It's impossible to be truly selfless if you consider selflessness to be acting strictly for the sake of others - because really, a kind person with no ulterior motive enjoys doing kindness for the sake of kindness. So it is for themselves as much as it is for others. Ultimately, people are driven by what makes them happy, even if that happiness comes from making other people happy too.
It's even possible to be selfish while acting selfless. If you constantly throw yourself at danger to fight evil and be a hero, you could be selfish in the eyes of people who care about you - who would much rather have someone else possibly die fighting evil than you.
Even the best of actions with the best of intentions can come with negative (selfish, cruel, evil) consequences. In Suikoden 2, a nation cleverly takes advantage of another's kindness by making said kindness turn against them - they release a massive amount of war prisoners, which a certain city readily takes in... and then they lay siege to the city and wait. With the increased population, the city's own supplies drain fast, and they eventually have to surrender, without a battle ever needing to happen.
Taking in the refugees was the good thing to do, but ultimately it led to the city's inhabitants also being made war prisoners.
I think it's extremely fun to play good guys, but I prefer the realistic approach to it. I like making them learn that good is relative and that their actions won't always be taken as good, or always have the intended result. It's really interesting, to me, to see good characters - who are, legitimately, trying to do the right thing - struggle with the notion that nothing is as black and white as they thought.
It's even possible to be selfish while acting selfless. If you constantly throw yourself at danger to fight evil and be a hero, you could be selfish in the eyes of people who care about you - who would much rather have someone else possibly die fighting evil than you.
Even the best of actions with the best of intentions can come with negative (selfish, cruel, evil) consequences. In Suikoden 2, a nation cleverly takes advantage of another's kindness by making said kindness turn against them - they release a massive amount of war prisoners, which a certain city readily takes in... and then they lay siege to the city and wait. With the increased population, the city's own supplies drain fast, and they eventually have to surrender, without a battle ever needing to happen.
Taking in the refugees was the good thing to do, but ultimately it led to the city's inhabitants also being made war prisoners.
I think it's extremely fun to play good guys, but I prefer the realistic approach to it. I like making them learn that good is relative and that their actions won't always be taken as good, or always have the intended result. It's really interesting, to me, to see good characters - who are, legitimately, trying to do the right thing - struggle with the notion that nothing is as black and white as they thought.
