social misconduct as seen by two very different people

Is it necessary to care for others? To think beyond the self?

Do we think beyond the self because we want to, or because it's what we're taught to do?

Does emotional intelligence or intelligence at all have anything to do with it?

Is there such a thing as emotional intelligence?

On a different note I find it a bit hard to swallow the "ideals" and "ethics" of people whose actions don't support them. If saving the world meant so much wouldn't people be more active? Or I guess, more proactive.

But in saving the world, in saving the cause you support, what if you damage the world? What if by going to that protest to save the chickens I, in some way, hurt another persons life. What about those people who work at that KFC we want shut down, what if that's their only income. What if they need that job. My ideals could be skewed because of not viewing the whole picture. But if I view the whole picture will I get anything done because I'll be so busy questioning myself I won't know where to go or what to do.

It strikes me it's become harder and harder to do the right thing. What if I want to be anonymous? What if I don't want my name attached to every little thing I try to do. Will it still be taken seriously? Or will it be thrown out? "She didn't care enough to give her personal information so it's obviously not important at all."

I wonder if people seriously think about the way their actions impact other people's lives. Like my brother for example. He'll smoke cigarettes in the car with me even though he knows it makes me sick and makes it difficult for me to breathe. He understands I have medical conditions but still maintains it would hurt him more to not smoke than for me to be there while he smokes.

The people who live above me smoke constantly. Fall being a lovely time of year, I like to have my windows open for the cool breeze, but I don't feel it's ok for me to be ill in my own house just because the smoke comes in through my windows. Should I close my windows and cool the house via air conditioning? I pay a lot of money to live here, to live on my own but I can't have my windows open because of somebody elses life choice.

Is that appropriate?

Am I even allowed to decide that?

Furthermore, should I be viewed negatively for being upset about this whole mess?

Should my dislike of smokers be seen as unfair and terrible when their disregard for other people is alright just because "they don't know I'm allergic and have asthma"? Should I have to inform them of that for them to consider that maybe I don't like being around it? Or should they be socially concious enough to know that not everybody smokes, not everybody wants to smell it and it just might make some people sick.