News A Sense Of Entitlement

[Anarchy]

Accusing someone of having "a sense of entitlement" Is probably my most used insult

I'm starting this, rather than spamming other threads. Anthony's thread https://www.myptsd.com/threads/violence-against-women-ad-australia.62271/#post-1018153 is probably the most recent where I'm emphasizing the harm that ideas of entitlement cause

In that case ideas that some individuals are entitled to initiate violence against other individuals

Even if you don't read any more of this thread, please take the time to watch two (IMO amazing) videos about what happens when to drivers and other road users, as soon as regimentation and a sense of entitlement is removed

 

[Anarchy]

What are we entitled to? and why?

"positive rights" such as a "right to a job", a "right to a free education" etc
Implicitly impose obligations onto other individuals to provide a job, or to either teach for free - or else to pay for your education

inevitably those obligations will be forced onto other concrete individuals. Mid nineteenth century French economist and essayist Frederic Bastiat, described the institution of government as:

"That Great Fiction, by which each person expects to live at the expense of everyone else"

Positive entitlement can very rapidly degenerate into a war of all upon all, as each tries to live at the expense of all others. Thomas Hobbes got his reasoning entirely back to front.

If rights are expressed "negatively", then no contradictions result,

So the rights become things like a right not to be aggressed against* and not to be defrauded. They don't impose duties on others to do things - but do impose duties not to do things; not to aggress, and not to commit fraud.

________________________________
* this certainly does not preclude proportionate defence against an aggressor, or seeking compensation for a tort, whether you do it yourself, employ others to do it, or sell the tort claim on for someone else to pursue.

 

[Nevermore]

Wow! Thanks for sharing those videos - I never would have expected that either!!
Makes you think that all the rules laws and restrictions actually hamper us from using our own instincts of right and wrong etc. like children looking outwards for instruction all the time.
It's easy to think at times that human nature is just basically bad but that video gave me hope!!
(Although the Brits are famous for being polite even when they don't want to be. I wonder if it work the same in Oz???
I hope so!!!!!!

 

[EveHarrington]

I have no clue how anything in @anthony s thread was about entitlement. I have a clue why it is perceived that way but no-----can't go there.

 

[Sideways]

I like the idea of basic human rights. And I'm also an advocate of the idea that where there is a right, this is a concomitant responsibility. Education for example. I like the idea that parents and their children have an expectation that children will be afforded reasonable opportunities to get a basic education. And I like the idea that women have a recognised right to employment opportunities that are free from discrimination.

The party that bears the responsibility to ensure those rights are actually enjoyed is largely on the State, not the individual. It is the nation, rather than individuals, that are responsible for reporting back to the UN on the nation's compliance with the various Charters.

For things like health, education and a right to vote, that's straight up State responsibility stuff. Either the country is providing those, or it isn't and needs to improve its game. For others, like workplaces free from discrimination, the State is again the party responsible for ensuring this is acted out in real life. So the State enforces laws and initiates education campaigns to ensure that individuals know both their rights and responsibilities, and the State has the onus of making sure the laws and education are effective.

Just my take!

 

[shimmerz]

I have no clue how anything in @anthony s thread was about entitlement.

I would also point to popular beliefs that some people are entitled to use violence on others.

 

[Mallaky]

Do you think a lack of entitlement can also be a issue? If, for example, someone abused does not feel entitled to a better life?

 

[Justmehere]

I've been here:

A place with no stoplights and millions of motorbikes. I have been there, and crossed the street through throngs of motorbikes, with no one stopping. As long as you don't hesitate and act predictably, everyone goes around you, like a school of fish.

Would I want this in my own country, the US? Not sure.

The state can't legislate people into paying attention. People are dying from texting and driving, and it's thoroughly illegal here, but they do it anyhow. Why? Because their need to tweet or text is greater than other's need to live and not die, and everyone figures it's someone else's problem. No one says it that way, but that it what it is. Everyone expects the state or someone else to take care of us, take care of everyone else, to watch out for us. Texting and driving is problem? Well damn, then the state should do more.

The government has a role, but it is a limited one. Sure, the govrnment should do something, but there is a serious problem when we leave it up to government to do everything. Personal responsibility, choice, freedom, and the ability to get shit done and get to places in an efficent and effective manner goes out the window.

Government, and more of it, aka statism, isn't the solution to the vast majority of problems in society - but so many try to build more government to fix all the problems.

Time to look out for each other.. The state isn't gonna save us form ourselves. Only we can do that. Freedom and personal responsibility are more effective at getting stuff done than most people realize. I think it doesn't happen more because when people get scared, they want control, and giving government more power means at least someone has control. Increase the control placed on people, and we ironically take away a good percentage of the motivation to not be idiots. This is true for driving and so many other areas.

We need some regulations, but rarely do we need more - at least in most of the developed world.

For me, the sense of entitlement is very different than an abuse victim regaining a sense of empowerment, which is quite different than entitlement. It's more about re-gaining their choice and freedom and power back.

 

[Anarchy]

Hi @EveHarrington
Shimmerz answered pretty much as I would have done

I think as well there is the sense of entitlement that I could satirize as expecting to sit watching sport while being brought cold beers and having ego (and other things) stroked.

 

[Sideways]

I like the idea of people being kinder to each other. And I have a lot of faith in humanity - there's a lot of people have done some really brilliant stuff for humanity.

But I'm also a bit of a realist. Paedophiles have existed since the beginning of time. Idiots have existed since the beginning of time. And humans have been at war with each other since we first picked up wooden clubs with our opposable thumbs.

I'm not in favour of the 'nanny state' by any means. But basic protections and education to help us be nice to each other? I'll put my faith in a court of law before I put my faith in "why can't we be friends".

 

[Nevermore]

I wish that no one had a sense of being more entitled than another. It's not only men that do this! I've seen some pretty shocking female examples too.
I wish the world would grow up and we realised we are all of worth and looked out for each other and listened to each other and sorted things out, rather than the law of the jungle.

 

[Deleted member 12723]

@Anarchy i liked your videos. I experienced heavy traffic delays today due to street lights. It really was a mess out there and the intersections with the stop signs things were so much better and less traffic so I think it is a good idea.

As for the topic of entitlement, I refuse to touch that one with a ten foot pole.