<p>pandem, you make it look like the only motivator in one’s life is pride (or wanting to be better, wanting to be the best?) I gave you an example on the previous page, but you did not respond to it in any manner, and continued arguing that there is no other reason to do things. As I have said, people set goals, and people perform the actions needed to accomplish those goals. If you think that everyone’s goals are related to satisfying their basic instincts (I will have the hotteset girlfriend, I will have the best car, I will have the most lucrative job, etc.), then well, you are wrong – I know a lot (literally) people who do ‘things’ because they have set a goal, and want to accomplish it. Also, if you think that communists/socialists are against pride, then you should read about USSR history, Stakhanovite ideology (people worked more than it was needed, overproduced, and were proud of it), the pride that USSR athletes had when they got gold medals on Olympics, and so on. Heck, I know some members of local Communist ‘party,’ who are proud of their individual accomplishments. Yea, maybe in the end they are doing it for the sake of Communism or whatever, but they still experience the feeling, and sometimes can’t contain it (that’s when it comes to arrogance). Your statements are very generalizing and not exact.</p>
<p>But in the end, what do you mean by pride? You know, I have done quite well in high school, did pretty good on all those SATs, performed a lot of work dedicated to improve the living conditions in this region, helped talented students find places to study, etc. Why am I supposed to be proud? Maybe I am proud, I just don’t realize it. I have done all these things having specific goals in mind (pride was not the very reason itself), and I feel satisfaction because now I, and the society as a whole is somewhat closer to my aim. Is the satisfaction - pride? Or would pride be “OMG I AM SO COOL, I JUST SAVED 10 KIDS FROM STARVATION”?</p>