greater good"? Where do you draw the line on what is worth sacrificing for and what isn't?

There was a long period of my life where that answer, for me, would have been undoubtably yes. Anybody who needed me to lean over the hot coals to save them a little unjust pain, heartache or even their lives.. I would jump to do it in a heartbeat.

However, I have children now. I am their sole protector and provider. I am here for a purpose and to sacrifice myself would be sacrificing a part of themselves and a critical part of their growth, development and well being.

[Jeremia0]

No. You are the only reason you exist, when you sacrifice yourself you are gone. That means that whatever good you do, you still have not benefited yourself, and you never will.