| My definition agrees with the dictionary definition, which I don't consider very loose. You can still help someone without being altruistic. Intent is the difference between murder and manslaughter, so I recognize I tread a fine line here, unlike the aforementioned, I do not see a reason to differentiate between the following two actions: a) I let someone stay the night in my house and they offered me $60 as a thank you in return for the hospitality, I initially decline but they continue to insist so I take the $60. b) I charged for someone to stay the night in my house and they agreed to pay $60 to stay at my house instead of an alternative place (and/or sleeping in their car/on the street) I guess as a couchsurfer I have a different moral perspective about the act of sleeping in someone's house, offering money, accepting money, and bargaining. E: A reply to this comment was deleted, comparing that A helps all people and B helps people "willing to pay". My response to that is below: You're still helping someone in either scenario. The pool of people you are willing or able to help is smaller in B than A, but you are still helping someone. Again - helping someone else does not need to be a selfless, altruistic act. "Instead of spending $80 at a hotel, you can spend $60 at my place and you can join me for dinner." By saving you $20, I have helped you. You saved $60 and had a place to sleep. Your alternatives were: 1. Sleep in car for free
2. Find someone willing to help you for cheaper and/or free
3. Sleep at a more expensive place
By giving you a superior option to 1 and 3 and you failing to find 2, I am still helping you. Would I be more altruistic if I let you stay for free? Sure. But to say I'm not helping you when I'm saving you $20 is stretching the definition of "help" to include altruistic behavior. |