That's not true, I have many examples I've seen of people putting themselves second. Of course everyone has these thoughts and actions and needs to reflect and be self aware, but it's not true that everyone is just always out for themselves, in fact that's the type of world view that leads people into the wrong quadrant and it's a bit of a depressing world view. I think you understood exactly what I meant by wrong quadrant, from your reply.

Don't you know anyone that donates money? Or that volunteers their time? Or that doesn't use all their deductions when doing taxes? Haven't you read stories about people who anonymously donate kidneys? There's so many examples - and the only way for your world view to "work" is if all of them only do these things for selfish reasons.

At some point one has to acknowledge and believe in good and cooperation and decide if they mostly want to try and operate in coop mode or in selfish mode, but the more you believe others are likely to choose coop, the more like you are to do the same. So you need to start from the belief that good and coop are things other people will also choose. Your world view prevents this "from the start".

I'll drop in here and say that donating a kidney is an excellent relatively low risk thing you can do that has the power to transform someone's life. Here [0] is an excellent article telling one persons' story.

[0]: https://www.astralcodexten.com/p/my-left-kidney

Last i researched, donating a kidney affects your quality of life extra-ordinarily. for eg you can't eat the same way, can't exercise/move around the same way and also you might have permanent complications from the surgery. i MIGHT consider it for a close relative but for a stranger? that would require some real mental gymnastics.

From what I know, this isn't true. Nutritionally, the only thing you need to avoid is high-protein diets. You can exercise just fine after a 6 week recovery period.

Of course, it's impossible to predict complications. Some donors have died on the operating table. The risk of complication is very low, though.

If you have any other questions I'm happy to answer.

Sources

* https://www.livingdonorgames.org/

* https://www.kidneyregistry.org/for-donors/kidney-donation-bl...

* https://www.kidneyregistry.org/for-donors/i-want-to-learn-mo...

yeah id rather not cut out my literal organs for some random person thousands of miles away.

come the f on u for real?

In the US there are ~20,000 live kidney donations every year. ~200 of those are to stranger (the rest going to somebody the person knows).

There's more information about living kidney donation here: http://waitlistzero.org/living-donation/risks/

cool story

I understood that you were referring to the prisoners dilemma, but I dont understand or agree with your idea of living in a quadrant. Everyone lives with the same game theory, difference arises from individual incentives and indivdual intelligence/rationality. But ultimately everyone seeks the nash.

Donating money? Volunteering? Even donating a kidney can all categorically be understood in terms of individual gain.