Do people have an obligation to help others or should people be responsible for helping themselves?

[pervertedjester]

I've been trying to answer this one for a while now.

Yes, we have an obligation as Humans to help one another.

Maybe, to an extent.

No, we need only worry about helping ourselves.

[Justforfun411]

I think we were put here to take care of ourselves but to a point that society has reached. We have become selfish and inconsiderate as well as feeling entitled. I was brought up to believe that we take care of our own and whenever possible help others. If there is a God ( which I hope there is) she is probably looking down on us going what the hell did I do so wrong to make people become so selfish and self absorbed. When I was younger, everyone I knew would bend over backwards to help a friend, neighbor, stranger or someone in need. Now when someone is in need people would rather drive over, through or around someone to avoid helping them. If someone is hurt we stare but won't offer assistance, if someone is dying we won't hold their hand to let them know they aren't alone and if someone is being robbed, raped or murdered we turn our backs, close our windows or pretend we don't hear hear their cries for mercy or help then say we didn't hear anything then we wonder why we can't sleep or are depressed or we can't stand how violent society has become. Society has become what it is because we quit caring about caring other people. I would rather die trying to help someone than to die knowing I never tried. THINK ABOUT THAT FOR A MINUTE!

[meowcow]

Well, if you live in the US, your question describes the struggles between Republican (fend for yourself) and Democrat (group effort) beliefs of society.

I tend to lean towards worrying about oneself. I am generally opposed to free handouts and subsidies by the government such as welfare, food stamps, subsidized housing... etc, that benefit only a segment of the population (usually the poor). This is because we are in our positions based largely on the choices we make in life.

The few exceptions are accidents, injuries, people born with disabilities... etc. But life does not promise or guarantee equality or equity. However, I would be happy for the gov't to use tax dollars to care for such people who are in a shit position through no fault of their own.

[jibidijibidi]

Helping people is only possible on free will.
The government can do nothing about that.
If we would do that it would used selfishly.
The government is also not God. So people should stop treating the government as God.
God is God. Nobody else. The government can only try to understand God if they want to. So what would God do is for you free to wonder about in your own free spear time. Nobody is tellling others what to do and be a general to tell others what to do that is forbidden by the law and even the government has to obey the law since we made those regulations and not for nothing since people have claws and not hands and that is written in the beginning of the bible, that people by nature are evil and ugly beasts with 10 vices.

[dragonfly6516]

Depends on what you mean by "help". Help by doing most or all of the work for them? No. Help by showing them how to do it, by guiding them through the first few times, sure. But only if they ask, or they're really struggling. I'm always slightly offended when people jump to help me without offering first or asking if I need it. I like to do as much as I can on my own before seeking help.

I believe that we should try to help ourselves as much as possible before asking others, and that we should be ready to offer help when asked.

[Darkfairie17]

It's definitely nice to help others, but sometimes we have to let them figure it out for themselves.

If you help someone too much, you risk becoming a crutch for them any time they are in need. They will come to you instead of figuring it out for themselves.

Have you ever heard the saying "Give a man a fish"? Basically if you give a man a fish, then he will be able to eat for that day only. However if you teach him to fish, he will be able to get food for himself whenever he needs it.

Help should be like that.

[Ericthebarberic]

You're a smart girl

[Cccgala]

People do not have an obligation to help others.

If people deem it is plausible to help, then the deed of helping becomes voluntary involvement and not a response to an imposed obligation.

[Ericthebarberic]

I agree... helping others should be a choice no a mandated obligation

[NormaTavish]

I think we have an obligation to help each other, that's what makes society a safer and better place. Things would break down very fast if we all started looking out only for ourselves.

How far do you break it down, do we all look after only ourselves, or ourselves and our family or family and friends, the debate on how much assistance you give to others is up for debate but the principle off helping isn't

[Ericthebarberic]

We do need to take care of those who can't take care of themselves but that in my opinion is a slippery slope... no mandates... churches and community centers should shoulder that burden

[NormaTavish]

@Ericthebarberic I suppose it comes down to your interpretation off "obligation". Morally or legally... I feel we have a moral obligation, there is not way off implementing a legal obligation to help others. but society would be a pretty poor state off affairs if we didn't want to help others in principle.

As I say I assume its not a question about how much we help rather than the principle of should you help and leave how much to each persons conscience.

[Ericthebarberic]

We're pretty close on this... when I say mandated I mean by way of taxation... I don't feel like I should pay for a woman who's made a bad choice and is pregnant and wants an abortion. I don't want my tax money paying for it. I'm not a big problem life guy I just feel like if it's your fuck up you pay for it

[Ericthebarberic]

Pro life. Spelling error

[hellionthesagereborn]

No. We are not obliged to help others. That doesn't mean we shouldn't but we do not have an obligation to go out of our way for others and in fact demanding that would be in and of itself selfish and thus be counter to that obligation as you would demand others to go out of their way for you or some one else which is not helping them.

[Shaboops]

I think what makes humans so special is that we're so keen to help one another because of the sense of love that we have for each other as a species. Helping one another is an unspoken instinct and I think that's beautiful. However, we have no innate obligation to, societally maybe, but you don't have to make sacrifices for others at all. Help others when you can and think you should but otherwise focus on yourself.

[Guardian412]

People should help others. The problem is, until they can't save themselves from their own stupidity, they shouldn't even try to save others. People should try to save themselves first. Then when they've practice in it, they can move on to larger projects, such as saving others. The problem is right now that snowflakes are trying to save the world, who can't save even themselves from their own Munchausen syndrome and delusions.

[gobsmacked3]

the strength of any society is dependent on its weakest link. So, yes.

Also, it is about the power of the universe. Nothing stays in flux and always evolving. you can be a king in the place and then a beggar in the street. all should respect this with others

' Never look down on another, unless you are offering to help them up...'

[Dxk007]

Well, it's a nice gesture to help anyone but, not my responsibility to do so. And, it also depends on the situation and, my power. Eg. If a worker drops some goods, I might be able to help but, I wouldn't. But, if a someone faints I'll definitely try to help but, the person shouldn't think that other's would necessarily help him since, the world isn't a nice place anymore.

[LegateLanius]

It should be a choice to give, not an obligation. Is it the right thing to do? Of course it is, but should anyone feel pressured into helping, no. It is a choice to help others. Some do not believe in morality the way other do and therefore why or how can society bind them to an obligation? I would hope that helping others would be something that a people would want to do, but this is not always the case.

[BrittBratt2416]

Both depending on the situation sometimes. We're suppose to lend a helping hand when someone is in need cause you never know when you might need help too.

[Audgemarine]

It depends on the situation.
If I see an old man struggling to open a door, I’m going to help him open the door and not just sit there and watch him struggle.
If it’s someone who dropped a piece of paper or something then they can do it themselves.

[pluere]

This is a simple moral question answered ages ago: if you are in a position to help and it does not unreasonably hinder you, you are obligated to help.

[sixThousand]

It's not an obligation if you care about the person. But no one should expect something from anyone. No one has to help, and it's not a bad thing is they dont. If they do, they are being extra nice and showing they care enough to go the extra mile. But again, you can't hold it against them if they dont

[Jenima]

If you don't want to help others, never (I said never) ask for help neither. But if you think someday somehow you can need someone to help you, you too help others.

[SirRexington]

An obligation? Of course not. But there is nothing wrong with asking for help just as there is nothing wrong with volunteering to help.

Our first priority is ourselves though.

[jacquesvol]

Under Continental laws, people have a (limited) obligation to help others who are in danger.
Not helping someone who is in danger can be punished on the continent.
It seems that Anglo-saxon law doesn't include this.

[Mi2mi2a]

it's bether to use 'should' not must. Its not an obligation for others, but for myself to help others.

[KnightCross]

i think helping others by obligation would not make any sense since it is forced. True help and true generosity comes from spontaneous will to help others without being affected by any external forces

[BigBadBear]

Morally? Yes, to a certain extent. Legally? Again, yes, to a certain extent.

No one can force someone to help someine else, but rationally for the longevity of our species it makes sense to help one another.

[madgoat]

Your first duty is to yourself. But if you can help others as you go, that's a good thing.

[Phoenix98]

No one has any obligation to anyone.

Should you help other people because it's the right and kind thing to do? Yes.

Do you have to do it? No.

[PrincessPie]

Nope no obligation, but i think in society we should help others.