Prosocial behavior

In my modest opinion of myself, I have a completely objective example of prosocial behavior and its repercussion (I call it prosocial in that the consious act was done without an intention of getting something back). The general point to this text is the tendency others have to copy prosocial behavior, and when this was so obviously put infront of me I can not help but to write a short post =)

At the University I attend a processoriented seminar for one of the courses. We have to write an assignment and do a oral presentation of a subject during the semester, both of wich are devided between us so that we can get through the main subjects of syllabus.
I was fairly late (in the semester) doing my presentation, but I had (in comparison to the terrible subject I had in my written assignment) a subject I thought as fun and very interesting. I went through all parts of the syllabus and think I got a fairly good outline of it all. I didn't get to rehears to much, so the sheet were people usually just have cues - I had written more complete enteries of what I was going to say. It was pritty coherent, and I thought it could be nice for the rest of the group to get a copy.

We are two people at a time to do this, and when I handed out the copies after my presentation the other guy told the group he was going to upload his oral presentation to a common place we have online. I can see that I did something, he wanted to do the same.. nice =)
But the fun thing was; now that this had been astablished people started uploading there old assignments and even summaries of various books. (there is a seminar leader that is supposed to be our guide to all "right and wrong", he reads and comfirms that what is uploaded is of good quality)
So what turned out being a "prosocial act" on my part turned out to be a great gift for all =)

I have one more point to make at this being a good act; not so much thinking about oneself (for everyone involved). Grades on the exam are given in a context to the entirety; if the general standard of the group is good it will be harder to get an 'A'. My point being that it is only people in need of more information - that will gain the most grom this. But the repercussion hit everyone, and even went "back in time".

From some students experiment (some vague memory of something like this), students followed the repercussion of holding the door open for people behind them. I don't remember the numbers, but it was a number, X- times, after the student held the door the link kept going. (Why it at all ended from this argument beats me, hehe... ) So, speculating--> I guess it was done in a very obvious way the first time, making it more of a point. Then the first does more or less the same, the next etc.. with maybe less enthusiasm as it grows further from the stem - untill it finaly fades away... (!?!)

So, maybe it was a good thing I had my assignment late in the semester when people have read a lot and will keep the string going with fairly good knowledge (instead of more speculative knowledge earlier in semester, hehe)

Hmmm... that brings me to being an idealist =) If we all would remember to keep the door open for the one behind, wouldn't the world be a better place to be! No, I'm not stupid or naiv... I don't expect it to be a happy solution to all the world sufferings!
I guess it is just a statment, maybe I should call it a wish? Could we not treat our fellow man and woman just a little bit better? Couldn't we smile just once a day to someone we didn't know? Isn't it possible to pick up that piece of trash instead of cursing the person who threw it?
Now I start mixing in more subjects and that tells me to stop writing =)

So, if my prosocial plea don't appeal to you(or you doubt the possibility in it self), you just might go for the good old Golden Rule: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you"

That best portion of a good man's life,
His little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and of love.

William Wordsworth (1770 - 1850)