[Show Introduction]
Addison: Greetings, and welcome to another session of the Inner Illumination Show. On the show with me today are Lindsey and Cartharsis.
<hello everyone…a grand welcome to our audience>
The topic that we have chosen for this show is generosity. Catharsis, will you be generous enough to give us a basic definition of what generosity means?
Catharsis: No problem, Addison. On a basic level, I suppose generosity can be defined as someone giving freely without expecting anything in return. What is given may be one's time, assets, knowledge or skills.
Lindsey: I find your definition interesting as you mentioned giving freely without any expectation of receiving anything in return. Why would anyone want to give something to another without getting something back? Is that even possible?
Addison: Can you expand on that a bit for the audience?
Catharsis: I think what Lindsey means is that many people do not really give something freely. There is usually a reason that a person is generous other than just doing the right thing within one's means at the time.
Lindsey: It might be interesting to go through some of those reasons. How about someone giving just to look good in the eyes of the community?
Catharsis: I suspect there are many unsavory characters that make quite a good showing in the public's eyes by giving publicly with one hand, only to take back even more with the other when out of the public's view.
Lindsey: I would say that many politicians and businesspersons fit that example. Let's build that new bridge for the people!
Catharsis: Yeah, let's roll out that pork barrel legislation but don't tell anyone that the bridge building project was awarded to the politician's buddy who slipped him a sizeable chunk of money in return under the table.
Lindsey: <laugh> Perhaps he will keep the money safely in the freezer for the people.
Addison: That is an interesting point.
Catharsis: And let's not forget how many of the so-called generous people accumulated the financial means to donate those wonderful gifts back to the people.
Lindsey: What do you mean?
Catharsis: Many wealthy people and corporations today got wealthy in the first place through anything other than generous means. They stole patents and land; monopolized; traded in drugs, stolen goods, arms, blood diamonds, and sex trafficking; bribed politicians and government officials to look the other way so that they could bypass regulations; abused people through hard labor and experiments; and the list goes on.
Addison: What might another reason for being generous be?
Lindsey: How about a person doing something for another only to foster a sense that the other person now owes him something?
Catharsis: Ah, yes, the tit for tat system. The "I scratch your back, you scratch mine" way of thinking. Some people really love to get their backs scratched. I have found that a bamboo back scratcher works quite well and it does not cost me nearly as much as someone else scratching my back for me.
Lindsey: I am sure that is not the only thing some people would love to do to your back, Catharsis!
Catharsis: Yes, that is why I usually keep my back to the wall when I enter a room. Sometimes I bring Naruto with me to help make sure my back is protected.
Addison: Naruto can certainly get the job done there. It would be an interesting scientific experiment to see how many systems have been devised for keeping track of who owes whom when it comes to being generous. I wonder what the average ratio is of how many generous acts a person will do before they have to be repaid by the receiver.
Lindsey: In many cases, I am sure the limit is only one, if even that.
Catharsis: <laughs> I have seen people actually expressing pain on their faces while in the act of giving "generously." They seemed to be forced to do the act; and, as far as methods of keeping tally goes, I am sure there are people who have perfected the art of keeping track in an Excel spreadsheet or keep a tally book in their pocket.
Addison: Perhaps that is part of the off-the-book records some organizations such as the mafia carry around.
Catharsis: Guido take care of that guy, he owes us too many favors! When you hear the phrase forgeddaboudit from those guys, you better do just the opposite and remember. You might even want to change your name and leave the area for good.
Lindsey: <laughs> I certainly do not need a horse's head in my bed!
Addison: Yes, that gets a little messy. Are there any other reasons why a person might be generous?
Lindsey: Some people believe that if they perform good deeds, they will receive a far greater reward later for their actions.
Catharsis: Ah, yes, the reward layaway plan. Place good deeds into the magic box and it magically turns into a much larger reward for the giver later. That reminds me of the conmen who used to have people place a quarter in a box and it magically turned into a dollar bill. Of course, the box did not really work and the conman made quite a bundle from selling the box to the victim.
Lindsey: I don't think an act is truly generous if the giver does it to either gain a reward or to avoid a punishment of some kind.
Addison: Perhaps the best way to be generous is to do something because it is the right thing to do at the time and because you are capable of doing it. I read an article the other day that said chimpanzees are naturally generous when they understand another needs help. I also know that most children are generous in helping another they see in need.
Catharsis: <laughs> If that is the case, then that means I would rather take my chances in receiving help from a chimp or child rather than many adults.
Lindsey: <laughs> Perhaps they should put a few chimps and children on juries and on diplomatic teams.
Addison: <laughs> It would certainly make for an interesting situation. Let's go back to Lindsey's earlier question about whether it is possible to give generously without the expectation of getting something back.
It is certainly possible, and many are doing it. However, when you are brought up in a society which asks "What's in it for me?" the numbers of people being truly generous may not be as high as they should be for a better functioning society.
Catharsis: Doing kind acts for others is certainly good for society, and may keep Guido out of your bedroom.
Addison: That wraps it up for this segment. We welcome you to enjoy the related skits.