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

[jdun]

I don't feel bad about the children in africa. I feel bad when a commercial tries to make you feel bad instead of saying how positive it is to help an organization that tries to improve the world.

The problem with these charities is that they do not address the root problems of why African's are starving. By having African's beg for food from these charities they are not solving the problems. All they are doing is making them feel superior to Africans.

If you want to solve Africa problem you need to change how Africa relationship to business and free trades. Also you get rid of the thugs and socialists.

If these charities really want to help Africans instead of throwing good money away. Create a for profit charities. Make products that can be sold in the world market and that African can produce. Keep the wage dirt cheap as long as possible and expand your product line. Use the profits to expand to create more jobs for Africans. Basically you want to teach them how to fish instead of them begging for fish.

 

[Viking67]

I think this is relevant (don't draw too many conclusions from the title).

 

[mikeybuthge]

If I could afford to go there and ensure they could eat/have shelter/teach them to survive, then yeah I would, but as it is, I can't, and there's people in the same conditions at home as there is in Africa, not as many, and some of the people here feed off of the help, but home's kinda the only place I can help

 

[Denamic]

We have so many damn guilt trip commercials that I'm completely desensitized to it.
My money, not my problem.
Besides, we already have the ability to make them able to feed themselves.
Just invest into GM foods and give it to them so they can grow food for themselves.
Problem solved, now let them deal with their own problems.

 

[The Unworthy Gentleman]

They wish. There's this one where they go on and on about how this woman can't feed her child and how there are thousands like her. All I can think when it's on is that she should stop slutting around if she can't support her children, spend more time on that 10 mile trek to the water pump instead.

No, I don't care.

 

[Agent Larkin]

If I'm being 100% honest?

No. Don't get me wrong I understand that their life is shit but what the hell can I do about it? Give my money to a charity who in turn give most of it to advertisers and their own staff and eventually send whats left to some druglord? Hell no.

Go there and build houses? I practically die in an Irish summer (or a cold spring to those of you not from Ireland) so I shudder to think how I would do there.

There is nothing that can be done so long as humanity exists cause Human Nature is always going to be that you want more then what the next guy has and means that someone is going to always be on the bottom of the totem poll and in the international scheme of things the bottom of the totem poll is Africa. All the nations of the world tut over the poverty and give trinket aid but ultimately do nothing cause were else will they get there diamonds? Or there roses for Valentines day? Or the multitude of other things made there for export so that the world keeps turning?

 

[CCdtT]

Not in the slightest. Why should i help them out when there's people in our own countries that need help. We have many homeless and people living in poverty that deserve more help than the ones in africa.
My other reason for this is that i don't ever give to any group that goes in and forces their religion on other people. they believe what they believe and no one should be allowed to change that. so since every group is mostly tied to a religion, they will never get my money.

 

[BrotherSurplice]

I do feel bad, because as you said its impossible to not feel a bit of empathy with those poor buggers.

But, in the end, if it was a choice between giving money to charity and doing something for myself, I would choose myself. It's just too damn far away for me to be affected by it. Also, as many have said, a lot of that aid money and food gets stolen by the corrupt governments. If they were to be removed, I imagine a lot of Africa's problems would go away, and the aid that the first world sends might actually start to make a damn difference.

 

[Lunar Templar]

i don't, in fact, i've been annoyed at those '$1 a day commercials' for being on in place of say, a Budweiser add or something, ironically, those 'help the animals' adds from the ASPCA, those, i feel a bit bad for

 

[The Night Shade]

Not really i mean it isn't my fault, i don't know any of those kids and i think nobody should feel guilty about it

 

[Iron Criterion]

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.

The best possible answer to this question was the very first answer.

I was born to a middle class family in a fairly wealthy country (England) entirely by astronomical chance. Now my quality of life isn't up there with the fabulously wealthy but I'm certainly not in any discomfort. I occasionally feel guilty and give a few pound to charity now and then, but why should I give up my comforts or constantly fret over a situation bestowed upon me entirely by chance?

 

[lizards]

its sad but we cant feel bad for every bad thing while still being able to function normally

INHALE

anyway, the reason i came is because i thought it was humorous that this thread was directly above the "its ok to be fat" threat

 

[tzimize]

Its not so much I dont care, as it is a belief that it will not change no matter what I do. I've sort of given up on it. Also, I dont donate to make myself feel better.

 

[Kiju]

Do I feel bad about the starving children in Africa.

Yes...yes I do. It always sucks that someone else is down on their luck when there are so many other people who have it easy. Rich families, making thousands of dollars more than they need, and not even really caring where they spend it because they have so much stored away. And of course, are not willing to share it with those who do. So...yeah.

Do I actually do anything about it? And why/why not?

No, I don't do anything about it. Why don't I? Because as is, the income of the average American now is absolutely abysmal compared to the cost of living. Prices go up, the cost of living goes up, inflation happens...and raises to compensate for it do not. So when someone begs me to give money to starving children in Africa, I will say the following:

"No, I will not. And if you want to know why, it's because I myself am currently not exactly in the biggest seat of money right now. Not only that, but our country (and those that send money) is/are so stupid for thinking that if we send money to Africa right now, that we're making the world a better place. Why do I think that? Well, it's simply really. We have starving people in the United States. We have homeless people in the United States. Why aren't we helping them with all this supposed money going to Africa? Why are we sending LAPTOPS to Africa? Why aren't we using all of that money to fix the problems we have HERE, in the United States? Once we have our own economy fixed, no more homeless people, no more starving people, and the middle class isn't being shat on 'round the clock, then yes...yes, I will donate money. But until then? Fuck. You."

...okay, so that's a little harsh. But you know what? I've been badgered, harassed, and accused of apathy by these people, and I'm just plain sick of it. I'd rather verbally abuse them then do what I really want: punch them, rob them, then stick their credit card, everything in their wallet, and their debit cards into the donation box for starving children in Africa. Lets see how charitable they are then.

 

[blacking512]

i just dont care anymore. and its mainly because of the government. they make so many ads that everyone becomes used to seeing hungry kids. "oh look another kid have died due to starvation. send us money" well big fucking woop.

 

[wintercoat]

No, not at all. Y'know why? Because I have an impacted wisdom tooth that is causing me extreme pain and I have neither the insurance nor the money to pay to get it extracted. Did I mention the EXTREME FUCKING PAIN?!?!?! I kinda have a limited scope of caring right now.