And In Last Place...

I like to think of myself as a pretty good citizen, brother, son, student, friend and writer. Not top-of-the-range. I have my foibles, my weaknesses, my let-downs. But at the same time I don't think I'm a failure. I do my best to achieve my tasks, meet my goals, and be as friendly as I can. But, as I plunder through life doing whatever my limited ethical knowledge tells me is right, I get the feeling that the only proverb worth taking note of is 'Nice Guys Finish Last'. I don't profess to be a fountain of all knowledge, but often I end up talking to people about their problems. They trust me. And trust me, they have quite a few. Everyone has problems at one time in their lives, and it's nice to have someone to talk to. People like to talk, and I like to listen. It's a two-way thing and it works fine. People also like generosity. A bit of altrusim never hurt anyone, and if I can help out by lending (or giving) things out then I will. It doesn't bother me - I'm not looking for anything particular in return. Maybe a bit of friendship, a bit of acknowledgement. Not my name up in lights, not a round of applause and a medal. People like sacrifice, too. Not material things, like lending money or sharing food. Sacrificing time, work, enjoyment - for the sake of other people. If I'm in a really helpful mood, I'll put aside my time for other people, especially when they really need it. Or at least, I like to think so. I dn't go out of my way to find people who are down and comfort them - I'm no saint, I know that. But people, you see, are somewhat fickle. And at the end of the day, all of us - myself included - would rather choose 'me' than 'you', or even 'us'. 'Me' is the constant, the necessary, the important. 'Me' is what separates them from you, I from us. Like they say - there's no I in TEAM, but if you look hard enough you'll find 'Me'. And once people find 'Me' they realise that they were never looking for 'Team' in the first place. And so, back from the sideroad that I so often lead you down and back to what I'm trying to say. And what am I trying to say? I'm trying to say that nice guys really do finish last. Because, although we all cherish these virtues, these excellencies of the human character, we only really value them when they are benefitting me, myself and I. Justice is only pleasing when the balance swings in our favour. Truth is only liberating when it is beneficial truths that we are given. At the end of the day, it is those that have the killer instinct, who aren't afraid to push people aside, to take the offers of others whilst not giving too many away themselves - it is those people that really succeed in life. The rest? Those who are too afraid - or too 'noble' - to push and shove when necessary? They sink to the list of 'People I'd Like To Thank'. They are a stepping stone in someone else's path, too busy being trodden on to make any progress themselves. So what am I saying? Am I saying that virtue is useless? Am I saying that people need to be more ruthless? Am I warning all those that know me that I am about to become meaner, decisive and exacting? Or am I saying that it is the virtuous people that are the foundation of society? That is a decision for you to make. If you decide that I am talking bullshit and that the way you live your life is not cold, or ruthless, or self-centred, then so be it. Your thinking that does not make me wrong, nor does it make me right. Like I say, I like to think of myself as a pretty good citizen, brother, son, student, friend and writer. Not top-of-the-range. I have my foibles, my weaknesses, my let-downs. But at the same time I don't think I'm a failure. I do my best to achieve my tasks, meet my goals, and be as friendly as I can. But, as I plunder through life doing whatever my limited ethical knowledge tells me is right, I get the feeling that the only proverb worth taking note of is 'Nice Guys Finish Last'.