Why Americans keep getting fatter

[Punkus]

How does selfishness preclude not accepting responsibility for one's actions?

I need to expand on what I said a bit more, I think. I realize it may not seem like much of a distinction(and indeed by strict definition it may not), but I very purposely used the word "self-centered" and not "selfish."

As a hobby psychologist coming from parents who both worked in medical psychiatry, and who himself has dealt with a lot of issues revolving around blame and responsibility (even within my own family, and myself), there seems to be a strong correlation between how understanding and accepting a person is concerning those around him or her and that person's willingness to accept responsibility for a negative consequence which they took some role in bringing about.

You can call me jaded or perhaps a little pessimistic, and you would be right. Though I try to give every individual person the benefit of the doubt, I am well convinced our culture does not breed a healthy balance between satisfying the self and making sure that others do not suffer unnecessarily at the expense of achieving that goal.

And that brings me to the next part of my post:

people like me (who eat healthy, don't smoke, and exercise) end up paying for it in terms of my health insurance premiums, my taxes for social services

I completely agree, and I think this is an argument that is valuable both to those who feel we should collectively help others manage their diets, as well as those who might otherwise want to leave well enough alone.

Don't forget that when those people inevitably end up in the hospital, they put a lot of other people (paramedics, nurses, nursing assistants, transporters, techs, etc.) at serious risk of back injury.

Lol. In a not-completely-correct-but-still-funny way.

[Surlethe]

How does selfishness preclude not accepting responsibility for one's actions?

I need to expand on what I said a bit more, I think. I realize it may not seem like much of a distinction(and indeed by strict definition it may not), but I very purposely used the word "self-centered" and not "selfish."

So? If you admit there's little to no distinction, then why make note of it?

As a hobby psychologist coming from parents who both worked in medical psychiatry, and who himself has dealt with a lot of issues revolving around blame and responsibility (even within my own family, and myself), there seems to be a strong correlation between how understanding and accepting a person is concerning those around him or her and that person's willingness to accept responsibility for a negative consequence which they took some role in bringing about.

This is unsurprising. After all, understanding and accepting are intertwined with sympathy, and sympathy for others aids in accepting responsibility for actions which have harmed others.

[Darth Wong]

It's sad that the only form of "duty to society" that most people seem to understand is the military variety. There really is something to be said for the idea that people have a responsibility to society rather than thinking exclusively of their own happiness and their own rights.

[Lisa]

After reading the article I want a bag of chips.

[TC Pilot]

It's sad that the only form of "duty to society" that most people seem to understand is the military variety. There really is something to be said for the idea that people have a responsibility to society rather than thinking exclusively of their own happiness and their own rights.

That's John Locke for you.