Charity, yay or nay?

#1

So, I’d figure I’d make a serious post for good measure.

So I chose the subject of charity. Seeing as it’s a trendy thing to do lately. What’s your view on charity? Do you think charity is needed? Do you feel like you’re supposed to participate in charity because your country/culture might have been involved in the current situations of a certain country?

I for one dislike everything about charity. The concept, the idea, the process, the goals, the means, everything.

I really do not care that there’s people in Africa being hungry, that there’s people on certain islands that lost everything they had. I do not care for people that lost their job (even if they couldn’t help it). I do not care that certain species of animal are on the brink of extinction (despite being a massive animal lover).

And above all, I personally see no valid reason -at all- to give my money to those charities. And if I wish to do so at some point in time, I’ll do so myself, and I do not need some people in the streets to tell me what charity I should support and what not.

To me, charity is a massive waste of money and resources, and for what exactly? To corrupt a corrupt country even further (Haiti, for example)? To make sure that a rare species of animal can only exist in zoos? To give certain people some food and water and medicine, just to keep them alive, while they’re of no use to society in general?

I’d rather keep my money to myself and support my family and friends when they need me, but I do not wish to waste it on things I do not know and have no desire of knowing.

I also don’t expect total strangers to give me resources and/or money when I’m in dire need of said resources and/or money (before I get shot down as a hypocrite)

#2

No one ever gave me help when I needed it, I see no reason to help others unless I really want to.

#3

On one hand I really think God wants us to help take care of our brothers and neighbors and that we need to work more on showing love. But then on the other hand, “The birdfeeder story” comes to mind.

#4

If I want to, I will. I know more people should.

#5

I’m not a strong believer in a higher power or anything, but I think what goes around comes around, y’know, karma. I gave money to those people who almost lost their lives in Haiti, not to make myself feel good, but because if my city gets hit by tornado or something, and my house is destroyed, I’d like to know that someone out there would be willing to help me out in return.

#6

I don’t believe in any form of higher power or karma or anything like that, but if someone is in desperate need of help I won’t deny it to them no matter how bad off I may be myself. If we can’t even help each other then who will?

#7

I think you’re wrong there. You live in a wealthy country, more than capable of overcoming a disaster of the same magnitude of Haiti (but tbh, if an earthquake of that magnitude hit a city in Canada, there would hardly be any damage, since I assume your houses aren’t built out of mud and wood), so nobody would bother trying to make them feel better about themselves.

#8

I think something changes inside of you when you give as well. Regardless of whether the money or food or whatever is used the way you think it should, I think it is sometimes important to simply do it cuz you need to be human again. There is something to be said for giving a homeless man a $20 and not caring how he uses it. Just that you felt the need to give it to him and it helped to heal something inside yourself.

#9

Ha. That reminds me of a while back my school was doing community service and we went to play bingo with some seniors and they won quarters if they won. Me and my friend who were playing with this one guy had ten cards but we didn’t win even once, so I just gave the guy $5 because he was pretty cool to talk to. I don’t think it counts, but it still made me feel pretty good.

#10

Thats the only thing I kinda have a gripe with. Depending on the species, the extinction or eradication of a species can have adverse ecological consequences.

Aside from that, I can -almost shamefully- admit that I don’t care too much for people elsewhere :|…

#11

i like to give because it’s fun to make people happy
also, to people who make me happy, like my girlfriend or Kyle Gabler

#12

I’m referring to people nearby that are able to help. Like random down the street, that see us sitting in front of my destroyed house and offer us food and such, because we have bigger things to worry about. Yeah, my city can damn well afford to pay for it via insurance and government action and stuff, but that’s not what I’m really thinking about here.

I’m thinking about goodwill of people and such. I don’t give money to homeless, I give it to causes that actually create change. I know, chances are, I will never see that money come back to me because I have good odds with getting a well paying job and the such, but it’s kind of like insurance. You pay into it, and in return, maybe someday you’ll get something out of it.

#13

That’s the sort of mentality that makes the world a shitty place. Congratulations, you contributed.

#14

And the money that went to Haiti is making the world a better place? No, the only thing that happened there so far, is aid stations being pillaged, people being robbed and raped, kids being kidnapped, people being murdered, food transports being raided, etcetc.

All the charity sure made haiti a lovely place to be. A perfect world.

#15

And you’re thinking it would be better without the charity? Instead of stealing food from transports they steal it from each other? With less food to go around? You think charity causes all of that?

Seriously?

#16

No, I don’t think charity caused that. I’m merely saying that charity didn’t make it better for them. Charity or not, the situation there would still be the same. The only difference will be the outcome. In a year, that site will be a popular tourist attraction and the government of Haiti will rub their hands in wealth that came from charity. But the people that actually needed it, won’t be returning to the place where their original homes were.

Phuket, anyone?

#17

Just because some people are doing something wrong doesn’t mean you should deny an ENTIRE COUNTRY aid. And saying just because the government will go back to being corrupt or whatever is no excuse, the country is devastated right now and it’s either they get help or die.

#18

I never said I don’t help people, but to the beggars in the streets or those damn WWF hippies or third world lovers and their feckin’ charities I say piss off!

#19

My feeling about charity is that it’s a moral necessity. Capitalism is a society of winners and losers - every dollar you have is a dollar that’s taken from somebody else. For the winners in Capitalism to say the losers are simply fucked is to ignore the fact that poor people’s fucked position in life is causally linked to ability of the rich to exist as rich.

This is biologically true, although I can’t be arsed to look up the studies that prove it. The human brain is wired for compassion. Many of us are indoctrinated to ignore this fact of life.

Bullshit, in what way does providing food and water to people who don’t have access to food and water not improve the lives of people who would otherwise starve? Yes, the distribution of aid is horribly imperfect, but this emphatically does not mean aid itself isn’t helping.

#20

How is this even an argument? Of course charity is great so long as there are people that need it.

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