I'll take the risk of sounding like an overly-idealistic idiot, but if I could choose between billions of dollars and staying an effing human being, I'd probably choose the latter.
Being truthful and honest without sugar-coating is the fastest way to be called an asshole. I am not saying LE and SJ are that type, but in general - Assholes are the ones with less or no unnecessary nicety filters.
You're assuming that everyone are assholes, and that nice people just put filters on. Not true. And you should probably go see someone about that. Such a world view doesn't come out of nothing.
Lots of people are really nice without any nicety filters.
This is a symptom of psychopathy. A double edged sword in terms of societal value. While I find the argument in favor of psychological diversity compelling, I can't can't help but be revolted by psychopaths.
I agree with your point, but would like to clarify that I'm talking about having some decency and (at a minimum) a basic set of ethics, not being like those "nice guys" who're constantly bitching about how "girls date only assholes". (Just an example that first came to my mind.)
I've never really thought about this--at present, I think of it as either "one has enough money to avoid thinking about money", or one doesn't. My sociology professor uses to say that "a satiate man has a thousand worries, but a hungry man has only one", and I really do agree.
