topic Re: Teamwork in Community Chat

Teamwork

matty liz — Fri, 24 Jul 2020 11:51:43 GMT

"If you aren't part of the solution, you are part of the problem." Americans are so giving and inventive and self interest is the only thing that stops our success.

Re: Teamwork

Isobel Archer — Fri, 24 Jul 2020 12:31:27 GMT

Nice platitude. However human nature is such that sometimes "helping" those who refuse to participate in their own help just becomes enabling the behavior that caused the problem in the first place.

Teams are often dysfuntional. Ever been on a class team - where everyone will get the same grade and some of the "team" members do as little as possible knowing the others will pull them through.

Nothing wrong with self interest and it makes no sense to pretend there is. Taking care of yourself and your family is not the same thing as selfishly taking from others things you didn't earn yourself. Leaders imposing restrictions "for the good of all" that they have no intention of following themselves also fall in the category of selfish oppression - which, again, is different from honest self interest.

I definitely agree people should get out of their bubbles and realize that not all of us are in the same boat and there are definitely problems that need to be solved. And we need to apply more scrutiny to the "solution" part - and look at actual results not just rhetoric.

Re: Teamwork

rms1954 — Fri, 24 Jul 2020 13:10:06 GMT

Don't get thie point of your comment. It's a generalization.

Re: Teamwork

Isobel Archer — Fri, 24 Jul 2020 13:19:42 GMT

@rms1954 wrote:
Don't get thie point of your comment. It's a generalization.

Well it's a "generalization" that I don't believe is generally true. Which was my point.

Even claiming that you are part of a "problem" you did not in any way cause or contribute to because you aren't actively working to "solve" it is putting emphasis in the wrong place. Now if you were actively sabotaging actual solutions, that would be another matter. But not everyone is responsible for solving problems others create for themselves.

When these problems created by others rise to the level of affecting us all, then yes, we should do what we can - but then that would involve self interest - wouldn't it? Which according to the "generalization" is what is preventing "success."

Re: Teamwork

kitcat51 — Fri, 24 Jul 2020 13:32:55 GMT

Silly.

Re: Teamwork

SharkE — Fri, 24 Jul 2020 13:33:04 GMT

Is that a picture of Nicole Kidman ? @Isobel Archer

Re: Teamwork

Isobel Archer — Fri, 24 Jul 2020 13:44:42 GMT

@SharkE wrote:
Is that a picture of Nicole Kidman ? @Isobel Archer

Yep she played Isobel in Portrait of a Lady.

Re: Teamwork

SharkE — Fri, 24 Jul 2020 13:47:02 GMT

Like her better as a blonde.

Re: Teamwork

QVCkitty1 — Fri, 24 Jul 2020 14:07:14 GMT

Here's how I look at the quote, let's say you here a racist comment or joke, if you let it pass without comment, you are part of the problem.

Re: Teamwork

Isobel Archer — Fri, 24 Jul 2020 14:12:41 GMT

@QVCkitty1 wrote:
Here's how I look at the quote, let's say you here a racist comment or joke, if you let it pass without comment, you are part of the problem.

Agree and if you see someone beating up someone, you should call the police.

Re: Teamwork

deepwaterdotter — Fri, 24 Jul 2020 14:35:03 GMT

"Teamwork" was the subject of our pastor's sermon last Sunday. He encouraged us to work together towards common goals. He said there is always strength in numbers.

Re: Teamwork

stevieb — Fri, 24 Jul 2020 15:10:26 GMT

@Isobel Archer wrote:
@QVCkitty1 wrote:
Here's how I look at the quote, let's say you here a racist comment or joke, if you let it pass without comment, you are part of the problem.
Agree and if you see someone beating up someone, you should call the police.

Agree on calling the police, tend not to agree about hearing objectionable comments... Not my brother's keeper and don't want to be... Sorry, that's the way it is... Got my own battles to wage...

Re: Teamwork

SharkE — Fri, 24 Jul 2020 17:11:57 GMT

I'm all for the police. Few bad apples in every barrel of life, Just have to hope you get a decent one not a rotten one.

I don't blame them for retiring I'd get out , too.

Re: Teamwork

suzyQ3 — Fri, 24 Jul 2020 17:24:22 GMT

@matty liz wrote:
"If you aren't part of the solution, you are part of the problem." Americans are so giving and inventive and self interest is the only thing that stops our success.

Amazing that such a decent sentiment has to be ripped apart and become political. Good grief, even one or two posters had to bring up the police.

@matty liz, sorry, but this life here in Community Chat.

Re: Teamwork

Porcelain — Fri, 24 Jul 2020 19:45:41 GMT

@matty liz wrote:
"If you aren't part of the solution, you are part of the problem." Americans are so giving and inventive and self interest is the only thing that stops our success.

It is ultimately in our self interest to solve problems and be giving and inventive. If enough people do that, everything we put out there comes back around. You don't have to receive back what you put out from the person you specifically gave to. You can receive from a completely different person. Like I said, it all shakes out in the end.

I do think the "free rider" problem will always be with us, but we don't have to let it stop us. We just have to account for the fact that there will always be a tiny number of people who don't contribute either because they don't want to, or because they can't for reasons that may or may not be obvious to others. We just need to carry them along with us and help each other out and things will work out overall.

Re: Teamwork

suzyQ3 — Fri, 24 Jul 2020 21:03:15 GMT

The concept of "self-interest" is interesting. I am most concerned with myself and my my loved ones and make no excuse for that.

But that doesn't preclude caring about those who are in need. Do some not deserve it for one reason or another? I guess that could be. But I'll take my chances.

Heaven forbid that of all who are in need, we help a few who are not somehow worthy.

Re: Teamwork

stuyvesant — Fri, 24 Jul 2020 21:30:58 GMT

I've always disliked the saying "if you're not part of the solution you're part of the problem."

Everybody has a solution and not everybody sees a problem.

Just because you've neatly packaged your intolerance into a catchphrase don't expect me to be wowed.

The one thing I thought everybody could agree on was that Americans can tackle any problem. Apparently not.

This pandemic has taught me that people believe you can't make people wear masks, you can't legislate young people going out and having fun. That's just off the top of my head. The list of things we are helpless about is longer I know.

Oprah always advocated people sitting down in the ladies room. She said if everybody did it the seats wouldn't be such a mess. I guess there's something in the Constitution about that, because pre pandemic, they were still wet. Lol

Re: Teamwork

Sheila P-Burg — Fri, 24 Jul 2020 22:34:36 GMT

@matty liz wrote:
"If you aren't part of the solution, you are part of the problem."

This quote has been around since the 60's. If it hasn't happened in 60+ years I doubt it will happen now.

Re: Teamwork

matty liz — Fri, 24 Jul 2020 23:46:52 GMT

Thank you SuzyQ3.