Selfless act I have done. - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

davidmash · #1 01-09-2005, 06:55 PM

OK boys and girls. This is part of the "How far would we go" thread.

When ever you do something good for someone else (picking up your dirty laundry, mowing yard, taking ou garbage or other crap you should be doing any way does not count). Helping a stranger with directions even though you are in a hurry. Donating your time to a shelter or such. Stuff like that counts.

I'm new to this also so I have nothing to post yet but damn it I will ... eventually.

RULES
1. no one critsizes someone elses act. They thought it was selfless and that's all that counts.
2. no one may spout off about philosophy, politics, religion, sex or anythig else you are not supposed to talk about at the dinner table with inlaws.
3. no "at a boys/girl, good job, nice going ... etc becasue at that point it is no longer a selfless act. Rember, nothing in return except the satisfaction of having done it. I know technicly we are posting here but this is just to get the ball rolling so cut me some slack.
4. I want to see a really really long thread. I'm ok with 2nd place to the Pretty Girls thread.
5. Just post what you did. No commentary, no self glorification. Just post it. Post once, post often.

mzsmbs · #2 01-09-2005, 07:04 PM

i volunteer!

azimuth · #3 01-09-2005, 07:20 PM

on Christmas eve and in a chilly garage i spent six hours repairing the family car of a soldier who is over seas in service to his country. his wife was tearful.....i was grateful to serve in any way i could.

now they can drive to school etc. with heat in the car on new sqweekless brakes without that stinkin' check engine light on.

normally i wouldn't tell anyone this stuff. it's private for me. however, since there are no compliments allowed and i am anonymous......

i am only ashamed in that this woman had to ask humbly for help.....i did not have the heads up enough to see it on my own. she will never have to ask again.

Veloce300DT · #4 01-09-2005, 07:29 PM

I volunteer too!

On another different level, I enjoy regularly writing letters to friends and family and attaching art or artifacts that pretain to a memory or time ive shared with that person; personal sincere postive notes, simply as a friendly gesture just for being thankful for having these people in my life.

Pete Geither · #5 01-09-2005, 08:28 PM

We have a rule in the shop, handed down from my stepdad,,,,, that any repair to a toy, for a child, is done for free. No gimmicks or surprises, we just do it for free, no matter how long it may take.

#6 01-09-2005, 08:35 PM

I plow the old folks driveways in my neighborhood, but by posting this it no longer makes it selfless.

davidmash · #7 01-09-2005, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MedMech

I plow the old folks driveways in my neighborhood, but by posting this it no longer makes it selfless.

read rule number 3. It still counts.

davidmash · #8 01-09-2005, 10:55 PM

I mowed part of my neighbors yard. He mowed mine when I had a operation. No one was home and no one saw me do it. shuuuuuuuuuush

GermanStar · #9 01-09-2005, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidmash

I mowed part of my neighbors yard. He mowed mine when I had a operation. No one was home and no one saw me do it. shuuuuuuuuuush

Next thing you know he hires a landscaper to see why part of his lawn won't grow. He takes the landscaper's advice and drops $1000 to replace his entire lawn.

KirkVining · #10 01-09-2005, 11:27 PM

I killed a bull$hit eating dog once, saving the lives of most of the members of this forum.

SoCalBomb · #11 01-10-2005, 12:11 AM

I babysit at the Salvation Army, tutor & I sleep with my cell phone, incase one of my friends needs me . . . generally for Emotional Support : )

aklim · #12 01-10-2005, 12:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidmash

3. no "at a boys/girl, good job, nice going ... etc becasue at that point it is no longer a selfless act. Rember, nothing in return except the satisfaction of having done it.

If you get some sort of satisfaction out of it, how is it a selfless act?

I plow snow for my neighbour for nothing. Does it count? Oh BTW, he doesn't give me grief when my dogs crap on the easement and I pick it up the next morning. So instead of having to find dog poop at night, I get to pick it up the next morning. One could say that because he is that lenient, I am plowing his snow. So, how is that selfless? I am doing it because he is good to me but I still don't make money.

Jason Beal · #13 01-10-2005, 12:41 AM

Mostly car stuff for friends I can help.

Mowed neighbors lawn (single mom) who didn't have mower.

The normal stuff.

My motto: Never wait around to hear the word "thanks" or you are doing it for the wrong reason.

davidmash · #14 01-10-2005, 12:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aklim

If you get some sort of satisfaction out of it, how is it a selfless act?

I plow snow for my neighbour for nothing. Does it count? Oh BTW, he doesn't give me grief when my dogs crap on the easement and I pick it up the next morning. So instead of having to find dog poop at night, I get to pick it up the next morning. One could say that because he is that lenient, I am plowing his snow. So, how is that selfless? I am doing it because he is good to me but I still don't make money.

That is for you to decide. I know I said no comenting but he asked. It was a good deed. I accept it as such. What it means is up to you.

blackmercedes · #15 01-10-2005, 01:02 AM

Is any act truly selfless? I get lots of self satisfaction from "acts" I perform, or have performed. I don't think there is any unilateral transaction. That said, there are things that people do that benefit "others" more than themselves in an outside perception.

My mom was a volunteer, and I grew up with the sense that it was just part of people's lives. She always had something on the go. I guess it rubbed off.

When I was an undergrad, I spent two or three evenings a week at a shelter for homeless teens. I had some extra time, but little money. When my career took off, I gave money, as I had little time.

I shifted gears career wise, and found more time. I got "roped" into a fledgling organization that had a wacky idea of helping low income individuals to start their own businesses by providing business plan counselling and start-up loans. We hoped to raise a few bucks and help a few people. We raised over $600,000 (the last amount when I left the board after five years) and had 83 successful businesses started employing over 400 people. Most of those people came off welfare rolls. The issue of affordable housing came up time and time again when meeting these low income individuals. So, a land trust was born. We had hoped to raise enough money to buy and renovate five houses and get five families into safe, affordable housing. After three years we'd bought and renovated 22 homes. The unfortunate part of that organization was the intense time committment on my part, and after a number of years of nearly full time un-paid work, I burned out and had to turn the reigns over to someone else, and take some time for myself.

I also sit on the board of a charity that helps young families with support services, but it takes only a little of my time thanks to a terrific staff, so I don't really "count" it.

Over the last six years I have worked for paid work a total of about 4 months, and put in thousands of hours of unpaid work. The last months have been "about me" with some paid consulting work and extra time for climbing, etc. But, I have the itch. A friend has mentioned raising money to create cooperative business ventures, and I am intrigued. However, I have been told that I am no longer allowed to put my house up as collateral to launch shakey-at-best kooky charitable ventures. Compromises to stay married...