Pretty scummy stuff by Samsung, this. The company apologised, but what it shows is just how warped tech reporting and blogging really is. Websites are dependent on review items, early access, and press invites, and we really have no idea just how much this influences reporting. Do you really think that reviewers and bloggers who are too critical will get invited to the next product unveil in Cupertino or will get early access to the next Galaxy device? If so, I have a palace to sell you.
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Member since:2005-06-29
Well, I think that was what I meant by "humanitarian feelings". 
It may just be my opinion, but I consider a selfless act one in which I do not gain a measurable profit, e.g., wealth, power, dominance, sustenance, etc. There's nothing wrong with feeling good about helping someone with no tangible return.
As an example, about a year ago I came across an older gentleman whose car was disabled in the parking lot of the market I stopped at to get a drink, on a very hot day. I didn't think twice about getting a second bottle of diet soda (just in case he was diabetic) and handing it to him on the way out. I didn't ask for anything from him, but I did offer to look at his car as I'm a competent mechanic. He declined that offer, saying he had someone on the way, but he gladly took the drink and even tried to pay me for it. I knew he didn't have enough money as he would have bought his own drink, so I declined and wished him well.
Now, sure, I felt really good about what I did, but that wasn't what made me do it. I looked at him the same as I would a family member or friend. I did it on impulse without thinking twice because it was the right thing to do, because that was how I was raised.
Member since:2006-02-15
I never said it is wrong, but it still is based on a selfish motive.
Actually, from a psychological standpoint that's how you were conditioned to behave. You wouldn't be doing that if you didn't receive a small boost on your endorphine levels.
I know it sounds rather harsh and it's quite clearly not how you wish to see it -- you obviously feel better about romanticizing the notion of doing something for the benefit of others -- but that is how it works from psychological and physiological standpoint.
Member since:
2006-02-15
Actually no, such is still driven by selfish motives: you get a "feel good" feedback from performing such acts, ie. you do it to please yourself. Everything we human beings do voluntarily is driven by selfish motives, whether it be helping out some random person we meet, agreeing to do something we don't really want to but believe we'll benefit in one way or another in the long run or be able to avoid some negative feelings/consequences and so on. The only things we do that aren't driven by selfish motives are those that we do not do voluntarily.
The difference comes from the type of selfish reward we are aiming for with some people preferring tangible, physical rewards, some people preferring the intangible rewards, some people feeling that being able to avoid something is a reward enough in and of itself and so on. I, for example, help out people simply because it makes me feel good about myself -- that is clearly driven by the selfish need to boost my own perception of who I am, even if the end result is that I end up benefiting someone else while doing that.
Basic psychology.