Altruism

[Wildrow12]

OF course Altruism is a valid response. To care for others, to make the pain of another, the injustice experienced by another, your own, is something that is at the center of social justice.

To turn away when others cry out, to simply turn ones back....I couldn't do it.

 

[Sephychu]

I like to think I conform to neither of these at any given point. I don't donate to charity out of habit and I don't choose to inconvenience people out of habit. I go where the moment takes me.

 

[Doug]

I believe that altruism is a good idea in general, but shouldn't be applied too liberally or else people come to take advantage of you.

As for these charities...I can't help but feel they are wasting their time and money by throwing it down a well rather than actually making the well work. After all, these countries are often shitholes even with aid, so how come the millions/billions being spend aren't even making a dent in the lack of living standards problems?

 

[Lord Mountbatten Reborn]

Being expected to do things does annoy me. I'd rather be given free reign to choose the manner in which I go about my altruism.

That being said, I'm not much of an altruist. I would be in terms of something terrible like Haiti, but not when it's something like "help us help obese people".

Yeah, I know a few have genetics issues but the rest don't.

And in individual life, then I'd act altruistically if I feel it might benefit me, so in the end I am not being altruistic there.

Yup, I do help friends, but that benefits me by way of the fact that I get to solidify and preserve the friendship I maintain with them. If I don't value that friendship then yes, it is definite altrusim, but then why would they be my "friend"?


Anyways Monsieur OP, I understand your reasoning, though I'd still donate out of my own accord. I'd just be annoyed that people actually have to go door to door - that implies no one else is donating.

 

[Combined]

I tend to severely dislike altruism, because I think it's a bad thing (This sums up my thoughts on the matter rather nicely.). Although I do experience inexplicable moments of good will towards other people. Normally, however, I don't quite care for anyone or anything, apart from myself.

Sorry, I really wish I could.

 

[oppp7]

There's nothing saying you have to be altruistic, but it does make life better for people as far as I can tell.
But if you don't have the money then I can understand that.

 

[Azure-Supernova]

As for these charities...I can't help but feel they are wasting their time and money by throwing it down a well rather than actually making the well work. After all, these countries are often shitholes even with aid, so how come the millions/billions being spend aren't even making a dent in the lack of living standards problems?

For example, it's hard to turn your back on people starving to death, but looking at some of the African nations and such that we help, we're never going to solve problems related to the climate and it's abillity to sustain a population. All we do by distributing food is maintain a population in misery for a longer time, and make them dependant on our aid. Ultimatly dealing with an endless cycle. As cruel as it is, stepping back and letting the population reduce to the abillity the land can sustain would probably result in more good over a period of centuries than maintaining the current situation.

This is what I'm talking about. The millions and billions raised on awareness days and comic relief, sports relief etc. Where does it all go? It seems that despite our efforts these places aren't getting any better and they never will.

 

[Supreme Unleaded]

I acually practice (if thats even the right verb for this) altruism alot. I help people through personal problems and expect nothing back. From time to time ill give my friends money. I hold doors for people, clean up messes, ect.

But when charities come to my door i usually turn them down, why, because if i have some spare change and im feeling charitable ill go to the place and give it to them. if im at home im not giving you squat, plus i got my own problems to worry about.

Does this make me a bad person or something, because thats how these charity people seem to make me, and aparently you the OP, look like.

 

[More Fun To Compute]

In a way, altruism is a social sleight of hand. You can be as greedy and egotistical as you like if you can stage manage an appearance of being an altruist. A belief in altruism is an idealistic belief that rich people deserve to be rich because they are the only people who can wisely use money.

 

[Azure-Supernova]

There's nothing saying you have to be altruistic, but it does make life better for people as far as I can tell.
But if you don't have the money then I can understand that.

I'm not saying that I'm not 'altruistic'. I help the people I know and care about, though not financially as I really can't spare that. But being asked to donate to such a cause such as with Haiti, well I draw the line there. Those peoles lives and mine have never collided and they never will.

 

[oppp7]

There's nothing saying you have to be altruistic, but it does make life better for people as far as I can tell.
But if you don't have the money then I can understand that.

I'm not saying that I'm not 'altruistic'. I help the people I know and care about, though not financially as I really can't spare that. But being asked to donate to such a cause such as with Haiti, well I draw the line there. Those peoles lives and mine have never collided and they never will.

I can see where you're coming from. Lack of altruism isn't a problem until the people who don't practice it are rich and horde so much money that it begins to mess up the economy.

 

[Valksy]

In terms of the giving of charity I believe that we should do what we can and give what we can afford. The thing that struck me the most about the OPs statement was that not only was he directly and personally solicited, but had to argue his point. Being pushy about an act of giving annoys me.

I have done collecting in the street (if you ever saw a dancing Donald Duck in Milton Keynes shopping centre some 5 or 6 years ago, that was me) but the rule always used to be that you could discretely rattle your tin and never approach anyone. Anyone directly approaching me will probably be automatically denied. It just bothers me.

In terms of giving to Haiti - did they at least have the decency to explain what the money was for? I have immense respect for organisations like Doctors Without Borders. Which I guess is why I believe in giving personally rather than by proxy.

 

[Thaius]

Well concern for others is a good thing: there has to be an extent, of course, that you are willing to go, though. Don't run yourself into the ground for things like that, but why would you not want to help your fellow man? If you could, and it wouldn't adversely affect you, wouldn't you help out people in need, even if you didn't know them?

 

[Amberella]

I'm going to have to agree with my Darling on this one. Although I know he can be a bit harsh at times, he really means well. But to be honest, I wouldn't donate to Haiti either. And I am a very compassionate type of person when it comes to others. I just don't like giving money away that I have a short of at the moment, and I am trying to save every penny I get. Just don't have the money to throw around like that.

 

[Azure-Supernova]

In terms of giving to Haiti - did they at least have the decency to explain what the money was for? I have immense respect for organisations like Doctors Without Borders. Which I guess is why I believe in giving personally rather than by proxy.

No, the thing was is that they simply said they were collecting donations for Haiti on behalf of St. Lukes. I don't know where that money is going to go, if it will make a difference or what.

Well concern for others is a good thing: there has to be an extent, of course, that you are willing to go, though. Don't run yourself into the ground for things like that, but why would you not want to help your fellow man? If you could, and it wouldn't adversely affect you, wouldn't you help out people in need, even if you didn't know them?

I don't have a problem with helping my fellow man, but I can do that without giving money. This is an issue of the current economical climate and people are expecting me (a student living off a pittance) to give to Haiti, Comic Relief, Sport Relief and when I don't they make me feel like trash for it.

I help out at my local library, I'm a volunteer IT Buddy and I teach basic IT skills to anyone from the age of 6 to 60. I've done community service and I help old ladies get their shopping onto the bus. But if I'm asked to donate to some obscure charity, I usually skip out.

 

[Ham_authority95]

I practice altruism to an extent, basic courtesy such as holding a door, letting driver being held up by other cars make a turning for example, regardless of whether it holds me up. I will also put my small change into charity boxes most of the time I buy anything.

I do not give money to charities upon request however, registered charities are a business more than anything. I also resent strangers asking me to give money for a cause they probably don't give a damn about.

You could have given better reasons and a more reasonable response for not donating though, I feel your attitude was extremely immature.

Yeah same with me.

 

[xDarc]

I don't really care either. You don't see anyone going around collecting money for people who live in Detroit. It's a disaster here all the time.

Maybe because I don't feel over-privileged, my compassion is a bit lacking. There's a lot that can be read into that statement if you reverse things.

People just get caught up in fad causes and expect you to go along with it. Don't feel bad

 

[Azure-Supernova]

I don't really care either. You don't see anyone going around collecting money for people who live in Detroit. It's a disaster here all the time.

Maybe because I don't feel over-privileged, my compassion is a bit lacking. There's a lot that can be read into that statement if you reverse things.

People just get caught up in fad causes and expect you to go along with it. Don't feel bad

I've wondered about that myself. Every year we have a Comic Relief which is supported by dozens of celebs here in the UK. They get donations into the millions, but are these people donating out of the goodness of their hearts or simply because everyone else does it every year?

 

[Cid Silverwing]

I practice altruism at all times.

 

[LiquidGrape]

I wouldn't give my money to anyone affiliated with the church either.
That said, I do donate to organizations I trust to do good work in the world.
Doctors Without Borders and Amnesty, primarily.

Screw Randbots. Altruism is awesome.