Say your only goal in life is to maximize the overall happiness of everyone. Individuals are considered equal, but some individuals may have interests that have more weight that others' interests. For example, giving $2 to a starving hobo does more than spending $2 on a birthday card. Spending time to learn a language is better than spending time to learn a video game combo.

Of course, you're rarely picking between just a few choices. There are tons of better things you should be doing with your time and resources, so think of the big picture. Recreational activities such as posting on this internet forum doesn't make the world a better place, so you would quit. You want to serve your own interests as well, so you would still masturbate, but not very often.

Let's decide what utilitarians should actually do if they are to follow through with their theory. Never mind the questions about whether you would rape your kids to save a host of strangers. You will probably not encounter any of the weird scenarios mentioned in the literature. Even if you do, how you spend most of your time is still up to you. The question of "What should utilitarians do with their free time?" seems more important than asking what they would do in fixed situations they'll likely never face.

Obviously, the answer is dependent on the utilitarian's skills.

Some suggestions:

- Move to a third-world country and help people first-hand. Overall impact may be low.

- Devote to becoming a doctor, lawyer, social worker, midwife, or to any career that benefits many people directly.

- Devote to becoming a scientist, politician, artist, spy, or to any career that has the potential to benefit few or lots of people significantly.

- Any time you have money saved up, donate it to a cause more worthwhile than personal goals.

- Gather as much wealth as possible to donate to charity. The way the wealth is gathered doesn't matter as long as people aren't hurt too bad in the process.

- Become an influential public figure and convert others to become utilitarians. Since most people can't think for themselves, it's alright to indoctrinate them. In the end, they will do more good than you alone can do.