Do people really mean it when they say they just want what's best for everyone?
From the warnings in the back of the Life textbook: If one sleeps over at one’s old house to take care of one’s own kids while their dad is on a business trip, and if one is pleased with how calmly and smoothly everything is going and has gone and seems to be likely to go in the future, one should not be surprised when one’s silly dog decides to have -- oh, what should we call it? diarrhea? -- in the master bedroom on the white carpet. One should be careful not to say anything too terribly vile to the dog while scrubbing away at germy spattery spots with old white gym towels. Note: one should be especially alert to the smirking meanness of the universe. The universe has been known to send along vicious wasps to sting one on the ring finger of the left hand, causing one to nearly faint from anxiety.
Comments
The giveaway is the word 'just.' If they say they 'just' want anything, they're selling something. Usually it means they are (a) willing to be the arbiter of what is best for everyone, and (b) willing to apportion whatever compromise will be required to approach that mean. Usually by assigning it to you, with the next phrase: "Be reasonable."
On the other hand, who has ever heard the phrase without the 'just'? "I want what's best for everyone." Sounds a bit grandiose. Sounds impossible. Sounds obvious. The 'just' tones it down. If you 'just' want that, your motives are good! You're a good person.
On the other, other hand, who has ever heard, "I just want what's best for Nicole -- I really don't care what happens to Ashley"? Or: "I just want what's best for the team -- I really don't care what happens to me."
We have heard this of course. And it's quite refreshing. Now we're getting somewhere. We have an idea where you stand. That you do have a stand.
Where everything is given an equal gloss of impossibly easy goodness, it's harder to find truth.
Then again, maybe I misunderstood the question. :-)