I may not be popular for saying this but...

trajan

The third world. Seriously, do we give a sh*t???

I mean I've been asking myself this recently. Surely if I really cared I'd be out actually doing something about it! And the same for everyone else too!

I feel I've been deluding myself all this time. You know what I mean?

RotalicaV

Need to clean up our own homeless before we start focusing on the starvin marvins.

Pay your few quid a year to what ever group ring you up, what else can we do?

Thats not a question, i plan on doing nothing else.

Pigman II

Well I can't speak for 'we' but no I personally don't really care one way or the other either.

edanto

Me, I care. And I do stuff about it, and yeah it makes me feel good.

Thomas_S_Hunterson

edanto wrote:

Me, I care. And I do stuff about it, and yeah it makes me feel good.

Yea, but the only reason you do stuff about it is because it makes you feel good.
Do you really actually care?

rubadub

I care, but do nothing about it.
I think eating animals is wrong, and do it, because I can and I like it and there are so many other things I would like to do but am not allowed to so it is one vice I will grab while I can.

I always think it odd watching these emergency rescue programs in the US where they spend literally tens of thousands of dollars getting rescue teams to save a dog, while it could have saved thousands of lives instead. Fk'd up but lots of things are that we do not really question enough and just take it for granted or go along with it "cause thats the ways its always been".

Thomas_S_Hunterson

rubadub wrote:

I always think it odd watching these emergency rescue programs in the US where they spend literally tens of thousands of dollars getting rescue teams to save a dog, while it could have saved thousands of lives instead. Fk'd up but lots of things are that we do not really question enough and just take it for granted or go along with it "cause thats the ways its always been".

Stalin wrote:

A single death is a tragedy; a million deaths is a statistic.

it's cus it keeps the do gooders happy

edanto

sean_keevey wrote:

Yea, but the only reason you do stuff about it is because it makes you feel good.

What are ya talking about? You can't have any understanding of my motivations - don't assume.

Feeling good about is a pleasant side effect, but there's sometimes an angry feeling that comes from knowing how unjust the world is and the strong forces that aim to keep it that way. I'm not hinting at some kind of organised conspiracy or anything like that, it's just the way the free market works when ruled by organisations like WTO that don't actually have any votes to decide things.

Do you really actually care?

Yes.

What's your position Sean? Do you care about the people that live in the third world? Why or Why not?

Thomas_S_Hunterson

edanto wrote:

What are ya talking about? You can't have any understanding of my motivations - don't assume.

Feeling good about is a pleasant side effect, but there's sometimes an angry feeling that comes from knowing how unjust the world is and the strong forces that aim to keep it that way. I'm not hinting at some kind of organised conspiracy or anything like that, it's just the way the free market works when ruled by organisations like WTO that don't actually have any votes to decide things.


Yes.

What's your position Sean? Do you care about the people that live in the third world? Why or Why not?

Well ok, let me put it a different way,
Could you honestly tell me you would still do the same things if doing so made you feel bad?
eg. if you were to sell all your worldly possessions, give the money to the third world, and yourself live a life without any comfort? or say if giving to the third world actually, for whatever reason made you feel bad inside?
I certainly wouldn't

base2

Finally people who are coming from my part of town.

I don't care about the third world. When rich people have the good life they sometimes feel guilty that others don't. Thats why they think of charity so that they can go on to enjoy their guilt free affluent lives.

We don't owe the third world a living. If they want the good life they can go and make it for themselves.

Thomas_S_Hunterson

base2 wrote:

Finally people who are coming from my part of town.

I don't care about the third world. When rich people have the good life they sometimes feel guilty that others don't. Thats why they think of charity so that they can go on to enjoy their guilt free affluent lives.

We don't owe the third world a living. If they want the good life they can go and make it for themselves.

Well i wouldn't see it quite like that. While i do make small donations to the third world, whenever i have cast to spare, i'm under no illusions as to my motives. It makes me feel good. It's like a placebo.

Ruu_Old

Charity begins at home tbh, look after some of our own citizens sitting in hospital hallways. Has to be looked at first

failsafe

sean_keevey wrote:

Yea, but the only reason you do stuff about it is because it makes you feel good.
Do you really actually care?

I hate that kind of attitude. If someone is doing something good leave them too it. Personally if i give to charity or do a bit of collection i feel good about it, but i see the good feeling as a reward, not the reason. I do care.

Forgive me if i get too philosophical here, but i think kharma will help you out like this. For example, if a girl you like is crying or uspest, and you make her laugh or smile it can be the best feeling in the world, which i think is the reward for caring (from nature, or god or kharma or charles darwin or whatever)

Joey Tribiani wrote:

There's no such thing as a selfless good deed

HelterSkelter

base2 wrote:

We don't owe the third world a living. If they want the good life they can go and make it for themselves.

That is such an ignorant comment.

We Irish couldn't make it ourselves, we had to (and still do) depend on handouts from the EU, investment from the US, etc. If it wasn't for this we would still be eating potatoes for breakfast, dinner and supper.

scop

The world is a nasty place, as it stands our standard of life does well off the Third World. Nature tells me its a free for all, so be it.

Degsy

To hell with them.The fact is we enjoy our high standard of living because they have thier low standard of living..there has to be extremes or the worl wouldnt function.If we redistrbute all the wealth in the world everybody would probably end up with a tenner each.If people want to rise above poverty,they have to do soemthing about it themselves not rely on handouts.

Thomas_S_Hunterson

failsafe wrote:

I hate that kind of attitude. If someone is doing something good leave them too it. Personally if i give to charity or do a bit of collection i feel good about it, but i see the good feeling as a reward, not the reason. I do care.

I'm not saying it is a bad thing at all, in fact quite the opposite. It is a good thing if people give to charity, regardless of their motives

scop

Whats hilarious is that in real life, we may all feel as we do here, but public PC pressure would have us all nodding sadly to Concern ads.

Karl Hungus

trajan wrote:

The third world. Seriously, do we give a sh*t???

Well, yes and no. We want to donate our bit to charity and feel like we're doing our part. That's about it.

Degsy

As Mariah Carey once said "whenever i see programmes about africa,i cry.I mean,i wouldnt mind being that thin but not with all the flies and everything!"

HelterSkelter

Degsy wrote:

To hell with them.The fact is we enjoy our high standard of living because they have thier low standard of living..there has to be extremes or the worl wouldnt function.If we redistrbute all the wealth in the world everybody would probably end up with a tenner each.If people want to rise above poverty,they have to do soemthing about it themselves not rely on handouts.

:rolleyes:

Max_Damage

Degsy wrote:

As Mariah Carey once said "whenever i see programmes about africa,i cry.I mean,i wouldnt mind being that thin but not with all the flies and everything!"

Legend!:D

I personally couldn't care less. As others have said, we have enough problems in our own country to deal with, let alone many contries in Africa and Asia. Thing is, if many people did contribute money to the 3rd world, it would get to the point that they become reliant on us, and thus never make a living for themselves.

failsafe

Sorry Sean if i misread.

Very apt avatar degsy. So how exactly are they going to earn money? If most African's have no money, how are they supposed to start a farm, for examlpe? The 3rd world farmers are being undercut and crippled by the EU and the states. They're not looking for "handouts," what they need is for us to stop crippling their economies. Saying that "there needs to be opposites for the world to work" is a very ignorant understanding of economics. Since the 1980's Ireland has flourished from the Celtic Tiger and unemployment has fallen to a record low, and who has been negatively affected by this? Not america, not Europe and not the UK, and neither will we be hurt if the level of income rises in the third world.

This is a slight tangent from the OP's question. If other people like him don't care about the third world it doesn't bother me, everyone is free to care about what they wish. But don't be cynical of people who give to charity, and don't undermine it's purpose. It takes money to make money, remember that ad "give a man a fishing net and he will feed his family for months." He still needs a hand to get the fishing net.

Ya gotta love when these celebrities do all this good work for charities.. y'know.. by lending their faces and names to the campaign. But do they ever donate any of their own money? Heck no.

Though I've never seen anything as bad with regards to homelessness than when I was in America. My god. It's dreadful. I wanted to give all of 'em a hug, but was afraid I'd catch leprosy or something.

And yes, I know America isn't a third world country, but alot of the people there are living in circumstances that are exactly like the third world.

edanto

sean_keevey wrote:

Could you honestly tell me you would still do the same things if doing so made you feel bad? ..[snip].. or say if giving to the third world actually, for whatever reason made you feel bad inside?
I certainly wouldn't

Are you going to keep reworking that hypothetical situation until I say.. 'Yes, Sean I wouldn't do that'? The more important question was whether I cared and yes I do.

I'd love to know if you care or not? And what your reasons might be.

It's selfishness a la base2, degsy and scop that keep the world the way it is. Any person born here has a better chance than most people born in Africa. Sure there are people waiting in hospitals here, but at least we have a healthcare system.

In some countries it costs more than the average annual wage to send a child to school for the year (Education charges are insisted on by the World Bank, even though they don't work in the first world), so it's pretty hard to break this cycle.

Beer is Life

I dont and wont give a red cent to any charity until every chugger and every other cvnt collecting for charity are taken off the streets. Never gonna happen so ill never give to charity

Raiser

base2 wrote:

Finally people who are coming from my part of town.

I don't care about the third world. When rich people have the good life they sometimes feel guilty that others don't. Thats why they think of charity so that they can go on to enjoy their guilt free affluent lives.

We don't owe the third world a living. If they want the good life they can go and make it for themselves.

Degsy wrote:

To hell with them.The fact is we enjoy our high standard of living because they have thier low standard of living..there has to be extremes or the worl wouldnt function.If we redistrbute all the wealth in the world everybody would probably end up with a tenner each.If people want to rise above poverty,they have to do soemthing about it themselves not rely on handouts.

You cretins are really going to regret having posted these ignorant statements on a public message board just as soon as your testicles drop and you realise that Mr. O'Briens maths test on Fridays is not in fact a critical issue or pressing current affair.

Come on, to have been through at least some portion of the Irish educational system we have to assume that you are in possession of at least some of the facts here [?] I can only assume age is a factor and that if Mum doesn't buy 12 packs of Walkers crisps and multiple 2 litre bottles of Coke that you slam doors, sulk and shout "its so unfair" all evening while stamping the Nike Air max that you begged Daddy-kins to buy you on the preceding Saturday.

Genetic dead-ends like yourselves couldn't be self-sufficient beyond a 500 metre radius of Dominos - and no, its not a valid argument to say that misfortunates in famine devasted countries should ask Daddy for €15 euro and a lift in the Beemer to the nearest KFC.

I know, I know - you maintain these people should be planting kebab bushes and growing chicken-dippers trees. Perhaps they should invest in a garlic and herb dip machine so they can be really self-sufficient. If you were teleported to and subsequently stranded in a famine area I would expect 90 mins. of Nokia talk time as you desperately beg for a taxi, then in due course a dead battery - about 20 mins later your spotty white carcasses would be decomposing while repulsing passing vultures.

No Respect.

To the OP - You arugment is valid for more people than will ever admit to it. Personally I could do a lot more with ease, but often put it on a back burner or forget to follow up on a donation etc. This is not something I am proud of but I intend to do better in future.

Finally to those saying "oh yaw - you're only giving 'cause your rich and it makes your ego expand, like yah...blah...etc. etc." People that make the odd small effort are contributing and helping in a real and tangible way - you are merely putting forth empty-headed arguments as you decide what '06 registration car needs to be in your driveway in order to make the neighbours think you are someone/something.

- By your own evidence you are currently not amounting to too much actually.

Raiser.

P.S. Beer is life - could you please consider yourself included? [thanks]

* Edit 'cause of prior omission of another inbred mental midget.

onemanband

To Raiser

The best god damn post I have ever read. There I was reading through some of the greatest piles of sXXt in my life and you rescued my at the end.

I'm going home now a happy man

respect!

edanto

Absolutely.

Beer is Life

Raiser wrote:

You cretins are really going to regret having posted these ignorant statements on a public message board just as soon as your testicles drop and you realise that Mr. O'Briens maths test on Fridays is not in fact a critical issue or pressing current affair.

Come on, to have been through at least some portion of the Irish educational system we have to assume that you are in possession of at least some of the facts here [?] I can only assume age is a factor and that if Mum doesn't buy 12 packs of Walkers crisps and multiple 2 litre bottles of Coke that you slam doors, sulk and shout "its so unfair" all evening while stamping your Nike Air max that you begged Daddy-kins to buy you on the preceding Saturday.

Genetic dead-ends like yourselves couldn't be self-sufficient beyond a 500 metre radius of Dominos - and no, its not a valid argument to say that misfortunates in famine devasted countries should ask Daddy for €15 euro and a lift in the Beemer to the nearest KFC.

I know, I know - you maintain these people should be planting kebab bushes and growing chicken-dippers trees. Perhaps they should invest in a garlic and herb dip machine so they can be really self-sufficient. If you were teleported to and subsequently stranded in a famine area I would expect 90 mins. of Nokia talk time as you beg for a taxi, in due course a dead battery and about 20 mins later you spotty white carcasses would be repulsing passing vultures.

No Respect.

To the OP - You arugment is valid for more people than will ever admit to it. Personally I could do a lot more with ease, but often put it on a back burner or forget to follow up on a donation etc. This is not something I am proud of but I intend to to better in future.

Finally to those saying "oh yaw - you're only giving 'cause your rich and it makes your ego expand, like yah...blah...etc. etc." People that make the odd small effort are contributing and helping in a real and tangible way - you are merely putting forth empty-headed arguments as you decide what '06 registration car needs to be in your driveway in order to make the neighbour think you are someone/something.

- By your own evidence you are currently not amounting to too much actually.

Raiser.

P.S. Beer is life - could you please consider yourself included? [thanks]

* Edit 'cause of prior omission of another inbred mental midget.

Why do you assume you know anything about me? So I dont give to charity, big deal, get over it and get on with your life.

Typical do gooder rant :rolleyes:

Julesie

Its seems to be a common misconception that the only solution to the third world problem is for us to give money from our own pockets in some vain attempt to make things better. This is naive in the extreme.

The third world is the way it is for a multitude of reasons such as but not limited to:

• Corrupt Government Regimes
• Hostile/Violent enviorment (civil war etc.)
• Inhospitable climate (drought etc.)
• Low population density
• Poor levels of infrastructure
• Poor standard of education/literacy amongst adults
• Native cultures at odds with western "capatalist" ideals
• Unfavourable trade conditions with the first world

These are just some of the reasons why Africa isnt going to have an economy that functions like ours in the near future. One of the main contributing factors for the above "problems" is Africas history of colonisation by european countries such as (England, France, Holland etc.) For centuries these countries were just treated like distant outposts of a forgotten empire with little or no interest or investment placed in them. That means that while the first world prospered during industrial revolutions this never reached Africa.

Most of the above problems wont be solved by a simple hand out but rather fundamental changes in the way an entire continent operates. Thats why giving money to Concern shouldnt make you feel like you are solving world poverty in fact in some ways it perpetuates it. To be honest im not sure it could be solved or if it is even "our" place to take on that task.

Anyway rant over.

sportswear

raiser that is a stunning post.


i actually can't believe how many people are such dickheads.

i just don't know where to start.


so i'm not going to.

edanto

Julesie, I agree with all of your post, but I'd add that I think it is our place - nay, responsibility - to find a solution to this inequality.

We have to look at our background and our skills (to paraphrase Mr. Mandela) and see what we can do. It's not just about giving money, it's about convincing our politicians to use their international influence to change the trade rules or cancel more debt, for example.

As well as a hundred other things, most of which I haven't thought of. If anyone cares enough, it's easy to find ways to get involved. This is a political problem, but not really an attention grabber in the way that most news stories are.

It's a cliche to say that there are millions of people dying every day because of things like the hangover from colonialism, corporations and bad governance - but since that doesn't really change from day to day, it doesn't make the news.
[edit]
I don't give a huge amount of money to charity, I think there are better ways to make a difference and spend some time doing that. I'm reluctant to jabber on about that, since I'm not really doing it so that I can boast.

Mad Mike

Raiser wrote:

Genetic dead-ends like yourselves couldn't be self-sufficient beyond a 500 metre radius of Dominos - and no, its not a valid argument to say that misfortunates in famine devasted countries should ask Daddy for €15 euro and a lift in the Beemer to the nearest KFC.

Stunning Post Raiser. Cruel but spot on.

Aporia

As Julesie has said it's not just a case of give them money and everything will be okay It's the social problems.
Honestly, I don't care. I rarely think about it. The only times I do think and feel guilty is when an ad comes on t.v. or something.

People might say they care but what they're really doing is thinking of themselves. They need to get rid of their guilt for a while by handing over their money. It makes them feel better.

The only people we really care about in this world are our friends and family. It's sad, but true.

I'm not being mean here or a ''dickhead'' I'm being honest. People that give to charities and boast about it, make me sick. This reminds me of a story in the bible. I can't really remember it exactly but it was about someone in need. Rich men and women gave loads of money without any hassle at all. Then a poor woman gave just a penny. All she had. She was being the most generous of them all.

base2

You cretins are really going to regret having posted these ignorant statements on a public message board just as soon as your testicles drop and you realise that Mr. O'Briens maths test on Fridays is not in fact a critical issue or pressing current affair.

Come on, to have been through at least some portion of the Irish educational system we have to assume that you are in possession of at least some of the facts here [?] I can only assume age is a factor and that if Mum doesn't buy 12 packs of Walkers crisps and multiple 2 litre bottles of Coke that you slam doors, sulk and shout "its so unfair" all evening while stamping the Nike Air max that you begged Daddy-kins to buy you on the preceding Saturday.

Genetic dead-ends like yourselves couldn't be self-sufficient beyond a 500 metre radius of Dominos - and no, its not a valid argument to say that misfortunates in famine devasted countries should ask Daddy for €15 euro and a lift in the Beemer to the nearest KFC.

Thats pretty sad that you went to all that time to post that. Attack the post not the poster.

Ps. I'm more educated than you.

Thomas_S_Hunterson

base2 wrote:

Ps. I'm more educated than you.

lol To the Thunderdome!!!!!!;)

BOHS

Couldn't have said it better myself Raiser

edanto

Beer is Life wrote:

Why do you assume you know anything about me?

We only know what you post. You've said that you won't support any charity with money because some charities annoy you by asking for some time to solicit a donation as you go about your life.

What else do you want to tell us?

Do you give a sh1t about the third world?

Typical do gooder rant :rolleyes:

So, if he's a do gooder and you're not, what does that make you? A do badder? Is beer really everything to you? What makes you tick?

base2, if you're so educated, how can you suggest that the solution to world poverty is "If they want the good life they can go and make it for themselves." Care to share your ideas for how that would work?

Julesie

edanto wrote:

Julesie, I agree with all of your post, but I'd add that I think it is our place - nay, responsibility - to find a solution to this inequality.

We have to look at our background and our skills (to paraphrase Mr. Mandela) and see what we can do. It's not just about giving money, it's about convincing our politicians to use their international influence to change the trade rules or cancel more debt, for example.

I'd agree on issues like fair terms of trade or debt cancellation where it is most definitely within our remit to make things right and just. I guess i was referring to the other more tricky issues where it becomes the West imposing its idealogy on a continent that is very much its own. We have all seen first hand that this has not had the desired effect when implemented in places such as the middle east and id be very cautious about repeating the same mistake again.

simu

I don't worry about it constantly or give my last penny to aid organisations but yes, it does bother me quite a bit. I forget about it but then all it takes is a look in the paper to be reminded again. The problem is that there's not much I feel I can do apart from having a standing order with an aid agency, supporting Amnesty International and buying fair trade products now and then. But then again, I'm not always convinced how effective these measures are either - maybe they're just a way of salving a guilty conscience. On a broader level, I freak out at times and think most people in Ireland are living in a delusional state - we just keep consuming things gleefully as if we had endless resources on this planet and the evidence of impending disaster is all around us. Maybe not in our lifetimes but soon enough at least. And what kind of a species are we that we couldn't get our act together and make a decent attempt at basic living standards for all of us! We're scum, maybe we deserve to become extinct but on the other hand, it seems like a great pity too. Aaaaaaargh!

edanto

The perception that there's nothing to be done other than what you mentioned is a bit of a problem, but there are few things you could do if you had the time.

If you are looking for something to do, there's a bunch of charities that would love people to volunteer some time and help them out.

The more people that do that, more equal the world will become. Other simple things, like writing to your local TD and asking them what they're doing about it will have an effect.

TDs log and chart all the things that people contact them about and respond accordingly. Not proportionately - there's other interests and priorities (different thread!), but everyone can have an impact on the political agenda.

On the whole, I think the majority of people are good natured, and we're one of the first generations to get a good realisation of just how unbalanced the world is economically - so it's our opportunity to do something about it. Whether we choose to or not is exactly that - a choice - and I'm trying to encourage anyone else that wants to get involved.

The Doktor

Just think about what you have said…. You don’t care…not that you don’t give to charity, not that you don’t want to help….YOU DON’T CARE..
Do you not care about these people too? These are people who have been killed at the hands of other people, just like in Africa.

 9,000,000-11,000,000 Poles, Jews, Russians, Communists, Homosexuals, Mentally ill, Gypsies, Disabled, Intelligentsia, Jehovah`s Witnesses, Clergy, Trade Unionists, Political Activists murdered by the Nazis
 estimated 1,400,000 Armenians murdered in the Ottoman empire
 AT LEAST 25,000,000 Military dead during ww2 (Combined, US, UK, USSR, German…etc etc)
 about 150,000 dead in Hiroshima and Nagasaki in the year after the US dropped fat man and little boy.
 180,000 civilians killed in Japan from US fire bombing
 500,000 Children and 500,000 adults dead due to sanctions against Iraq
 nearly 2,500 US soldiers and 34,000 Iraqi civilians killed in the current Iraq war
 1,000,000 people killed in Iran/Iraq war
 1,000,000 died in the Mexican revolution
 1,700,000 killed in the vietnam war
 1,400,000 dead in civil war in Ethiopia
 At least 1,600,000 killed by the Khmer Rouge
At least 20,000 soviet and 1,000,000 Afghan/Mujahideen in the Soviet Afghan war
 20,000,000 killed during Stalins regime
 40,000,000 killed during Mao Tse-Tungs regime in China
The above figures are lowest estimations
I haven`t given figure for dead due to man made famine, disease etc in Africa.. but we know its millions too


Please, just look at the numbers.. and think about what you are saying

Amazotheamazing

base2 wrote:

Ps. I'm more educated than you.

How is that relevant?

mountainyman

Degsy wrote:

As Mariah Carey once said "whenever i see programmes about africa,i cry.I mean,i wouldnt mind being that thin but not with all the flies and everything!"

Is that true:
Most people care a little bit enough to give money to charity once in a while.
Some don't care and do nothing
Some do care and do alot.

What does caring mean like sit in my room cutting myself because their are starving children in Africa.

edanto I don't see how the problems of the third world are my responsibility and I am sure that if I tried to fix it I would **** it up worse.

Doktor I don't know what you are talking about there are some things that are in the past and some things that are in the present.
Past means already happened
Present means happening now
Past
Present


EMOSucksBalls EMOSucksBalls EMOSucksBalls EMOSucksBalls

Archeron

Aporia wrote:

As Julesie has said it's not just a case of give them money and everything will be okay It's the social problems.
Honestly, I don't care. I rarely think about it. The only times I do think and feel guilty is when an ad comes on t.v. or something.

People might say they care but what they're really doing is thinking of themselves. They need to get rid of their guilt for a while by handing over their money. It makes them feel better.

The only people we really care about in this world are our friends and family. It's sad, but true.

I'm not being mean here or a ''dickhead'' I'm being honest. People that give to charities and boast about it, make me sick. This reminds me of a story in the bible. I can't really remember it exactly but it was about someone in need. Rich men and women gave loads of money without any hassle at all. Then a poor woman gave just a penny. All she had. She was being the most generous of them all.

Its funny how people can sit there and do nothing and say its all down to social problems, our few Euros wont make a difference. To those who think that, you're bloody well wrong. Take the time to research some of the ongoing projects in the poorest parts of the world, and see the effect that this has on some of the people that live there. OK, some of the money will end up sucked into the vacuum of paperwork and admin, but not all. Where do you think this money goes? To the corrupt governments? No, it goes into projects that DO make a damn big difference to those who need it. The money given by doners goes to provide clean water pumps for entire towns and villages, to provide education on personal hygiene and disease, to build schools and hospitals and try, TRY to make life better for some. Well and good for you sitting in front of your computer to say that we cant make a difference. If you want a glass of water, can you get one? Or do you have to walk for four hours to access it, therefore denying you the time to educate yourself, therefore denying you your chance in college, therefore denying you your high paid job that provides your nice big house, nice new car, and nice new shiny computer that will allow you to sit down and respond to questions like this by saying "the only people we really care about is friends and family" The only people I can say are truly important to me are friends and family, but I dont know all these people living in dire poverty, so I cant say I share their personal grief, but to say we dont care is just a sign of the materialistic nature that this country is now riddled with. Given an option, would you take a new television, or save the lives of 5 poor people from Sierra Leone that you've never met, and never will? I suspect I know the answer.

"People might say they care but what they're really doing is thinking of themselves. They need to get rid of their guilt for a while by handing over their money. It makes them feel better."

Really? And does it make you feel better about the fact that you do nothing by accusing those who DO give a damn of only doing it for their own personal reasons? Thats just sad. I dont tell anyone what I donate, coz its none of their damn business, thats between me and the charities I support, but how dare you suggest that the only reason people do this is for personal emotional gain.

My reason for doing this is because I have respect for my fellow man, and I can at least partially understand the misery they suffer, and how we can do something to change it. I realize the fact that I have been born as one of the luckiest people in the world, and I realize the fact that it could so easily have been different, and it could be me sitting there, 8 years old dying of a combination of AIDs and starvation as my family die around me.

The money we give may only be a small amount, and it may only do a small amount of good, but if everyone in the world who does give stopped, what would happen? How many MORE people would die, above the tragic numbers we already see every day?

Yes its sickening when people boast about the money they donate, and I hate to see that. Whats even more sickening is when people actually seem to be proud of the fact that they do nothing, and dont care. You know those corrupt governments that everyone knows we must tackle before poverty can truly be ended? Well, guess what, its the latter type of people that make up those goverments. Be proud of yourself, and I just pray that you never become a global leader.

The Doktor

mountainyman wrote:

Is that true:


Doktor I don't know what you are talking about there are some things that are in the past and some things that are in the present.
Past means already happened
Present means happening now
Past
Present

Yeah ur right.. the children who died 5 mins ago are in the past..

HelterSkelter

September 1913 - William Butler Yeats

WHAT need you, being come to sense,
But fumble in a greasy till
And add the halfpence to the pence
And prayer to shivering prayer, until
You have dried the marrow from the bone;
For men were born to pray and save:
Romantic Ireland's dead and gone,
It's with O'Leary in the grave.

Yet they were of a different kind
The names that stilled your childish play,
They have gone about the world like wind,
But little time had they to pray
For whom the hangman's rope was spun,
And what, God help us, could they save:
Romantic Ireland's dead and gone,
It's with O'Leary in the grave.

Was it for this the wild geese spread
The grey wing upon every tide;
For this that all that blood was shed,
For this Edward Fitzgerald died,
And Robert Emmet and Wolfe Tone,
All that delirium of the brave;
Romantic Ireland's dead and gone,
It's with O'Leary in the grave.

Yet could we turn the years again,
And call those exiles as they were,
In all their loneliness and pain
You'd cry 'Some woman's yellow hair
Has maddened every mother's son':
They weighed so lightly what they gave,
But let them be, they're dead and gone,
They're with O'Leary in the grave.

edanto

mountainyman wrote:

edanto I don't see how the problems of the third world are my responsibility and I am sure that if I tried to fix it I would **** it up worse.

Let's look at the second part first. That's pathetic - are you saying that you have so little belief in your ability to do anything, that you're just going to do nothing?

I don't believe that for a minute. I think that's a lame justification for you trying to hide the fact that you really don't care about people in the third world and you'd much rather pretend that you had a good reason for doing nothing.

At least be man enough to own up to not caring, instead of trying to worm your way out of it with pathos. uuuhhh I couldn't do anything... I'm just going to look away... it's not MY problem....

Perfect sig, btw

mount any man wrote:

This is not legal advice. Even if it sounds like legal advice don't rely on it; I am an idiot and give bad advice in general.

Degsy

Raiser wrote:

You cretins are really going to regret having posted these ignorant statements on a public message board just as soon as your testicles drop and you realise that Mr. O'Briens maths test on Fridays is not in fact a critical issue or pressing current affair.

Come on, to have been through at least some portion of the Irish educational system we have to assume that you are in possession of at least some of the facts here [?] I can only assume age is a factor and that if Mum doesn't buy 12 packs of Walkers crisps and multiple 2 litre bottles of Coke that you slam doors, sulk and shout "its so unfair" all evening while stamping the Nike Air max that you begged Daddy-kins to buy you on the preceding Saturday.

Genetic dead-ends like yourselves couldn't be self-sufficient beyond a 500 metre radius of Dominos - and no, its not a valid argument to say that misfortunates in famine devasted countries should ask Daddy for €15 euro and a lift in the Beemer to the nearest KFC.

I know, I know - you maintain these people should be planting kebab bushes and growing chicken-dippers trees. Perhaps they should invest in a garlic and herb dip machine so they can be really self-sufficient. If you were teleported to and subsequently stranded in a famine area I would expect 90 mins. of Nokia talk time as you desperately beg for a taxi, then in due course a dead battery - about 20 mins later your spotty white carcasses would be decomposing while repulsing passing vultures.

No Respect.

To the OP - You arugment is valid for more people than will ever admit to it. Personally I could do a lot more with ease, but often put it on a back burner or forget to follow up on a donation etc. This is not something I am proud of but I intend to do better in future.

Finally to those saying "oh yaw - you're only giving 'cause your rich and it makes your ego expand, like yah...blah...etc. etc." People that make the odd small effort are contributing and helping in a real and tangible way - you are merely putting forth empty-headed arguments as you decide what '06 registration car needs to be in your driveway in order to make the neighbours think you are someone/something.

- By your own evidence you are currently not amounting to too much actually.

Raiser.

P.S. Beer is life - could you please consider yourself included? [thanks]

* Edit 'cause of prior omission of another inbred mental midget.

What in the name of all thats holy are you babbling about??Chicken dipper trees???Kebab bushes??
I think you have some serious problems but i like the suave way that you mention your own chairitable leanings..."Oh THAT?yeah,i do my bit but i could do a lot more and you know,someday i'll make a difference!".You sound like a cross between Darius out of Popstars and a Miss World contestatnt.

RotalicaV

Raiser, the brady bunch are on the phone.. they want their speech back.