Separation has been forcing people to think about others

April 30, 2020 4:32 AM

Humans are not selfish by nature Despite the scam artists taking the opportunity to capitalize on the fears of others, the pandemic and social distancing has caused many to have an overwhelming need to comfort and care for others.
posted by Yellow (10 comments total)

Absence makes the heart grow fonder
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 6:04 AM on April 30, 2020 [1 favorite]

Viruses, and pandemics specifically, are the great equalizer, whereas humans have the impeccable ability to other and blame others for their plights otherwise. Ebola? That's just in Africa. Etc.

In this case, death comes for everyone.
posted by Young Kullervo at 6:21 AM on April 30, 2020

"Humanity: Trash Fire or Pretty Ok, Actually?" is one of those questions no one article can adequately answer.
posted by emjaybee at 8:45 AM on April 30, 2020 [3 favorites]

I have been volunteering to deliver food to needy seniors for our local Food Bank, and next week's schedule of volunteer drivers was filled so quickly I couldn't find a single open shift.
posted by PhineasGage at 8:53 AM on April 30, 2020 [3 favorites]

"Modern default"? It's the Primal default. The fact that some are able to overcome it is what's remarkable. In fact, it's part of my overall meaning of life point of view.
posted by humboldt32 at 9:34 AM on April 30, 2020 [2 favorites]

The pandemic has been very emotionally intensive for me because of this - I'm immunocompromised in a way that makes me very high risk, and my friends have shown up en masse to make sure my errands are done and I can stay safe, and despite the isolation of living alone I'm getting a lot of contact. It's amazing, and I am trying to find ways to pay it forward.
posted by bile and syntax at 9:46 AM on April 30, 2020 [6 favorites]

Viruses, and pandemics specifically, are the great equalizer

I keep seeing sentiments like this and...it's just not true. There's a reason why infections are hitting minority and poor communities the hardest. Far from equalizing, it's only accelerating existing trends towards inequality. On the economic side, this situation is devastating workers and small businesses, while the megacorporations are getting richer and more powerful than ever. When the dust clears we're likely going to have an economic landscape even more concentrated and dominated by a handful of gigantic actors.

See also: climate change
posted by star gentle uterus at 2:29 PM on April 30, 2020 [10 favorites]

I dunno, it seems to me like selfishness (in the sense of "not helping others") is the modern default human way of interacting, and it takes something really monumental (like a global pandemic, or a regional weather event) for people to interact in ways where they consider others' needs to be as important as their own needs.

When I hear people say this I believe it is because you simply don't notice the massive level of constant background cooperation that is part of society because it is so constant. Selfishness stands out and is very salient because it is so unusual.

For example if selfishness was the default human behavior then sidewalks would be impassable regions of violent conflict where only the biggest and strongest could move freely. Or more realistically cars would drive on them. We constantly do all kinds of small things to help others without even registering that we are doing them.

Of course you'll then trigger the philosophical discussions and hair splitting where people start arguing that cooperation is selfish because cooperation is in our self interest.
posted by srboisvert at 4:15 AM on May 1, 2020 [4 favorites]

Also one of the weird things about this pandemic is that it has made sidewalk altruism very salient and obvious because it has changed the rules.
posted by srboisvert at 4:16 AM on May 1, 2020

For example if selfishness was the default human behavior then sidewalks would be impassable regions of violent conflict where only the biggest and strongest could move freely.

As a small woman, the number one rule of walking around in public is "stay out of grabbing distance whenever possible." As a person with an obvious mobility disability (I walk with a cane) I often have people, mostly men, walk straight at me without any awareness that it may be hard for me to get out of their way, especially if I have to step off the sidewalk. I think that the sidewalk is not the same place for you that it is for me.
posted by bile and syntax at 10:36 AM on May 1, 2020 [3 favorites]