Imitation, not always flattering

Imagine you are sitting across from someone who is venting about another person's behavior. Whatever the particular issue is, the motivation for the "bad" behavior is being construed as somehow offensive or unethical, and certainly wrong, maybe even disgusting. The motivation is...quite clearly...selfishness. The offending party has done something based on their own self-interest, and the offended party is...offended. 


I am fascinated when someone is upset by a behavior or motivation that is quite common and natural. We can set an expectation for others that we are not willing to apply to ourselves. I can act based on my self-interest, but you must not imitate me; you must act based on your interest in my well-being, not your own.


Earlier this week, Pat Forde of ESPN wrote an article regarding the Texas A&M / Baylor situation as the Big 12 football conference appears to be falling apart. On the one hand, you have Texas A&M doing what they want to do, and on the other hand, you have Baylor doing what they want to do...and then lots of affected and non-affected spectators crying foul about the blatant selfishness of whichever party they disagree with. Forde writes, "Everyone is chasing its own best interests...and everyone is outraged at everyone else for being so selfish and ignoring the common good."

If you are going to complain about someone else acting in their own self-interest, I will not say to you "first stop acting in your own self-interest," because I do not think it is possible. But I do suggest that you keep your voice down at least. Because someone who advocates selflessness might call you a hypocrite and start telling you about a plank in your own eye.