This could almost be a philosophy of life:

ask yourself: Is this activity making a positive, tangible difference in my life or anyone else’s life? Is it a real, true prerequisite for a tangibly effective activity? Alternatively, am I totally okay with doing this just because I like doing it, laboring under no illusion that it benefits me or anyone else?

via Achievement Porn « Essays « Pete Michaud.

I especially like the last part. So many things, from accupuncture to letting children watch TV, would not be controversial if people stopped asking if they were effective at something and simply accepted them as something humans do.