Do you really care?

[BigBadCam]

Why do people pretend like they care? Why do people get upset about deaths on the road of people they don't even know? Why do people pretend they care about the starving kids in third world countries?

I know girls who bawl their eyes out when the road toll is bad, crying for people they don't even know. I know people who get so upset about starving kids in the third world that they're almost in tears. People die every second of every day. It's sad, but I didn't know them. I'll get upset about people in my family when they die.

I saw that movie, 'slumdog millionaire' with this girl and the next day she went and bought a world vision sponsor pack. Like you're going to make a difference? Why even bother? Don't pretend you actually care - you make me sick. Feeding one starving kid is not going to change the way these countries are. Nestle a few years ago were donating truck loads of powdered milk to these starving third world inhabitants. Do they get any thanks? No... They get criticised for giving powdered milk to people who don't even have clean drinking water. You know what I'd give them? I'd give them some condoms or forcefuly sterlise them.

So many of these people exist in a cycle of poverty which is only being encouraged by aid groups. Many of these people are subsistence farmers, meaning they grow what they need to survive - a minority might make some money on the side through extra produce. They often have as many kids as they can to work on their farms, and when the farms fail, everyone goes hungry. In steps the aid groups to prop up this pitiful existance, and the cycle continues.

On the flip side, what makes it even worse is the farmers in third world countries are so often denied the right to upgrading their practice through the introduction of machinery. 'Globalisation is bad!' scream the bleeding hearts. 'Thei'r culture is important!' they say. Their culture is important to who? Not to them that's for sure. They just want to make sure their family has enough food at the end of the day, and by stopping the spread of technology you are denying them this.

The sorry issue is the same. All these people who wear their heart on their sleeves thought that they were making a difference and pretended like they care. Woo, you can march across the bridge and wear a tshirt that says, 'sorry'. Big deal. None of you had any real idea how to make a difference, and none of you really had any intention of attempting to make a difference. This is something that you can make a difference about and a situation you realistically should be attempting to change instead of sponsoring random kids in random far off countries... Care much?

Hmm... Tired.

 

[beez]

I make a difference every day of my life. And I make people make a difference too. I care, I feel sorry for people in developing countries, I try and make a difference, a lot of the time SUCCESSFULLY too.

So you can keep your apathetic nature to yourself.


"Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish and he will eat for a lifetime."

 

[davey_magik]

So we shouldn't bother sponsoring starving children because we won't be changing the country itself?

 

[drew_j]

Well said, most people are more concerend with appearing concerned than being concerned. Longford gas explosion was a perfect example. Everyone was jumping up and down about aboriginal rights as if it was the most important thing in the world until they couldn't get hot water . You're not fooling anyone, shut the hell up.

 

[Wahooti Fandango]

I saw that movie, 'slumdog millionaire' with this girl and the next day she went and bought a world vision sponsor pack. Like you're going to make a difference? Why even bother? Don't pretend you actually care - you make me sick.

I partially agree with this statement. I really despise the commoditisation of the children of the third world. An example of this is the World Vision stalls and the like that have pictures of children that you can sponsor. So basically you can chose which child you would like to sponsor and so it is just like buying something in a supermarket. In addition, the people sponsoring expect regular updates on the child they are sponsoring. It is fine to be aware of the fact that the child is or is not doing well, but all this extra detail is unnecessary. It is designed to make the person sponsoring feel better, which is arguably the real reason behind their sponsoring. I don't have a problem with people helping others, however the way they got about it is important.

 

[KardiniaPark]

I make a difference every day of my life. And I make people make a difference too. I care, I feel sorry for people in developing countries, I try and make a difference, a lot of the time SUCCESSFULLY too.

So you can keep your apathetic nature to yourself.


"Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish and he will eat for a lifetime."

That was the biggest, self indulgent load of tripe ive ever read in my life.

 

[HFC082]

I sympathise, that is all.

 

[J-Train]

Geez BBC, if you truly believe that World Vision sponsorship or any charity is a waste of time and effort, I can't help but feel a bit sorry for you. I agree, there are people out there who are more concerned about looking like a martyr to a lost cause, but for every jerk like that there is someone who is genuinely working their arse off to improve society and give impoverished/oppressed people a chance at life. When i went to a school in Vietnam with my GF of the time because their "teacher" who looked like a 15 yr old herself asked us to, I was shocked at how little they had to work with. My GF was one of those "teary" types you described, so she went and bought $100 (Aus) worth of stationary (books/pens/coloured pencils etc etc) and took it back to them. The kids thought she was the best! She didn't ask for any thanks and who knows if it "made a difference" or not... but I bet those kids who were sharing one shitty pencil and crappy old notepad between three of them all walked a bit taller and felt a bit better when they had there own brand new stuff to use. Every little bit helps and if you can't see that, you must be awfully sad/bitter every day because you are walking around without hope.

Happy Friday!

 

[Thrust]

Geez BBC, if you truly believe that World Vision sponsorship or any charity is a waste of time and effort, I can't help but feel a bit sorry for you. I agree, there are people out there who are more concerned about looking like a martyr to a lost cause, but for every jerk like that there is someone who is genuinely working their arse off to improve society and give impoverished/oppressed people a chance at life. When i went to a school in Vietnam with my GF of the time because their "teacher" who looked like a 15 yr old herself asked us to, I was shocked at how little they had to work with. My GF was one of those "teary" types you described, so she went and bought $100 (Aus) worth of stationary (books/pens/coloured pencils etc etc) and took it back to them. The kids thought she was the best! She didn't ask for any thanks and who knows if it "made a difference" or not... but I bet those kids who were sharing one shitty pencil and crappy old notepad between three of them all walked a bit taller and felt a bit better when they had there own brand new stuff to use. Every little bit helps and if you can't see that, you must be awfully sad/bitter every day because you are walking around without hope.

Happy Friday!

over a trillion dollars has been spent on aid in africa... right now it is worse than it has ever been.

But hey if thinking you made a difference by letting some child grow old enough to procreate and allow their offspring to starve then more power to you.

 

[Andre]

over a trillion dollars has been spent on aid in africa... right now it is worse than it has ever been.

But hey if thinking you made a difference by letting some child grow old enough to procreate and allow their offspring to starve then more power to you.

And that's the problem. There's no point just sending aid. Aid should be distributed on the condition that they firstly have to get the snip or tubes tied (medical teams go with them to ensure it). If that band-aid 'save the children' extraveganza in the 80's had spent half the money on permanently preventing pro-creation then the same countries wouldn't have required another concert for, yep, their kids, 20 odd years down the track. And before the inevitable calls of racism and eugenics, I'd support the policy for any country we give (or would give) food aid to - whether African, Asian, European or if they are black, white, yellow or pink with green spots.

 

[magtrev]

Well said, most people are more concerend with appearing concerned than being concerned. Longford gas explosion was a perfect example. Everyone was jumping up and down about aboriginal rights as if it was the most important thing in the world until they couldn't get hot water . You're not fooling anyone, shut the hell up.

 

[Hoops]

Is this thread a pi$$ take?

 

[beez]

That was the biggest, self indulgent load of tripe ive ever read in my life.

Cheers man! You obviously don't read much.

 

[ssfc0203]

Doing something small like a sponsorship is much better than sitting on your arse all day complaining about people that do something, as small as it may be.

If it was you that was the child who was starving, working all day scrounging scraps that barely fed your family, tell me truthfully if you would still say that a sponsorship you're dismissing does not help one person?

Making something better isn't as simple as

1. Problem
2. ???????
3. Solution!

 

[RW]

I would have thought BBC's post was more a rant about hypocrisy than about caring, in which case I'd agree. Which is why I have a great deal of respect for people who genuinely, truly care about helping others and don't just do it to make themselves feel better or to ease their middle class guilt.

 

[carltonfc4eva]

I'm the same as you, I do think they were unlucky but im happy its them not me. Thats why its stupid that we try and educate people from these countries, they'll take our jobs and lower our standard of living.

 

[ssfc0203]

I'm the same as you, I do think they were unlucky but im happy its them not me. Thats why its stupid that we try and educate people from these countries, they'll take our jobs and lower our standard of living.

Would you want them to do the same if roles were reversed?

 

[RW]

Doing something small like a sponsorship is much better than sitting on your arse all day complaining about people that do something, as small as it may be.

Yup, and there are probably plenty of people who aren't really in a position to make a difference but accept that something small is better than nothing. It's more the attitude of people who give money and think that this somehow makes them better than everyone else because they care sooo much. I'd love to be able to do something to help others that transcends my selfish side, not to make myself feel better, or for any other reason, but because I can. Think J-Train's post was a good one.

 

[BomberGal]

Empathy and caring for others in your species is actually a very useful trait in evolution.

I guess some people lost it, though.

 

[ptrg]

The problem is that if humanity starts not caring about the less fortunate, the group of people below them, then you begin to open pandora's box.


Why should anyone in the world care about anyone else?

It's people like you that worry me about humanity..
And it seems as though the world is becoming more and more like this..


People like you, with your pestimistic views, why live?
What is YOUR meaning of life? To get rich, enjoy yourself and bugger the world if it's left in a worse state?

I know mine is to leave the world a better place than how I found it. Whether I can do that or not, I'm not sure. But I am sure I WILL KEEP TRYING.

 

[Natanui]

It’s the narcissistic inclined individuals such as yourself that are ruining this world.

The western world has just begun to transition from being run by selfish, self-interested governments, to leaders who actually want to IMPROVE the WORLD, not just their piece of turf on it..

Climate change is a perfect example. Governments, albeit slowly, are beginning to respond to a threat that not only endangers their own countries, but the entire world, starting at the bottom of the global society. This is a completely different attitude than the one taken by past leaders, where greed and self-interest’s have ruled their time in power.

Ask yourself this, do you believe that Man is aiding any sort of climate change? Even if you give it just a 1% chance, surely the possible consequences mean that we should take action now. And if all those scientists are wrong? Well, the world will still be a much better place for our children.

It’s selfish, narcissist people such as yourself, that don’t even care what kind of world we leave our children. I just pray to god or whoever is up there that someone like you never holds any sort of influential power.


Answer me this honestly: What is YOUR meaning of life?

 

[Thrawn]

Oh, sorry for having empathy.

Perhaps I should discard it then?

 

[BigBadCam]

It’s the narcissistic inclined individuals such as yourself that are ruining this world.

The western world has just begun to transition from being run by selfish, self-interested governments, to leaders who actually want to IMPROVE the WORLD, not just their piece of turf on it..

Climate change is a perfect example. Governments, albeit slowly, are beginning to respond to a threat that not only endangers their own countries, but the entire world, starting at the bottom of the global society. This is a completely different attitude than the one taken by past leaders, where greed and self-interest’s have ruled their time in power.

Ask yourself this, do you believe that Man is aiding any sort of climate change? Even if you give it just a 1% chance, surely the possible consequences mean that we should take action now. And if all those scientists are wrong? Well, the world will still be a much better place for our children.

It’s selfish, narcissist people such as yourself, that don’t even care what kind of world we leave our children. I just pray to god or whoever is up there that someone like you never holds any sort of influential power.


Answer me this honestly: What is YOUR meaning of life?

I'm a good person who will do anything for my immediate family and attempt to change the lives of people in my sphere of influence. If you read the entirety of my initial post without jumping to conclusions you may have gathered that. I do care for people, but I can't care for the world. I think that there are people in the world who need a hand up and I am more than willing to give it to them, but I will not let myself be used, as others are all too willing to let happen to them.

I realise though that as individuals we are insignificant, and change is not just necessary but it is inevitable. Talking about the change of government from right to left leaning in Australia and the United States and the dismantling of a greedy, money/power hungry institution you should know that this is part of bringing about forced and necessary change. Although some government assistance is necessary for some of these people and it is necessary to keep some of these businesses afloat for the good of the national or even global economy, it is my opinion that if they're incapable of running a successful business, they shouldn't be aided in running a business at all. As you implied, unsucessful business practice should not be topped up and continued.

On the other side of the coin, the existance of third world inhabitants is not a succesful one, and in reality, what the government is trying to do is top up a failing system where people are trapped in a cycle of starvation if you will. Feeding starving kids although admirable, is not the answer to the problem. The destruction of poverty is not the answer either, as haves and have nots must exist. The Chinese tried otherwise and failed dismally. As I said before, I'm all too willing to give people a hand, but I will not let myself or my tax dollars be used and abused.

 

[Natanui]

The problem with your stance is that where is the line drawn? Why help a homeless man in the city, but not a homeless man in africa?
Part of someones right to exist is the right to pro-create.

So if you deny someone that, and you claim to not care about them or their plight because, in your opinion, they contribute little to your life, then, hypothetically, would you push a big red button that could erradicate them all?

 

[Sigh RolleyEyes]

imho we have to, to a huge extent, be numbed by and ignore most of, the suffering in the world. it's simply not possible to grieve enough for all of it, for all that it deserves. a person would go mad if they tried

and yet surely it's better to do what good we can, or some good.

some good is better than no good is better than some harm is better than much harm

i've come to the conclusion that we/me/you (rich westereners) are not responsible for the "starving kids in Africa" but if we do something to help then that is good

we can 'make a (modest) difference' in our everyday lives i reckon. e.g over the years i try now not to be such a pr*#K to people even if they give me the sh#&@s, try to be a better friend to my mates etc not that i'm always successful but if i'm less of a prick and more of a friend then in a very small way the world is a slightly better place. (hah! [reading before posting] -- can you feel the love? )