I've heard many girls ask why guys like girls with long hair more. Here is my explanation:
Traditionally guys wear their hair short and girls wear their hair long. Think of it, how many guys you know would look better with long hair? I think the answer is: not many. Sure, some handsome or artistic-looking fellows may look great with a lengthy hairstyle, but these guys are definitely in the minority.
Hence, we can extrapolate from this that the percentage of girls who look good with short hair are also in the minority.
Friday, December 21, 2012
Monday, December 17, 2012
Good deeds
Many people express the sentiment that one should not expect returns for one's good deeds; the act of doing good should be ample reward in itself. Though I admire the nobility of this sentiment, I cannot agree with it in the larger picture.
Let me relate a story. A long time ago in China, when it was split into several countries, the master sage Confucius had a disciple who was traveling outside his own nation. This disciple came upon a fellow countryman who had been sold as a slave, so he took out his purse and paid the required amount of money necessary to free the man, who was naturally very thankful.
When the disciple returned to his own country, he told Confucius of this. Confucius commended his act and told him to claim the amount of money he had spent with the government. At that time, in their nation there was a law saying that if money was spent to save a fellow citizen from slavery in a foreign country, the government would reimburse the giver.
Confucius' disciple declined, saying that he was willing to perform this good deed using his own funds. Upon hearing this, Confucius insisted that he reclaim the money from the government. The disciple was puzzled: why would Confucius prevent him from doing a good deed?
The sage then explained: "If you spend your own money to save this man, all our country will admire you. However in the future, if other men see our fellows being enslaved overseas, how will they act? Will they save them then come and claim the expense? That would make them look petty next to your example. Yet if they do not claim the expense the cost to themselves would be significant."
"The logical outcome is that they pretend not to notice when they see our people being sold into slavery," Confucius concluded.
Therefore, is it wise for us to expect people to do good purely out of the nobility of their hearts? Such nobility does exist, but we should never count on it from day to day, as it could be worn out by constant use.
Much better to promote a culture where goodness is seen and recognized, and rewarded by praise and respect. The recipient of kindness should constantly think how to repay it. For we all act in our self-interest, and if such self-interest can be aligned with the interest of society, the motivation for helping others will be significantly stronger than solely altruism.
Let me relate a story. A long time ago in China, when it was split into several countries, the master sage Confucius had a disciple who was traveling outside his own nation. This disciple came upon a fellow countryman who had been sold as a slave, so he took out his purse and paid the required amount of money necessary to free the man, who was naturally very thankful.
When the disciple returned to his own country, he told Confucius of this. Confucius commended his act and told him to claim the amount of money he had spent with the government. At that time, in their nation there was a law saying that if money was spent to save a fellow citizen from slavery in a foreign country, the government would reimburse the giver.
Confucius' disciple declined, saying that he was willing to perform this good deed using his own funds. Upon hearing this, Confucius insisted that he reclaim the money from the government. The disciple was puzzled: why would Confucius prevent him from doing a good deed?
The sage then explained: "If you spend your own money to save this man, all our country will admire you. However in the future, if other men see our fellows being enslaved overseas, how will they act? Will they save them then come and claim the expense? That would make them look petty next to your example. Yet if they do not claim the expense the cost to themselves would be significant."
"The logical outcome is that they pretend not to notice when they see our people being sold into slavery," Confucius concluded.
Therefore, is it wise for us to expect people to do good purely out of the nobility of their hearts? Such nobility does exist, but we should never count on it from day to day, as it could be worn out by constant use.
Much better to promote a culture where goodness is seen and recognized, and rewarded by praise and respect. The recipient of kindness should constantly think how to repay it. For we all act in our self-interest, and if such self-interest can be aligned with the interest of society, the motivation for helping others will be significantly stronger than solely altruism.
Friday, December 14, 2012
(Fiction) The Princess and the Dragon
In a land far far away, and a time long long ago, there lived a young prince. He was the last of a proud and noble family; both his elder brothers had perished on quests to rescue the most beautiful princess in the world, locked up in a crystal tower guarded by a fearsome dragon. His eldest brother had been the greatest warrior in the land, but he never rode back from single combat with the dread creature. As the second brother rode to avenge him he charged with a hundred fierce knights, yet all was naught before the deluge of flame.
The young prince decided that his brothers should not die in vain. He was ready to face the dragon. Although his mother pleaded with him not to go, that he was her only son left, he stood resolute. Only a few knights went with him as he rode to that crystal tower, other attendants trailing behind reluctantly.
After some riding, they reached a vast plain over which the tower loomed. Above it flew a mighty dragon, scales black as night, eyes red as blood. It was large enough to cover small towns in its shadow. His attendants trembled in their boots.
But instead of pulling out a sword, the prince pulled out a horn and blew it loud enough to wake the dead. The dragon stared downwards. Was this challenger foolish enough to fight it bare-handed? Alone? It would make him regret. Steadily it flew down towards him.
Yet as it got near, it paused. The prince's attendants had laid out pigs and cows on the ground, all without hair and cooked to a crispy perfection. The smell was heavenly. The dragon landed before the small party and their offerings.
"You do realize we dragons are immune to poison, don't you," the dragon smirked.
"Of course, Mighty One," the prince smiled. "These animals have been cooked with spices by the best chefs in my kingdom. Please enjoy".
The dragon chomped down. It was truly a feast fit for a dragon. It tore through the tender flesh with teeth as sharp as daggers. When it had finished, it let out a mighty burp.
"That was pretty good. Thanks. Now let's fight and get it over with". The dragon said, thinking it would finish it quickly and mercifully in thanks for the food.
"Wait. If you kill me, you aren't going to get any more of this food." That made the dragon pause. The lunch it had just taken was much much better than any of the tough, stringy knights it had eaten before. Indeed that was all the food it got, and fewer and fewer of them came nowadays.
"You suggest we not fight?" This was somewhat out of the norm.
"How about you follow me back to my kingdom? Help me burn some enemies occasionally and I will make sure you dine like this forever. My servants will help you clean your scales too"
The dragon considered the offer for a moment. It sounded much better than guarding a silly tower and killing knights once in awhile.
"But I am bound by a magical contract to guard this tower."
"What does the contract state?" The prince asked.
"I must not harm the princess, and I must kill anyone who attempts to rescue her." The dragon replied.
"We can get around that easy. Let me in the tower."
"That would be against the terms"
"I'll go in and kill the princess. That way you can let me in because I'm not trying to rescue her. After she's dead you are free from the silly contract and can follow me back home."
The dragon scratched its head, then looked at the prince.
"Deal."
Thus House Targaryen was born.
The young prince decided that his brothers should not die in vain. He was ready to face the dragon. Although his mother pleaded with him not to go, that he was her only son left, he stood resolute. Only a few knights went with him as he rode to that crystal tower, other attendants trailing behind reluctantly.
After some riding, they reached a vast plain over which the tower loomed. Above it flew a mighty dragon, scales black as night, eyes red as blood. It was large enough to cover small towns in its shadow. His attendants trembled in their boots.
But instead of pulling out a sword, the prince pulled out a horn and blew it loud enough to wake the dead. The dragon stared downwards. Was this challenger foolish enough to fight it bare-handed? Alone? It would make him regret. Steadily it flew down towards him.
Yet as it got near, it paused. The prince's attendants had laid out pigs and cows on the ground, all without hair and cooked to a crispy perfection. The smell was heavenly. The dragon landed before the small party and their offerings.
"You do realize we dragons are immune to poison, don't you," the dragon smirked.
"Of course, Mighty One," the prince smiled. "These animals have been cooked with spices by the best chefs in my kingdom. Please enjoy".
The dragon chomped down. It was truly a feast fit for a dragon. It tore through the tender flesh with teeth as sharp as daggers. When it had finished, it let out a mighty burp.
"That was pretty good. Thanks. Now let's fight and get it over with". The dragon said, thinking it would finish it quickly and mercifully in thanks for the food.
"Wait. If you kill me, you aren't going to get any more of this food." That made the dragon pause. The lunch it had just taken was much much better than any of the tough, stringy knights it had eaten before. Indeed that was all the food it got, and fewer and fewer of them came nowadays.
"You suggest we not fight?" This was somewhat out of the norm.
"How about you follow me back to my kingdom? Help me burn some enemies occasionally and I will make sure you dine like this forever. My servants will help you clean your scales too"
The dragon considered the offer for a moment. It sounded much better than guarding a silly tower and killing knights once in awhile.
"But I am bound by a magical contract to guard this tower."
"What does the contract state?" The prince asked.
"I must not harm the princess, and I must kill anyone who attempts to rescue her." The dragon replied.
"We can get around that easy. Let me in the tower."
"That would be against the terms"
"I'll go in and kill the princess. That way you can let me in because I'm not trying to rescue her. After she's dead you are free from the silly contract and can follow me back home."
The dragon scratched its head, then looked at the prince.
"Deal."
Thus House Targaryen was born.
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