• ElderWendigo@sh.itjust.works
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    115
    arrow-down
    12
    ·
    8 months ago

    ‘Struggle with generosity’ is to greed, like ‘died as a result of an officer involved shooting’ is to murder.

    • otp@sh.itjust.works
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      40
      arrow-down
      4
      ·
      8 months ago

      I would say there’s a distinction.

      “I want more” is different from “I don’t want to share”.

      • geogle@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        26
        ·
        8 months ago

        The American heritage dictionary definition 1: ^ An excessive desire to acquire or possess more than what one needs or deserves, especially with respect to material wealth.

        Seems that both fall squarely within the definition of greed.

        • otp@sh.itjust.works
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          8
          arrow-down
          5
          ·
          8 months ago

          If the other commenter’s point is that “struggling with generosity” is just another way to say “greed”, then I think that’s overly reductionist

          • ElderWendigo@sh.itjust.works
            link
            fedilink
            arrow-up
            2
            ·
            8 months ago

            Obviously, but not overly unless you’re being intentionally obtuse. Making abstract statements kinda requires reducing them to an common element, theme, or dimension. That’s what abstraction and syllogism are all about.

        • thesilverpig@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          3
          ·
          8 months ago

          I give you kudos for going American Heritage. It’s the best American English Dictionary. Way better than Webster.

          • Resonosity@lemmy.world
            link
            fedilink
            arrow-up
            1
            ·
            edit-2
            8 months ago

            Friendly reminder that a website like OneLook.com compiles dictionaries and thesauruses from all of the major, reputable sources, including the American Heritage Dictionary and Merriam-Webster.

        • Donkter@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          12
          arrow-down
          1
          ·
          8 months ago

          You could be unwilling to share what you have while also not desiring more of what you have. They are just two different concepts.

        • V4sh3r@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          5
          arrow-down
          1
          ·
          8 months ago

          Not wanting to share my fries doesn’t automatically mean I also want more fries than I already have.

      • SLVRDRGN@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        1
        ·
        8 months ago

        Well the definition of greed is:

        intense and selfish desire for something, especially wealth, power, or food.

        Both “I want more” and “I don’t want to share” are a type of greed. Even if the definition is more like needs more of something, not wanting to share feels like a form of needing more time than you need with an object. At least that’s how I’m looking at it.

        • Kyrgizion@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          2
          ·
          8 months ago

          True. I guess I’m guilty of “I want more” as much as the next guy. But I don’t suffer from the “I don’t want to share” part. If everyone gets more, we all rise up. A good tide lifts all ships.