Are some people just less valuable than others?

I don't mean Average person vs war hero or serial killer, I mean average vs average person.

-35 points · 36 comments · view on lemmy.world

36 Comments

remon@ani.social · 15 pts · 22h

There is no intrinsic value to people. Only the value others assign to them. So it really depends on who you're asking. A racist would probably assign less value to the people they are racist against, for example.

slazer2au@lemmy.world · 11 pts · 20h (1 reply)

OPs username checks out.

WorldsDumbestMan@lemmy.today · 2 pts · 19h

Does not mean I believe that this is how it should be.

tyo_ukko@sopuli.xyz · 8 pts · 20h (7 replies)

You could definitely assign some measure of value to people, such as how much tax they pay or something like that.

However, you wouldn't want to live in a society that does so.

BlameThePeacock@lemmy.ca · 3 pts · 17h (2 replies)

You might not want to look into how your government makes decisions then. They do actually make those types of decisions all the time. Everything from safety regulations to auto insurance involves measuring the value of human life.

tyo_ukko@sopuli.xyz · 1 pts · 15h (1 reply)

Yes, of course. I was interpreting the question as more explicit valuation like social credit etc.

BlameThePeacock@lemmy.ca · 1 pts · 6h

Social credit doesn't measure valuation at all. It measures compliance with government.

WorldsDumbestMan@lemmy.today · 1 pts · 19h (3 replies)

Well, the question is based on well, experience.

So I want to see what everyone else thinks based on this.

tyo_ukko@sopuli.xyz · 1 pts · 18h (2 replies)

Care to elaborate on this ... experience?

WorldsDumbestMan@lemmy.today · 1 pts · 16h (1 reply)

I have a friend that is just threated like shit by her siblings and parents, who starved her, even though she graduated as an engineer, and was close to getting a job. She keept fainting at work, at least that's the story.

They still treat her awful, and sabotage her every chance they can. She is temporary disabled due to malnutrition, and would easily be able to provide for herself if not for that.

I myself I guess, my opinion is automaticaly treated as invalid, just because it's me saying it. Just because I had some very...weird logic, people automatically dismiss my opinions, tell me it's all in my head when I'm sick.

I was practicaly run out on a rail in several places. I feel that I'm missing some ability that I should have, and also that I have a few moral stains, and that people treat others around me better for that.

tyo_ukko@sopuli.xyz · 2 pts · 15h

Sorry to hear it happened to you. I hope things are better now. Some people are just toxic, I suppose.

RodgeGrabTheCat@sh.itjust.works · 6 pts · 21h

Depends on how one defines "valuable".

I see a surgeon as being more beneficial to society than a homeless person through saving lives.

I also see a homeless person as more beneficial to society than a big tech ceo through their respective carbon footprints.

starlinguk@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 20h

People are not things.

Danika7@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 16h (2 replies)

The Divine Essence Of Our Beings is The One And Same Source that we all inherently share. No one is better than, or less than anyone else.

WorldsDumbestMan@lemmy.today · 0 pts · 13h

What if they do great deeds, or immoral deeds? In this theoretical state? I am fine with any answer btw, just curious on your thoughts.

jerkface@lemmy.ca · -1 pts · 16h

Unless you are a cow, pig, or chicken. Those guys have no moral value whatsoever, you can do literally anything to them and it's A-okay

Zwuzelmaus@feddit.org · 4 pts · 20h

Every human is extremely valuable. And equally. It makes no sense to compare, or to calculate a difference between two.

LORDSMEGMA@sh.itjust.works · 4 pts · 17h

Value is a completely subjective measurement and a pretty fuckin dumb thing to apply to people

Lexam@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 18h

From an actuary standpoint? Yes.

crimson_iris@piefed.social · 3 pts · 21h (2 replies)

Define 'average.'

Zwuzelmaus@feddit.org · 3 pts · 19h

Define 'average.'

Square root of ( x1 squared + x2 squared) / 2

WorldsDumbestMan@lemmy.today · 1 pts · 19h

Person not particulary attrocious or virtous.

lithiumground@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 19h (3 replies)

In capitalist and real world ,yes

BlameThePeacock@lemmy.ca · 2 pts · 17h (1 reply)

Capitalism has nothing to do with that. Monarchies are the most obvious example of "some people are better and some are lesser"

WorldsDumbestMan@lemmy.today · 1 pts · 17h

I have seen someone on Lemmy comment about getting rid of people who make short comments/don't add much to the conversation on Lemmy. That was...interesting to see.

WorldsDumbestMan@lemmy.today · 1 pts · 17h

Sad reality man.

blackbrook@mander.xyz · 3 pts · 17h (2 replies)

What to you think "valuable" means?

WorldsDumbestMan@lemmy.today · 1 pts · 16h (1 reply)

In general, people think one person deserves less than another. Like, you don't belong in this high place, you belong in the slums type of thing. Or one person being a priority in medicine over another.

I feel that a lot of people think this way, even if I generaly don't. I like, have special respect for teachers, Doctors, people who save lives, but I really actually love being around (trustworthy) people who believe themselves "losers". I love raising their egos.

blackbrook@mander.xyz · 2 pts · 11h

Ok, but don't doesn't context matter? Not only is valuable meaningless without a "to whom", it is meaningless without a "for what"? A doctor I might love being around might not be my choice for who is going to operate on me. The Dr I want operating on me, I might find unbearable to be around. As far as who deserves to be in a slum or to live in as palace, "deserve's got nothing to do with it."

Kolanaki@pawb.social · 3 pts · 9h

Everyone with no money is worth infinitely more than everyone with all the money.

HubertManne@piefed.social · 2 pts · 17h (3 replies)

yes but it depends on the situation. what is valued now is different than what was valued in the past. what is valued in a democracy is different than what is valued in an autocracy. innate value no but people can choose to not express their value to if that value does not come back to them.

WorldsDumbestMan@lemmy.today · 1 pts · 17h (2 replies)

Interesting answer. I feel that even if we don't assign values, society has inherent values on people (Poor people get less healthcare, higher tax rates, bills, go in ripped clothes to a restoraunt, and see what happens).

I personaly try to talk to friends equaly if possible, but I would move out of the way for a veteran right away, and tend to treat other people as being more worth than me.

I feel that they have a "something" that makes them more of a person.

I also have a higher respect for Doctors/Engineers/scientists and really like those (but not sure that counts as seeing them as "worth" more per-se).

There's also the moral dimension. See what happens to cheaters for example. Not that I condone that, I just think people should avoid them for closed relationships.

HubertManne@piefed.social · 2 pts · 16h (1 reply)

honestly I get pissed at the veteran and firs responder stuff. Sorry your the same as everyone else. People still benefit from the buildings construction workers made.

WorldsDumbestMan@lemmy.today · 1 pts · 13h

I am literally a blue collar worker man, not a veteran whatsoever.

Who in their right mind would let me handle a grenade?

I literally need a special driving license in some places.

iceberg314@slrpnk.net · 2 pts · 10h

We are all waves on a single ocean. It some ways it is silly to compare one wave to another because they are just a single body of water

IWW4@lemmy.zip · 0 pts · 19h

Yes