Someone meaning well but lacking in understanding can become a contributing member of society with guidance.

Their failure is our failure. People are a resource. The more you have working towards a common end the more likely you are to reach it.

In our laziness and misguided self interest we squander potential, and in the process create liabilities that we'll have to deal with some how.

If you're only worried about their positive impacts on society, an effective but bad intending person can probably be guided to doing good easier than an training an ineffective person to be effective. Just look at our politicians, how many sociopaths has our society utilized by guiding them into doing "good" simply by making it in their own best interest?

 

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I don't think so. Our current situation in this country is a perfect example of why.

Good intentions are far more precious than ability. Ability can be taught and refined, but there is little you can do to change the character of a person.

Relax, Allstar. Even well intentioned agendas pull us away from being.

 

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Effect is most important. Asuming same effect then intent matters.

Im picturing the child that hugs her pets to death. The pet is dead, at least she didnt kill it to watch it die but still...its dead.

Effect is beyond our control.

Intent comes from within. We can choose what we try to do.

That girl could have easily been shown how to properly care for her pet. No one took the time to learn her intent and teach her to channel it constructively.

Her failure was a result of improper instruction. Clearly her parents or care takers failed her.

Existence has a way of teaching us things when others don't, but it can be harsh.

Intent doesnt matter. If someone does something good for the wrong reason but it still helps people I'm for it.

 

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Intent certainly matters, and it matters a great deal to you.

If it didn't you wouldn't spend so much time being suspect of other people's motives.

Bonk there are a lot of contradictions within you. I do not think you're being honest with yourself, and you definitely are not being honest with others.

Motives are hard to determine and in reality most people do most everything including charitable acts for selfish reasons.

I gave $5 to donate to a kid who has cancer at one of my customer's stores mostly because my parents died from cancer. Sure it was to help the kid but I did it mostly for selfish reasons to try to feel better and help someone with that horrible disease.

Motives are always suspect. I could care less why someone did a good work as long as they did it.

 

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Unless that good thing is being attracted to you, or wanting to be intimate with you.