Pop Altruism

I hesitate to make this connection, but it's just too fitting. Has anyone seen the episode of Friends where Phoebe is determined to find a selfless good deed? Joey says there is no such thing as a selfless good deed, because anytime someone does a good deed, they feel good, so in a way the deed is selfish. Phoebe refuses to believe it, so she sets out to find a selfless good deed. First she rakes a neighbor's leaves, but he catches her and gives her cider and cookies (or somesuch). Then she lets a bee sting her (so he can look tough for his bee friends), but then she finds out he probably died after stinging her. Finally, she thinks she finds one: she donates money to PBS, to help children. She hates PBS and feels terrible about giving them money. But she is helping, so she finally does a selfless good deed. (Unfortunately, her pledge helps Joey appear on television, so in the end she does feel good!) I just thought this was a funny example of the altruism dilemma. As for my take on it, I think there is such thing as true altruism ("selfless good deeds"). I think it's rare, and honorable, but I also agree with those who have already said that it's ok to get some satisfaction out of doing good things for others. Either way, someone else benefits, so one's own feelings shouldn't really matter.