Why should I care?

Potential-Monke

Why should i care that there are millions of staving people in Africa?

Why should i care that children are forced to work in sweatshops in China?

Why should i care that there are only a few thousand gorillas left in some part of the world?


My opinion: Why are there always ads on the telebox trying to make me feel guilty for something that is happening in another country on teh opposite side of the world which has no impact on the day to day running of my life? Why are they even allowed to advertise crap like this? (I know, money). I'm sick of seeing ads on every day advertising some poor souls in some third world country. I know there are millions being spent on overseas aid which would be better suited to be kept here at home.

Why do people think less of you if, and to quote Billy Connolly, "i care, not-a-jot"?

VagnerLove

awww here it goes

chin_grin

Don't watch the telly then! :pac:

Fluorescence

Potential-Monke wrote: »

Why should i care that there are millions of staving people in Africa?

Why should i care that children are forced to work in sweatshops in China?

Why should i care that there are only a few thousand gorillas left in some part of the world?


My opinion: Why are there always ads on the telebox trying to make me feel guilty for something that is happening in another country on teh opposite side of the world which has no impact on the day to day running of my life? Why are they even allowed to advertise crap like this? (I know, money). I'm sick of seeing ads on every day advertising some poor souls in some third world country. I know there are millions being spent on overseas aid which would be better suited to be kept here at home.

Why do people think less of you if, and to quote Billy Connolly, "i care, not-a-jot"?

Basic human empathy?

mkdon05

Racist

44leto

Because even you have a part in forming public opinion which these days has power.

But you don't have to care.

Potential-Monke

fluorescence wrote: »

Basic human empathy?

I have that, for people who are homeless in Ireland, but why should i feel it for people who have no consequence to my life?

@ VagnerLove (really??): Not intentionally starting anything, just asking why! And i do love AH answers to lifes questions!

Tesco Massacre

Annie Lennox's 'Why?' is the soundtrack to this thread.

Fluorescence

Potential-Monke wrote: »

I have that, for people who are homeless in Ireland, but why should i feel it for people who have no consequence to my life?

@ VagnerLove (really??): Not intentionally starting anything, just asking why! And i do love AH answers to lifes questions!

Do the homeless in Ireland affect your life? How so?

Potential-Monke

mkdon05 wrote: »

Racist

I'm not racist, i hate everyone equally.

El Horseboxo

Potential-Monke wrote: »

Why should i care that there are millions of staving people in Africa?

Why should i care that children are forced to work in sweatshops in China?

Why should i care that there are only a few thousand gorillas left in some part of the world?


My opinion: Why are there always ads on the telebox trying to make me feel guilty for something that is happening in another country on teh opposite side of the world which has no impact on the day to day running of my life? Why are they even allowed to advertise crap like this? (I know, money). I'm sick of seeing ads on every day advertising some poor souls in some third world country. I know there are millions being spent on overseas aid which would be better suited to be kept here at home.

Why do people think less of you if, and to quote Billy Connolly, "i care, not-a-jot"?

Well the ads aren't obviously aimed at double hard bastards like yourself.

Mike 1972

Potential-Monke wrote: »

My opinion:

Why should any of us give a flying fiddlers about the OP or what they think ?

Potential-Monke

fluorescence wrote: »

Do the homeless in Ireland affect your life? How so?

I feel sorry for them, sitting on the side of the street, begging. Until they ask for change anyway.

Mike 1972 wrote: »

Why should we give a flying fiddlers about the OP or what they think ?

Exactly!

kirving

Better off spent at home? Don't think so. Childrens allowance, or keeping children alive.

Potential-Monke

Kevin Irving wrote: »

Better off spent at home? Don't think so. Childrens allowance, or keeping children alive.

I don't mean like that, i mean like using it to pay off our debt, using it to fund jobs creation, etc.

Fluorescence

Potential-Monke wrote: »

I feel sorry for them, sitting on the side of the street, begging. Until they ask for change anyway.

So it's because you can see these people in real life that you can sympathise with them? Whereas with others it's a case of "Out of sight, out of mind"?

If you can't even feel a bit of sympathy for those in the most horrific of conditions - whether or not you see it in the course of your daily life or through the media - then that says something quite sad about you

xzanti

If they don't reach out to the 'first world', what hope have they got? Should they just lie down and die so that you don't have to hear about their plight on the ad break from Corrie..

Maybe there should be an unsubscribe option when it comes to what ads we are exposed to..

Chuck Stone

If you ever end up on the streets I hope you bump into people with your attitude every day.

kirving

Potential-Monke wrote: »

I don't mean like that, i mean like using it to pay off our debt, using it to fund jobs creation, etc.

So our self induced debt is more important than peoples lives? It's only money at the end of the day.

Potential-Monke

fluorescence wrote: »

If you can't even feel a bit of sympathy for those in the most horrific of conditions - whether or not you see it in the course of your daily life or through the media - then that says something quite sad about you

Why is that though? Why is it something quite sad? I believe i used to feel sorry for them at some stage, but imo they've over saturated it to the extent the ads piss me off. Same as those fookers on the street.

@xzanti: an unsubscribe option would be great!

@Chuck Stone: If i'm ever unfortunate enough to end up there, i'm sure i'll have a little smile to myself at some stage thinking back to what i'm saying now.

Potential-Monke

Kevin Irving wrote: »

It's only money at the end of the day.

Oh i hate that saying. It's only money. Money, which if you 'had none of you'd be the one of the people this whole conversation is about. Money, wether you want to believe it or not, is vital.

Gummy Panda

mkdon05 wrote: »

Racist

how?

lividduck

this country squandered €630 million on so called "Overseas Aid" last year while closing hospital wards and increasing taxes and charges. The government has no businesss giving money away to other countries out of our taxes. If people want to send money abroad let them do it themselves.
Giving money away to other countries (often to countries with self inflicted problems and no shortage of weapons) is ludicrus.

Red21

Potential-Monke wrote: »

I have that, for people who are homeless in Ireland, but why should i feel it for people who have no consequence to my life? !

Are saying you're only able to feel empthy for those with an Irish passport.

<snip>

Potential-Monke

Red21 wrote: »

Are saying you're only able to feel empthy for those with an Irish passport.

No, i feel empathy for those in my country, or more specifially city. Those in my home country, and not necessarily those with Irish passports.

18AD

Potential-Monke wrote: »

Why are there always ads on the telebox trying to make me feel guilty for something that is happening in another country on teh opposite side of the world which has no impact on the day to day running of my life? Why are they even allowed to advertise crap like this? (I know, money). I'm sick of seeing ads on every day advertising some poor souls in some third world country. I know there are millions being spent on overseas aid which would be better suited to be kept here at home.

Guilt is an excellent idealogical force. Watch any drink driving ad, charity ad, anti-smoking ad etc... They all try and make you feel guilty, because guilt is persuasive.

That said, ads are ruining your life. lol :pac:

Collie D

Red21 wrote: »

Are saying you're only able to feel empthy for those with an Irish passport.

No, he doesn't give a sh*te about them either. Usually the thing with people who give out about foreign aid. They'll say we have worthy causes in Ireland but secretly they don;t give a monkey's about them either,

Potential-Monke wrote: »

Why is that though? Why is it something quite sad? I believe i used to feel sorry for them at some stage, but imo they've over saturated it to the extent the ads piss me off. Same as those fookers on the street.

Lando Griffin

I remember watching some famine pictures on the telly with my mother years back and she couldnt bare it no more went and made a £5 donation old money. Roll on a few years and a family from said country moves in to a house in the village and tongues get waging. " free loaders, the lot of em" claimed my mother. What fun I had pointing out her faux pas.

Potential-Monke

Collie D wrote: »

No, he doesn't give a sh*te about them either. Usually the thing with people who give out about foreign aid. They'll say we have worthy causes in Ireland but secretly they don;t give a monkey's about them either,

I should have made that post a bit clearer, i was referring to the fookers collecting for charity.

Also, i had no intention of making this an overseas aid bashing thread, but a why i should care thread. Overseas aid is just an example.

Biggins

Potential-Monke wrote: »

Why should I care?

...Just because (for me) its the right thing to do as part of being (or trying/wishing to be) a decent human being.
Call me silly and daft!

Mike 1972

lividduck wrote: »

Giving money away to other countries (often to countries with self inflicted problems and no shortage of weapons) is ludicrus.

So should we give the EU back all the money they gave us in the 70's/80's/90's as well as the more recent bailout money ?

Bad Panda

Mike 1972 wrote: »

So should we give the EU back all the money they gave us in the 70's/80's/90's as well as the more recent bailout money ?

Was just about to post this.

What an idiotic opinion to hold, let alone to say.

Potential-Monke

Bad Panda wrote: »

Was just about to post this.

What an idiotic opinion to hold, let alone to say.

What happened to attack the post and not the poster?

The King of Moo

Why would someone who happens to have been born closer to you have automatic rights to more sympathy, even if, objectively, their suffering is less than that of someone in another country? (I'd rather be homeless in Ireland than starving in the Third World)

I always find it funny when I see posts complaining about overseas aid which should be spent on Irish disadvantaged people because I also see so many posts complaining about drug addicts and people on benefits here.

It makes me think that some people just hate being asked to feel empathy for people less fortunate than them, regardless of where they're from, and really just couldn't give a s**t about any disadvantage people. There's a word beginning with "c" for people like that.

Robdude

Potential-Monke wrote: »

Why should i care that there are millions of staving people in Africa?

Why should i care that children are forced to work in sweatshops in China?

Why should i care that there are only a few thousand gorillas left in some part of the world?


My opinion: Why are there always ads on the telebox trying to make me feel guilty for something that is happening in another country on teh opposite side of the world which has no impact on the day to day running of my life? Why are they even allowed to advertise crap like this? (I know, money). I'm sick of seeing ads on every day advertising some poor souls in some third world country. I know there are millions being spent on overseas aid which would be better suited to be kept here at home.

Why do people think less of you if, and to quote Billy Connolly, "i care, not-a-jot"?

What's really screwed up is the people running the organizations are (often) making millions by getting people to feel guilty and donate to some cause.

cassi

You're dead right op!

Interrupting your tv watching or newspaper reading, asking for help from the more fortunate, for starving, dying people around the world. The absolute hack of them using popular media to get their message out.

Potential-Monke

The King of Moo wrote: »

It makes me think that some people just hate being asked to feel empathy for people less fortunate than them, regardless of where they're from, and really just couldn't give a s**t about any disadvantage people. There's a word beginning with "c" for people like that.

Again, i'm not complaining about overseas aid, it's grand when it's affordable, and it was just an example. My point (again) is why i should give a ****. Why does society dictate that if i don't, then i am the aforementioned c word?

Biggins

Potential-Monke wrote: »

Again, i'm not complaining about overseas aid, it's grand when it's affordable, and it was just an example. My point (again) is why i should give a ****. Why does society dictate that if i don't, then i am the aforementioned c word?

You don't HAVE to care.
You can by-pass the collectors, change the station or lower it down if need be. You can throw away the collection leaflets, etc.
You DO have options.

The King of Moo

Potential-Monke wrote: »

Again, i'm not complaining about overseas aid, it's grand when it's affordable, and it was just an example. My point (again) is why i should give a ****. Why does society dictate that if i don't, then i am the aforementioned c word?

Because most of these people are in these situations because they've had the bad fortune to be born into it, whereas we're lucky to have been born in a first world society. Something to be grateful for.

And because basic human empathy is a trait necessary to be found in most people in order for society to function, and most people possess it, so if someone seems to lack it, it does paint them in a poor light.

lividduck

Mike 1972 wrote: »

So should we give the EU back all the money they gave us in the 70's/80's/90's as well as the more recent bailout money ?

We NEVER recieved overseas aid in that sense.
We recieved reigonal grants, cohesion funds etc as a part of the EEC/EC/EU membership, a completley different thing. And we didnt use the funds to buy weapons and kill our own people.

By all means you give your money away, thats your perogitive. I just object to 2% of our income tax take being handed over to forign countries/warlords/tribal chiefs etc.

lividduck

Biggins wrote: »

You don't HAVE to care.
You can by-pass the collectors, change the station or lower it down if need be. You can throw away the collection leaflets, etc.
You DO have options.

What is the option when 2% of all income tax collected is given away to other countries? How do I unsubscribe to that?
We could abolish the household charge and the TV licience with what we give away, and i know what most families would go for given the choice and it wouldnt be handouts to the so called £rd world.

The King of Moo

lividduck wrote: »

What is the option when 2% of all income tax collected is given away to other countries? How do I unsubscribe to that?
We could abolish the household charge and the TV licience with what we give away, and i know what most families would go for given the choice and it wouldnt be handouts to the so called £rd world.

To me, that's not that much.

Would you mind giving it away if you knew the money would all be going to the people who needed it?

I'm also not sure what you mean by the "so called" Third World. Do you think they're more developed than they're letting on?

Biggins

lividduck wrote: »

What is the option when 2% of all income tax collected is given away to other countries?

A good question for which I, myself honestly don't have an answer for.

CajunOnTour

Mike 1972 wrote: »

So should we give the EU back all the money they gave us in the 70's/80's/90's as well as the more recent bailout money ?

How much, exactly, did they give us? As for the "bail-out"...'twas their banking system they were bailing out, not "us".

Just like indifference to the plight of others, naivety can be carried too far :cool:

treborflynn

sure if you were stuck like they were wouldnt ya want anyone to do anything they can to help ya out, just cause you have a job and a few pound in the bank dont be up on yer high horse like the ould dickhead cocknose that ya are.

steddyeddy

Potential-Monke wrote: »

I have that, for people who are homeless in Ireland, but why should i feel it for people who have no consequence to my life?

@ VagnerLove (really??): Not intentionally starting anything, just asking why! And i do love AH answers to lifes questions!

Ever hear of narcisstic personaltiy disorder?

RonToole

Potential-Monke wrote: »

a) Why should i care that there are millions of staving people in Africa?

b) Why should i care that children are forced to work in sweatshops in China?

c) Why should i care that there are only a few thousand gorillas left in some part of the world?

a) Empathy, for those less well off than ourselves. We were lucky enough to be born into a society where we can do well for ourselves with little or no help from outsiders. Those born into a society where they're used for sex trafficking, slavery and no means of making a positive change for themselves really have no real chance unless we can help out in some way - advertising is their way of making us see just how much they do need our help.

b) Refer to a)

c) I'm assuming the idea of not letting Wildlife become extinct is down to an attitude of, "Where do we draw the line?" Gorillas first, then Pandas, then Buffalo, then onto Whales etc etc etc. I believe it's a method of trying to keep a fine line between Humans becoming Animals and staying "Human."

Going back to the beginning of mankind we killed Animals for food, not fun. My view/outlook to that is that society is trying to keep us "Human."


Rape used be an accepted form of sexual encounter. Nowadays it's illegal because it contradicts basic Human Rights.

lividduck

treborflynn wrote: »

sure if you were stuck like they were wouldnt ya want anyone to do anything they can to help ya out, just cause you have a job and a few pound in the bank dont be up on yer high horse like the ould dickhead cocknose that ya are.

Such eloquence, such a grasp of the English language, such an ability to put forward a structured and well thought out arguement, I stand humbled in the presence of your articulative abilities

KeithM89_old

treborflynn wrote: »

sure if you were stuck like they were wouldnt ya want anyone to do anything they can to help ya out, just cause you have a job and a few pound in the bank dont be up on yer high horse like the ould dickhead cocknose that ya are.

Banned.

Potential-Monke

steddyeddy wrote: »

Ever hear of narcisstic personaltiy disorder?

I have, and i don't have it.