Do you feel bad about "the starving kids in Africa" ?

[Bealzibob]

When I was 15 it was the starving children in africa that start my existential crisis and final conclusion I came up with is that I had to become apathetic to everything that horrified me or I would eventually go bonkers. So my opinion on it was "oh dear that twist a knife in my heart every time I think about it" and is now a resounding meh.

 

[JCBFGD]

Do I feel bad? Yeah, definitely. I think the majority of people on the planet are entitled to an existence better than what I, a white lower-middle class American, enjoy. Except, of course, for murderers, rapists, etc.

Do I do anything about it? No. I don't trust charities, mostly because I don't have a solid bit of feedback saying, "Your $X did this!" And I don't know which ones are reputable. As for going to Africa and helping them...no. Sorry, but no. I have a strong desire to not die of AIDS. And since 69% of AIDS patients reside there, I'm not going. Plus, there are myriad other diseases I could catch out there, most of them fatal, and if not fatal, then debilitating. I can't do much good dead or crippled, now can I?

 

[Adam Jensen_v1legacy]

I have my own problems that I can't fix. If I could help, I would. But I can't, so there is no point in dwelling on it.

 

[Rednog]

No, not really. Its one of those things where its like yea...why are people still pumping out babies like there is no tomorrow when you can't support them? Yes people should have the right to have children, but if you're bringing them into a life of squalor one could argue that their is more you can do besides shagging all the time.
But then its like oh you can't judge them its their culture and all that hippie nonsense, so all I can do is wipe my hands clean and not really give a damn. There is only so much you can do, and if things really don't get better why just keep dumping money overseas when you have people and children in your own town/city who are homeless/starving?

 

[Elementary - Dear Watson]

I don't feel bad about it... They have my sympathy, but it's not my fault, so I don't feel bad about it!

I'm also in a job that helps countries like that, where we try and remove the people causing that infliction on the helpless public, so I like to think I am doing my bit!

 

[Thaluikhain]

If you donate to the Red Cross, the money is going to the Red Cross.

Well, yes, and then where does it go, though? No easy thing transporting valuable commodities through the sort of third world countries that need them.

IMHO, humanitarian aid generally should have military involvement, they (generally) have the existing logistical capabilities for that sort of thing, and they are less vulnerable to some of the problems that crop up. Also, we've got them already, may as well use them.

 

[Simalacrum]

I always think that those adverts are rather misguided.

Yes, the situation in Africa is dire. However, the idea that we must 'save' them is entirely wrong, both from a practical and moral perspective; those adverts almost portray us as needing to be some kind of benevolent society, which is both wrong on the level of we're hardly a benevolent society, and by the fact that its sort of passively elitist of us.

In the long term, simply feeding African children simply won't solve the problem. What we really, REALLY need to do is educate the children, not as a secondary but rather as a top priority; the best way to stop children in Africa starving is to help them help themselves. Truth is the mass poverty in Africa is often large not due to arid lands or whatever, but rather the utter incompetence of their governments; educate the people, and they won't have to 'rely' on those governments as much.

Which is why I have much more respect for a charity such as One Laptop Per Child; education should always be a priority in any situation.

Yes, this is what I think of every time I see a 30 second advert. All of that.

Indeed.

edit: oh by the way, its worth noting that in the past 50 years, despite all the doom and gloom in Africa, there are only six nations in the world who's circumstances have worsened. The average lifespan in almost every single country in the world, including those in the continent of Africa has improved dramatically in the past 200 years.

Progress is being made. VAST progress.

 

[RuralGamer]

I feel bad about it, but not guilty; I refuse to be emotionally blackmailed; these adverts have desensitised me. I help people in my own country when and where I see them, which is admittedly not often. I volunteer in a charity shop two afternoons a week when possible; more in the summer.
My family seriously reconsidered donating after the Pakistan floods, where minorities were forced to give most of the money to the government for "equal distribution" to the majorities, but not vice versa and then most of the money vanished anyway.
Throwing money at problems doesn't work; many aid agencies are guilty of obscene levels of waste and extravagance; my former geography teacher had little to say about them and their fuel-hungry "white SUVs", first class tickets and ridiculous amount of bureaucracy.

 

[Loop Stricken]

Likewise, why exactly would you be sending money to whatever African government in the first place? That's a ridiculous thought in the first place.

Charity organizations that actually do charity should be your first thought.

Yes, but no.

"Hello Red Cross, have some money!"
*On their way through Africa to help disadvantaged Africans, Red Cross comes across a toll booth!*
*DING DONG!* It's your friendly neighbourhood warchief here! I'd like some compensation for you rolling across my territory!
"Oh, but all we have are-"
THAT WILL DO THANKYOU GOODBYE!
Couple miles down the road...
*DING DONG!*

Gets to said disadvantaged; WE BRING SHOVELS! Get digging.

 

[dobahci]

I think it's unfortunate, but I don't feel bad, nor do I feel motivated to send money to them. The reason why is because the ability to change the circumstances in a lot of impoverished countries is usually there, in the hands of people who have the money and power and influence to fix things for good. And they don't. Time and time again, their shitty corrupt governments keep them poor and uneducated and hungry. They don't give a damn for their people, and no one holds them to task for it.

So, when I see something that says you should send money to help alleviate the conditions of poverty and despair for one child, I can't help thinking... what's the point, when the problems of infrastructure that led to those conditions in the first place are still there?

 

[JoesshittyOs]

Well, yes, and then where does it go, though? No easy thing transporting valuable commodities through the sort of third world countries that need them.

Well, it's not actually that hard. Helicopters and planes are generally a safe bet. And the Red Cross has plenty of those.

Red Cross does not give money to governments they know they can't trust. Like I said, that practice was quashed not to long ago.

IMHO, humanitarian aid generally should have military involvement, they (generally) have the existing logistical capabilities for that sort of thing, and they are less vulnerable to some of the problems that crop up. Also, we've got them already, may as well use them.

Occasionally they will rely on wheeled transportation if the government is willing to provide protection.

And I agree. The military accompaniment should be used more.

Yes, but no.

"Hello Red Cross, have some money!"
*On their way through Africa to help disadvantaged Africans, Red Cross comes across a toll booth!*
*DING DONG!* It's your friendly neighbourhood warchief here! I'd like some compensation for you rolling across my territory!
"Oh, but all we have are-"
THAT WILL DO THANKYOU GOODBYE!
Couple miles down the road...
*DING DONG!*

Gets to said disadvantaged; WE BRING SHOVELS! Get digging.

Once again, that doesn't really happen anymore. Governments will sometimes expect a toll from charity organizations, but... like I said, that practice was quashed a while back.

In fact, that's the reason why Charity organizations are not in certain desperate countries, because of this very thing. If there's going to be violence by terrorist groups or Warlords, they're most likely going to be backed up by the country's native military, the UN (which has a nasty habit of allowing the Warlords to do this thing anyway), or they just plain won't be there.

 

[Imperioratorex Caprae]

No. Because thats life, and you can't feed everyone, end all pain and suffering, cure all diseases or rid the world of greed/avarice.
We live in a world that can be cruel, fucked up or otherwise nasty to its inhabitants. Indifference is life itself, it makes no friends, gives no quarter and asks no one if they think its fair. It just does. Random genetic accidents determine when/where/who you are born to, and what circumstances you will face.
I harbor no illusions about humanity or life, no rose-colored glasses here. Sorry if it doesn't fit in your world view but thats life.
Also I never understood how my not eating all of my food at dinner somehow affected world hunger. Whether I eat or not they're still starving. Did I appreciate food? Fuck yes. Did I always want to eat all my food? No.

 

[Nyaoku]

In short, yes but not to a high extent.

I have a systematic approach to the whole problem. We have nice areas, with ghettos surrounding the outskirts, then past that, you more and more degraded society. You have to fix the surrounding areas, then those fix the ones next to them, eventually getting to the extreme areas (Africa.) Supplies tossed out there are quickly consumed, with no long-term effect in comparison. Think of it like a warzone. Tossing a single troop over into middle of the enemies base might take out a bit here and there before being overwhelmed but if you kept that troop with a few more, slowly working their way towards the base, you might have a chance of eliminating it.

It may be wrong but it's better than me just saying I have debt.

 

[Brutal Peanut]

In a matter of speaking, I do feel 'bad'. Bad that they have to go through it and feel that pain. However, everyone I know who is always talking about how much I need to send my money to the starving children overseas, think I am evil when I mention that there are children in our own country going hungry as well and maybe they should look into that first if they start feeling charitable. May sound harsh, but, there it is.

 

[Thaluikhain]

Well, yes, and then where does it go, though? No easy thing transporting valuable commodities through the sort of third world countries that need them.

Well, it's not actually that hard. Helicopters and planes are generally a safe bet. And the Red Cross has plenty of those.

Red Cross does not give money to governments they know they can't trust. Like I said, that practice was quashed not to long ago.

Ok, saying "transporting" was being overly specific. I should have said something along the lines of it being difficult to operate properly in a country with a government/power structure full of people who are dubious at best.

 

[Bradeck]

Everyone here can say, oh, can't do hit for em, so fuck em, and then turn around and decry every fucking injustice that has EVER occurred in America. Oh that kid had his arms chopped off? That sucks, wheres my Vita? OH MY GOWDSSSS!!! A COP SHOT A BANK ROBBER IN AMERICA THAT HAD SURRENDERS!!!?? BREAK OUT THE PITCH FORKS!!!

Can anyone explain why America is tantamount the to great Satan, but the murderers and rapists in other countries get a free pass? And before anyone says In America it's the government hurting the innocent, I Rawanda the government sponsored Military systematically rapes and slaughters innocent women because they are not from the ruling tribe.

 

[TheIronRuler]

No, I'm completely desensitized to it.

It isn't my fault they have it rough and when we do send them aid their governments often spend it on weapons to fuel wars or just spend it on themselves while people continue to starve and die from disease.

Yes things are tough for them but me caring won't do shit.

.
You should instead send your cash to doctors without borders and similar groups, they aren't chained down by corruption or incompetence.... or borders.

 

[JoesshittyOs]

Well, yes, and then where does it go, though? No easy thing transporting valuable commodities through the sort of third world countries that need them.

Well, it's not actually that hard. Helicopters and planes are generally a safe bet. And the Red Cross has plenty of those.

Red Cross does not give money to governments they know they can't trust. Like I said, that practice was quashed not to long ago.

Ok, saying "transporting" was being overly specific. I should have said something along the lines of it being difficult to operate properly in a country with a government/power structure full of people who are dubious at best.

And you're exactly right about that. It's a reason why humanity efforts (which I should have been saying instead of "charity") are complicated. It's why people are hesitant to provide relief to areas.

 

[Loop Stricken]

Once again, that doesn't really happen anymore.

In which case my argument boils down to; No, because I need my money and I don't care.