Why should I care about or help the poor and starving people of the world

JohnGalt · 09-11-2008 07:09PM #1

Seriously, why is it my problem

phenomenon · 09-11-2008 07:10PM

Kevin Myers returns

Agamemnon · 09-11-2008 07:11PM

Kevin, you sucked ass on the Panel.

Holsten · 09-11-2008 07:18PM

You shouldn't, **** em.

TheDublinMan · 09-11-2008 07:19PM

JohnGalt wrote: »

Seriously, why is it my problem

It's not your problem and if you don't want to help the people you don't have to.
It's your prerogative what you do with your money I'm sure you spend it on meaningful things. Things like flat screen tvs, cars etc.
There's a place for people like you.;)
Hell

Princess Consuela Bananahammock · 09-11-2008 07:19PM

The O'Reilly JohnGalt Factor.

Dudess · 09-11-2008 07:30PM

TheDublinMan wrote: »

It's not your problem and if you don't want to help the people you don't have to.
It's your prerogative what you do with your money

To be fair, that's perfectly correct.

jordano · 09-11-2008 07:32PM

What goes around comes around dude! You may need help some day.

projectmayhem · 09-11-2008 07:34PM

TheDublinMan wrote: »

It's not your problem and if you don't want to help the people you don't have to.
It's your prerogative what you do with your money

Absolutely correct.

I like my flat panel tv, laptop, nice clothes et al.

...But for the OP, you have to think at some point, that those poor starving people less fortunate could have so easily been you.

Latchy · 09-11-2008 07:35PM

JohnGalt wrote: »

Seriously, why is it my problem

Who said it was ? Did somebody say it was your problem personally ? Millions of people give to the starving millions quietly and millions of others dont but the latter dont feel the need to start a thread about it .Prhaps guilt is involved

mikemac · 09-11-2008 07:36PM

JohnGalt wrote: »

Seriously, why is it my problem

Rest easy OP

If you're a taxpayer the government is doing it for you:
The Government has allocated a record €914 million for Official Development Assistance (ODA) this year

€914 million is lot of money no question even if it's tiny fraction of GNP

Guy:Incognito · 09-11-2008 07:38PM

jordano wrote: »

What goes around comes around dude! You may need help some day.

Do you really think if you send some money to Africa it'll help you later in life when you fall on hard times.

When it happens, dial 1800-trocairecongo and ask them to send you a few quid.

Theres is no obligation to give money to anything and nor should there be. There is also not excuse for tryign to guilt or force people to donate their own money. If people decide to , then fair enough, otherwise gtfo.

arybvtcw0eolkf · 09-11-2008 07:45PM

projectmayhem wrote: »

...But for the OP, you have to think at some point, that those poor starving people less fortunate could have so easily been you.

Or to put it another way...

'There but for the grace of God go I'.

I'm a pretty charitable person, I don't feel obliged to donate. But I do, it makes me feel good (am I being selfish?) and I do think it makes a difference.

Its also very rewarding, one of the best things I've done was worked with orphaned children in Lebanon (I'm sure there's a photo of me on boards.ie somewhere with the kids).

That was seven years ago, I still think of them often and wonder how they are & if they remembered us.

SeekUp · 09-11-2008 07:54PM

Mairt wrote: »

Or to put it another way...

'There but for the grace of God go I'.

I'm a pretty charitable person, I don't feel obliged to donate. But I do, it makes me feel good (am I being selfish?) and I do think it makes a difference.

This reminds me of a Friends episode where Phoebe tries to do something nice for someone else because it's a nice thing to do, not because it makes her feel good. But the two go hand in hand. Awwww . . .

Anyway, to the OP -- it's not your problem per se, it's just basic human decency. If more people gave a tiny fraction of what they could (be it money/time/whatever), it would really go a long way and there wouldn't be as many people suffering.

Pay it forward man, pay it forward.

brianthebard · 09-11-2008 08:03PM

Because op to an extent,its your fault.maybe not directly,but eu and tnc interference and neo colonialism in the 3rd world is responsible for a lot of underdevelopment and poverty

arybvtcw0eolkf · 09-11-2008 08:07PM

brianthebard wrote: »

Because op to an extent,its your fault.maybe not directly,but eu and tnc interference and neo colonialism in the 3rd world is responsible for a lot of underdevelopment and poverty

Cat among the birdies!..

komodosp · 09-11-2008 08:11PM

You might say they shouldn't try to "guilt" you into it, but sometimes people don't understand the suffering that other people are going through, and when someone tries to tell them about it, they think the tellers are trying to guilt them into it.

Most people are decent enough that if they spot someone in trouble, they will try to help them out, but for a lot of people it seems that the further away, the less deserving the suffering person is of their help. But they are suffering just as much no matter how far they are from the would-be helper, no matter how different their language or skin colour. One may be sick of seeing the ads on TV, but no where near as sick as they are of malnutrition, disease. hunger, cold.

phenomenon · 09-11-2008 08:17PM

brianthebard wrote: »

Because op to an extent,its your fault.maybe not directly,but eu and tnc interference and neo colonialism in the 3rd world is responsible for a lot of underdevelopment and poverty

*sigh* I was waiting for somebody to bring this up...
Ireland never had any overseas colonies or slaves. Even if it did, today's generation can't be held responsible for something our ancestors did centuries ago. The whole "white guilt" argument has an antagonising effect imo. If I give money to Africa its out of sympathy, not guilt.

jordano · 09-11-2008 08:18PM

Stekelly wrote: »

Do you really think if you send some money to Africa it'll help you later in life when you fall on hard times.

When it happens, dial 1800-trocairecongo and ask them to send you a few quid.

Theres is no obligation to give money to anything and nor should there be. There is also not excuse for tryign to guilt or force people to donate their own money. If people decide to , then fair enough, otherwise gtfo.

You are missing the point, I am talking about Karma. If everyone had your attitude the world be an unforgiving place, let the poor nations starve while other's have so much they don't know what to do with it. If you don't want to give to charity don't, no one is forcing you!

latenia · 09-11-2008 08:23PM

JohnGalt wrote: »

Seriously, why is it my problem

Imagine what would happen if they turned off social welfare tomorrow. After a day or 2 we would all have to live in compounds with shotguns.

Biggins · 09-11-2008 08:24PM

Why should you care...?

Because "caring" separates us from the animals of this world...
Because "caring" reminds us that "there but for the grace of god, go I..."
Because "caring" acknowledges that we are just temporary tenants of this Earth, not owners...
Because "caring" makes us grateful for what we have, what others don't, reminds us of that difference and makes us more appreciative...
Because "caring" means you are a thoughtful, passionate, non-egotistical being that is willing to step forth and be counted...

but then again, you have the right not to care and not be all those things (which would be sad)!

wudangclan · 09-11-2008 08:25PM

phenomenon wrote: »

*sigh* I was waiting for somebody to bring this up...
Ireland never had any overseas colonies or slaves. Even if it did, today's generation can't be held responsible for something our ancestors did centuries ago. The whole "white guilt" argument has an antagonising effect imo. If I give money to Africa its out of sympathy, not guilt.

but we are current members of the eu which operates the current agricultural policy ,most of the beneficiaries of which are the huge agricultural mutlinationals (not just the poor farmer up the road),who then foist the surplus produce (which our taxes subsidise) on third world countries,skewing the local markets and putting local producers out of business,and then agriculture being the main employer in most third world countries,these people then emigrate to europe and we throw them in cloverhill for their trouble.

arybvtcw0eolkf · 09-11-2008 08:30PM

Biggins wrote: »

Why should you care...?

Because "caring" separates us from the animals of this world...
Because "caring" reminds us that "there but for the grace of god, go I..."
Because "caring" acknowledges that we are just temporary tenants of this Earth, not owners...
Because "caring" makes us grateful for what we have, what others don't, reminds us of that difference and makes us more appreciative...
Because "caring" means you are a thoughtful, passionate, non-egotistical being that is willing to step forth and be counted...

but then again, you have the right not to care and not be all those things (which would be sad)!

And sadly to some people ...

Because "caring" mean's less money in my pocket.

Biggins · 09-11-2008 08:32PM

Mairt wrote: »

And sadly to some people ...

Because "caring" mean's less money in my pocket.

Who says you only have to give money only to care, how about "time" and "effort"?

ejmaztec · 09-11-2008 08:34PM

JohnGalt wrote: »

Seriously, why is it my problem

If you don't send 'em money, they'll haul their skinny asses up here and "tuk yer jarb". Then you'll starve to death because the Social Welfare won't be able to fund your lavish lifestyle.

LivingDeadGirl · 09-11-2008 08:35PM

Tbh I never give to charity, because there's so fcuking many of them plaguing me in the form of chuggers and disturbing ads on tv. I don't have a problem with these ads per se, but when there's 3+ during a break I get pretty annoyed. Maybe if they didn't come on so strong I'd care, but maybe not. I'm 17 years of age, still in school, as if I have spare cash to give to GOAL or SHARE or Trocaire or whatever other cause Mr. Gobshite charity mugger is attacking me for, I don't even have the money to get the bus. Just leave me alone.

Kold · 09-11-2008 08:36PM

Well is the only reason you brake if someone's crossing the road fear of prosecution?

phenomenon · 09-11-2008 08:37PM

wudangclan wrote: »

but we are current members of the eu which operates the current agricultural policy ,most of the beneficiaries of which are the huge agricultural mutlinationals (not just the poor farmer up the road),who then foist the surplus produce (which our taxes subsidise) on third world countries,skewing the local markets and putting local producers out of business,and then agriculture being the main employer in most third world countries,these people then emigrate to europe and we throw them in cloverhill for their trouble.

Again this isn't my fault. I wish the EU didn't flood third world markets with our surplus produce but I'm powerless to make a change unless a referendum is held on the issue. The EU don't act in my name or represent me. Again I want to emphasize that I do sympathize with the world's poor and would happily give to a genuine charity but I'm not accepting the blame for their situation.

rotinaj · 09-11-2008 08:47PM

Giving makes me feel a lot better.. Heres a usual credit Card statement for me..

Online Gambling 500
Porn 200
Barnardos 25
Useless other stuff 200

That 25 makes me feel a lot better about the rest

Agamemnon · 09-11-2008 09:01PM

Kold wrote: »

Well is the only reason you brake if someone's crossing the road fear of prosecution?

No, I brake because I hate it when inconsiderate tossers scrape paint off my car with their skulls. :mad:

TPD · 09-11-2008 09:10PM

d3mon24 wrote: »

Giving makes me feel a lot better.. Heres a usual credit Card statement for me..

Online Gambling 500
Porn 200
Barnardos 25
Useless other stuff 200

That 25 makes me feel a lot better about the rest

You pay for porn?!?

Why should I care about or help the poor and starving people of the world

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