Share
Whether or not we should giveour seatsup for someone else when were tired is a practical ethical dilemma.
And it can test how kind we are.
Reddit user u/TheAireon sparked afierce discussionon the r/unpopularopinion online community after sharing their own unpopular opinion.
The internet had some very strong opinions, both in support and against this position.
Read on for the discussion, and let us know what side you stand on, dear Pandas.
Bored Pandawanted to learn more about being kind to strangers, so we reached out toDr.
Youll find the insights he shared with us below.
It is through consistent action, not words, that kindness spreads.
According to Dr. Cohen, theres an infinite number of ways to be compassionate.
We should be proactive and look for opportunities everywhere for how we can assist others.
Equally as important is that we refrain from doing and saying unkind things.
Through consistent daily practice, we can all unlearn habits of unkindness if we have any.
But the essential thing is not to focus on what someone else should or should not do.
We ought to worry about ourselves and apply what we know about kindness and altruism in practice.
Thats difficult to do from moment to moment.
He noted that these acts of kindness do not necessarily have to be large.
We can start very small.
However, its far more difficult to be kind when were feeling exhausted.
Bored Panda asked Dr. Cohen about this and how someone can approach these sorts of situations.
According to him, its vital that we prioritize our self-care.
Dr. Cohen likened being exhausted to walking on ice.
He noted that we should move slowly and carefully.
There are two dimensions here.
It deals with everyday issues, not just some pie-in-the-sky and ivory tower philosophical theories.
Its very common for someone to ask us for our seats.
How we answer these questions says a lot about us and our values.
They want to maximize the happiness of the crowd.
Sothey weightheir exhaustion against that of their fellow travelers as best as they can.
They have a duty and obligation-based way of seeing the world.
They will strive to live according to their principles, no matter the situation.
Especially when things get hard.
They seetheir needsas a priority, no matter whats going on around them.
So, theyll only ever give up their seat if doing so would be advantageous.
Its these people that others might view as being overlyselfish.
Alternatively, the person might be an egalitarian who sees everyone as being fundamentally equal.
However, how someone understands this approach can vary.
Some might decide that nobody deservesspecial treatmentbecause, well, everyones equal.
However, not all disabilities are visible.
Thats why its so important for people to communicate their needs.
Being kind goes a long way, even if you ultimately want to say no.
Heres their take on the situation
Thanks!
Check out the results:
