Originally Posted by Plognark

Not necessarily. If a person is open about it, I don't think it's manipulative, I think it's an attempt at fairness.

We human beings are hardwired math machines, when you get down to it. Ever notice how kids get freaked out if they think they're getting short changed? Try giving a huge piece of cake to one kid and a tiny piece to another and watch the tantrum and hostility ensue.

I'm sure it's influenced by evolutionary pressures in our social interactions, but we humans are hardwired to find fairness and equity in life, especially if we think we're the ones getting shafted.

Of course, I think we're also hard wired for self interest and preservation/promotion. I guess it's a balance between the two, although that's a really simplistic view. There's certainly more to it than just those two ideas.

Originally Posted by Dlx2

I don't see how that differs from my statement. You've said that in social dealings, we're likely to look for fairness if/when we're the one who drew the short straw. If someone else gets the short end of the stick, we're much less likely to sacrifice for them. How is that not simple selfishness masquerading as an appeal to fairness?