There are two radically different impulses that human beings struggle with every day. On the one hand, there’s the instinct to be selfish, greedy, and self-interested to get ahead of the pack. On the other hand, people are also hardwired to be social, empathetic, and kind, so they want to help others. We tend to respect folks who set their own needs aside for the sake of the group.
#1
I thought it was noble how older Japanese people volunteered to help clean up the Fukushima reactor because they knew the horrors of radiation and that they wouldn't live as long as the younger generation who would have to worry about long term effects like cancer and leukemia. That takes a very deep understanding of the finite nature of your own life, and a strong sense of duty.
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107points
#2
In my state just the other day a older man pushed a group of little leaguers out of the way of an erratic driver (probably drunk but police haven’t confirmed) and took the hit from the car instead of the kids. He died on the way to the hospital. Literally took one for the little league team.
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62points
#3
Very minor, but I found it funny.
I'm a nurse, and I was cleaning up a patient who had been incontinent of stool. Unfortunately, it was quite a significant amount and the smell in the room was very strong. The patient was super sweet, and I felt bad for how embarrassed they were.
As soon as I was done, the doctor and his group of residents came in. The younger ones couldn't hide the look on their faces as the smell hit them, and my poor patient looked absolutely mortified.
I piped up "I'm sorry guys, that was me, I've been farting all day. My god, the farting!". Everyone had a good laugh, the patient included.
I'm a nurse, and I was cleaning up a patient who had been incontinent of stool. Unfortunately, it was quite a significant amount and the smell in the room was very strong. The patient was super sweet, and I felt bad for how embarrassed they were.
As soon as I was done, the doctor and his group of residents came in. The younger ones couldn't hide the look on their faces as the smell hit them, and my poor patient looked absolutely mortified.
I piped up "I'm sorry guys, that was me, I've been farting all day. My god, the farting!". Everyone had a good laugh, the patient included.
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59points
Altruism is all around you. However, it’s not always as dramatic as you see in the news or media, with people rescuing those in danger or donating vast swathes of their wealth to important causes. Kindness isn’t always loud.
You don’t have to do heroic acts to be altruistic. You can help people out in small ways, with no expectation of reward, every single day. This might involve holding the door for a stranger, giving a bit of your time or money to charity, showing concern for someone, etc.
As per Verywell Mind, there are several main types of altruistic behavior:
- Genetic altruism, where you help your close family members
- Reciprocal altruism which involves a give-and-take relationship, where you help someone because you expect them to help you out in the future
- Group-selected altruism, where you mainly help those individuals who are part of your social group
- Pure altruism, also known as moral altruism, is when you help someone without any reward, even when it’s risky. This type of altruism is “motivated by internalized values and morals.”
#4
Told my dad I was the one who dropped my brother, who was bleeding, instead of my sister because I was liked better and would've received a less severe punishment.
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53points
#5
When I was pretty young, like between the ages of 5-12 or something, me and my best friend were basically inseparable. The two of us used to be pretty mischievous, and got into a lot of trouble, especially in school. We'd spend a lot more time at my house than at his, and whenever one of my parents would get mad about something that we did, he would try to take all the blame himself. He told me years later that his parents were physically a*****e behind closed doors, and he assumed the same of every family. The reason he took the blame for everything was because he thought everyone's parents would beat them fairly regularly, but he knew that my parents would never touch him, because he wasn't their kid.
43points
#6
I took the blame for having w**d at school.
My friend who actually brought it was already in the care of child services and on the last line to go to juvi, the friend who was going to take the blame was in the same boat, then there was me, never so much as a detention.
The school knew I was lying but couldn’t prove it, had no choice but to expel me. The police didn’t press charges because again, they knew it wasn’t really me, I was the fall guy but nothing more. They felt bad for me I think, they could see I was a good person in with a crowd I had no business being with.
Looking back, I’m glad I did take the blame, not for my friends, they didn’t deserve the fall I took for them, they just used me many many times over but because it got me away from those toxic friends and environment and I actually got to finish high school somewhere else with a much better outlook on life and actual true friends.
My friend who actually brought it was already in the care of child services and on the last line to go to juvi, the friend who was going to take the blame was in the same boat, then there was me, never so much as a detention.
The school knew I was lying but couldn’t prove it, had no choice but to expel me. The police didn’t press charges because again, they knew it wasn’t really me, I was the fall guy but nothing more. They felt bad for me I think, they could see I was a good person in with a crowd I had no business being with.
Looking back, I’m glad I did take the blame, not for my friends, they didn’t deserve the fall I took for them, they just used me many many times over but because it got me away from those toxic friends and environment and I actually got to finish high school somewhere else with a much better outlook on life and actual true friends.
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41points
Of course, not all acts of kindness are altruistic. Your intent matters quite a bit. Some people are motivated by duty, obligation, guilt, or rewards. Prosocial behavior benefits other people, no matter your intent or what you get out of it, too. “While all altruistic acts are prosocial, not all prosocial behaviors are completely altruistic,” Verywell Mind explains.
According to Calm, some of the main explanations for why people are altruistic include the following ideas:
- The empathy-altruism hypothesis suggests that you’re more likely to help someone out because you feel empathy for them
- The social exchange theory states that acting selflessly is beneficial because you can benefit from it, feel good about yourself, or gain social approval
- Evolutionary psychology suggests that when you help other people, you increase the chances of you and your relatives surviving, therefore, passing on your shared genes
- Sociocultural theories posit that helping others is perceived as a moral duty and a valued cultural norm in many societies
#7
In high school I was the 1st Chair trumpet in band, along with one other experienced student, we had 2 new students one that transferred from a smaller school out of state and one who had been a kiss a*s to the band teacher and got put in the advanced band class.
Our band teacher was an absolute b***h, was to hard on every student and didn't properly lead the band, she was just there because we were a problem school and it looked good on her resume.
The student that had transferred from out of state was probably good at his old school but he didn't hold up to our standard, but he had 3 years of trumpet experience. But He made an effort every class to better him self, he would constantly ask for tips, help and practice sessions with me and the 2nd chair student.
But anytime he messed up during class practice the band teacher would slam her hands on the podium and scream at the trumpet section, she would ask who it was and even before he could answer the Kiss-a*s would point him out. Me and 2nd chair student confronted the teacher about this problem and that the transfer student was doing so much to improve and that we felt the Kiss-a*s should be sent back to beginning class as he had no prior experience with the trumpet and made no effort to improve himself.
She scoffed at us, brushed the problem off and didn't change a thing. So me and the 2nd chair knew what we had to do. Every time the Transfer student messed up we would immediately speak up and say that it was us. She never yelled at us like she did to the Transfer student but we didn't get off easy, but it was worth it.
She quit the next year, after I left Transfer student became first chair his Senior year and went on to join honor Band and then made it into college on his very impressive trumpet skills.
Our band teacher was an absolute b***h, was to hard on every student and didn't properly lead the band, she was just there because we were a problem school and it looked good on her resume.
The student that had transferred from out of state was probably good at his old school but he didn't hold up to our standard, but he had 3 years of trumpet experience. But He made an effort every class to better him self, he would constantly ask for tips, help and practice sessions with me and the 2nd chair student.
But anytime he messed up during class practice the band teacher would slam her hands on the podium and scream at the trumpet section, she would ask who it was and even before he could answer the Kiss-a*s would point him out. Me and 2nd chair student confronted the teacher about this problem and that the transfer student was doing so much to improve and that we felt the Kiss-a*s should be sent back to beginning class as he had no prior experience with the trumpet and made no effort to improve himself.
She scoffed at us, brushed the problem off and didn't change a thing. So me and the 2nd chair knew what we had to do. Every time the Transfer student messed up we would immediately speak up and say that it was us. She never yelled at us like she did to the Transfer student but we didn't get off easy, but it was worth it.
She quit the next year, after I left Transfer student became first chair his Senior year and went on to join honor Band and then made it into college on his very impressive trumpet skills.
37points
#8
Late to the party but we have to give credit where credit is due. My little brother and me were in the same after school day care. I was around 9 and he would have been 7.
There was lunch and they served broccoli casserole. Now today, I can eat broccoli, back then I'd barf. But they had this "everybody need to try" rule. I try a tiny amount and almost vomit. So my brother, being the hero he is and who also hated broccoli, manages to eat the rest off my plate like a boss.
He often enough annoyed the heck out of me, but at that moment he was my hero.
There was lunch and they served broccoli casserole. Now today, I can eat broccoli, back then I'd barf. But they had this "everybody need to try" rule. I try a tiny amount and almost vomit. So my brother, being the hero he is and who also hated broccoli, manages to eat the rest off my plate like a boss.
He often enough annoyed the heck out of me, but at that moment he was my hero.
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36points
#9
Newspaper chain I worked for was doing cuts at our daily chain, was set to fire two guys. Editor, already at retirement age but far from wanting to retire, told the bosses it would be disgraceful to fire one of the young reporters and said he’d retire as long as the kid kept his job. Guy was surly, but he appreciated good community journalism.
31points
What is the most selfless and kind thing that you’ve personally seen a person do for the sake of someone else, dear Pandas? What is the most altruistic thing that you’ve done ‘for the team’ in your life, whether heroically dramatic or subtle?
Have you done any small acts of kindness today yet? We honestly can’t wait to read what you have to say. Share your experiences in the comments below.
#10
TL;DR Took one for the team and ended up drinking two heaping cups of rotten goat soup in the Kenyan wilderness.
This happened 11 years ago. I went to Kenya as part of a summer humanitarian aid mission organized by my university. They split the group into trios and sent the smaller groups to different Maasai tribes to report on the current living conditions.
Three weeks in, we are invited to a public assembly. In that certain area water was pretty scarce, so we had only access to half a liter a day. We rationed our supply like hawks, and pretty much adapted to the conditions.
So we get to the assembly and turns out some hyenas had k****d a couple of goats two nights before and now the community had to make a report to the government so they could be reimbursed. The goats' corpses were kept in a wheelbarrow outside, next to a huge boiling cauldron.
The guy from our trip was asked to meet the men from the assembly, who were gathered next to the fire.
My other female companion and me were asked to wait in the kitchen. We were frequently invited over to have tea, so this was normal. Two cups of a dark liquid are given to us, and honestly I thought it was bean soup so I took a sip.
It wasn't tea. Later our unit mate told us the elders were scraping all the leftover fat from the goats and melting it in the pot to make soup. Imagine tasting two day old rancid animal fat, which is so liquified it will cover the inside of your mouth, your lips and throat with a fine layer of rotten oil.
We had few rules and one of them was never ever sending food back. Therefore I downed my soup like a champ, only to see my companion look at me and say: "Take one for the team, please.".
You see, we had this other rule that each of us got a free pass by saying this quote. It could only be used once, and if you were asked you couldn't refuse.
I took the heaping cup and downed it. Only this time I felt how my stomach closed, and I felt the soup coming up with a little bit of vomit. I put both of my hands over my greasy lips to not throw up, and passed the soup and vomit mixture down again.
My hands, my lips, and my mouth smelled like death. And there was no water to wash it away. We walked several miles to reach a watering hole fed by a Kilimanjaro stream. I didn't care about giarda, or the fact that cows drank from the same spot. I just drank and washed myself as best as I could.
And that's how I took one for the team.
This happened 11 years ago. I went to Kenya as part of a summer humanitarian aid mission organized by my university. They split the group into trios and sent the smaller groups to different Maasai tribes to report on the current living conditions.
Three weeks in, we are invited to a public assembly. In that certain area water was pretty scarce, so we had only access to half a liter a day. We rationed our supply like hawks, and pretty much adapted to the conditions.
So we get to the assembly and turns out some hyenas had k****d a couple of goats two nights before and now the community had to make a report to the government so they could be reimbursed. The goats' corpses were kept in a wheelbarrow outside, next to a huge boiling cauldron.
The guy from our trip was asked to meet the men from the assembly, who were gathered next to the fire.
My other female companion and me were asked to wait in the kitchen. We were frequently invited over to have tea, so this was normal. Two cups of a dark liquid are given to us, and honestly I thought it was bean soup so I took a sip.
It wasn't tea. Later our unit mate told us the elders were scraping all the leftover fat from the goats and melting it in the pot to make soup. Imagine tasting two day old rancid animal fat, which is so liquified it will cover the inside of your mouth, your lips and throat with a fine layer of rotten oil.
We had few rules and one of them was never ever sending food back. Therefore I downed my soup like a champ, only to see my companion look at me and say: "Take one for the team, please.".
You see, we had this other rule that each of us got a free pass by saying this quote. It could only be used once, and if you were asked you couldn't refuse.
I took the heaping cup and downed it. Only this time I felt how my stomach closed, and I felt the soup coming up with a little bit of vomit. I put both of my hands over my greasy lips to not throw up, and passed the soup and vomit mixture down again.
My hands, my lips, and my mouth smelled like death. And there was no water to wash it away. We walked several miles to reach a watering hole fed by a Kilimanjaro stream. I didn't care about giarda, or the fact that cows drank from the same spot. I just drank and washed myself as best as I could.
And that's how I took one for the team.
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30points
#11
I once intervened at the last second so that my sister would vomit on me because I was easier to clean than the carpet.
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29points
#12
Where I work we get audited by auditors every few years just so they can see we're following compliance laws and policies set forth by the company. I just joined in to the company less than 7 months and all the staff were playing hide and seek when the auditor stepped into the room. They wanted to observe and shadow an employee and no one volunteerrd or had the balls to show up. I eventually said f**k it and elected myself just so we could wrap that s**t up and the auditor could leave. Passed with flying colors and company got a f*****g bonus. Was too early to ask for a raise sadly.
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27points
#13
When I worked at the golden arches we had a customer... A*****e... S**t paint the stall in the men's room. I was heavily pregnant so I noped the hell out of that. I offered an incentive to whatever poor soul went in to clean it. Debates on who would do it lasted about 15 minutes and one of my more troublesome crew members decided he really wanted an hour break, paid, so he volunteered. He spent 2 hours doing the task, with repeated trips outside to puke. After he was done, I called my boss and explained, with photos, what happened and sent the guy home 4 hours early and paid his entire shift. I had to replace his uniform, just so he could drive home. We torched the old one.
Edit- this got a lot of attention!
I didn't make the rules, no boss of mine was gonna call a hazmat team over this! I definitely disagree with that, on a personal level.
I gave the employee what I could. Was it worth it? F**k no! That's why I consider it taking one for the team. Keep in mind, the company that won't pay for hazmat isn't gonna do much, I got him half his day off, paid, it's all I could give him. I wish I could have done more. Like not be put in a position to make someone clean human waste.
I honestly would have done it myself had I not been literally days from giving birth... It was a s****y situation.
Edit- this got a lot of attention!
I didn't make the rules, no boss of mine was gonna call a hazmat team over this! I definitely disagree with that, on a personal level.
I gave the employee what I could. Was it worth it? F**k no! That's why I consider it taking one for the team. Keep in mind, the company that won't pay for hazmat isn't gonna do much, I got him half his day off, paid, it's all I could give him. I wish I could have done more. Like not be put in a position to make someone clean human waste.
I honestly would have done it myself had I not been literally days from giving birth... It was a s****y situation.
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25points
#14
It was a get-together with a bunch of coworkers on Friday night and we all decide to go to a nightclub. The bouncer denies the group and tells me the reason after I take him to the side. He thinks two of the women do not fit the club's ideal "image". He would let us in if we ditched the two girls.
One of the girls comes up to me and asks why they couldn't get in and half-jokingly accuses me. I say, "...umm yeah it's because of me." And then she proceeds to tell the group it's my fault they couldn't get in. I keep my mouth shut.
One of the girls comes up to me and asks why they couldn't get in and half-jokingly accuses me. I say, "...umm yeah it's because of me." And then she proceeds to tell the group it's my fault they couldn't get in. I keep my mouth shut.
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25points
#15
When I was 16 I took my GED. Passed with close to 100%. It impressed the people at the community college and they offered me a small scholarship. That coupled with grants allowed me to attend full time. I was the only minor staying at the dorms. One evening we got a little too rowdy and the police came. I said all the booze was mine and since I was a minor, I got off with a ticket. Anyone else would have went to jail.
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24points
#16
When I was around 10 my friend and I were front flipping onto a mattress in my basement. My dad had just put wood panel on the walls to complete our basement renovation.
My friend did a front flip and his foot went through the wall. My friend’s dad was a big scary man who always yelled at him. So I told my dad it was me.
My dad ended up suuuuper pissed, went down the street to consult another Dad on what to do about the whole thing. I sat in my room ~~balling~~ bawling my eyes because I was so afraid of what was going to happen to me.
My dad came back, gave me a hug, and told me he loved me. He explained that people make mistakes, and turned it into a life lesson.
In a way, it created a really good memory of my dad, so I didn’t really “take one for the team”.
Heck, maybe my friends a*****e dad would’ve responded the same way, and created a bond with him, and I made him miss out on that.....probably not though.
My friend did a front flip and his foot went through the wall. My friend’s dad was a big scary man who always yelled at him. So I told my dad it was me.
My dad ended up suuuuper pissed, went down the street to consult another Dad on what to do about the whole thing. I sat in my room ~~balling~~ bawling my eyes because I was so afraid of what was going to happen to me.
My dad came back, gave me a hug, and told me he loved me. He explained that people make mistakes, and turned it into a life lesson.
In a way, it created a really good memory of my dad, so I didn’t really “take one for the team”.
Heck, maybe my friends a*****e dad would’ve responded the same way, and created a bond with him, and I made him miss out on that.....probably not though.
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21points
#17
Mate directing a film recounted the time they were filming on snow, with a horse.
The horse decided to do what horses do and take a giant dump. The handler dove forward and caught it in his bare hands so it wouldn't f**k the snow up for the shot. Dead silence, and a massive wave of respect ensued from the entire crew.
The horse decided to do what horses do and take a giant dump. The handler dove forward and caught it in his bare hands so it wouldn't f**k the snow up for the shot. Dead silence, and a massive wave of respect ensued from the entire crew.
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19points
#18
My brother accidentally hit me with a golf club and split my lip open when I was like 11. Despite blood pouring out of my face and the insane amount of pain I helped him hide all the evidence and made up a story about me falling off the monkey bars. My parents still dont know, but if they did he probably wouldnt be alive today. 8 stitches later (with no numbing) and about 12 years later I still remind him of that whe he acts like a b***h.
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18points
#19
Not "big" but there's a guy in my band class that HATES this girl named Abby. She's one of the nicest people that I've ever met, but this guy hates her with every fiber of his being. He yells at her and argues with her every chance that he gets.
One day, she accidentally knocked over a music stand and the sheet music on the stand went everywhere. He stormed over and started yelling at her until I said "I knocked it over. Abby didn't."
I was near the stand when it fell over, so he believed me and started yelling at me instead.
He's such a p***k. F**k you Ethan.
One day, she accidentally knocked over a music stand and the sheet music on the stand went everywhere. He stormed over and started yelling at her until I said "I knocked it over. Abby didn't."
I was near the stand when it fell over, so he believed me and started yelling at me instead.
He's such a p***k. F**k you Ethan.
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18points
#20
My neighbor jumped in front of a bus because his dog got loose and ran onto the road where the bus was going to hit him. The dude is now paralyzed.
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17points