Fappy said:
I definitely don't doubt that many charities are in it for the wrong reasons, but its hard to make an argument that states we are less equip to deal with the world's problems now than we were a decade ago. Communication has opened up A LOT of opportunities for people to share ideas and solutions internationally and its only logical to conclude that as a whole, if the global stage continues to evolve as a global community that these problems will be solved far faster than they ever have been.
With that said, I am a tragic optimist among a sea of pessimists XP
I can tell you right now I am not a pessimist. I'm, what I like to call, an optimistic pragmatist. I have hopes for future outcomes, but I don't delude myself to the real world or how things work.
For example, you are correct. Today's far-reaching methods of communication, especially the internet, do provide people with avenues of expressing thoughts and ideas to the world stage unlike anything we had in the past. However, when we opened those flood gates, look at the sea of crap that poured out of the masses. Consider all of the wacky, crazy, disturbing, disgusting, and bat-shit insane things you see online. Then consider how little rational, reasonable, and intelligent topics and discussions you see in comparison.
We may be able to communicate now in ways we couldn't even have dreamed years ago, but that doesn't mean the topics of discussion have gotten any better or the twits speaking the words have gotten any smarter.
Shivarage said:
I agree, we definately do have the resources to end world hunger ten times over but the people who hold the resources only use it for self-profit
As a wise man once said, if we took the billions America alone spends on their military each year we can end world hunger and explore the universe together in peace forever and ever
I'm pretty optimistic myself but that doesn't mean I should just ignore the reasons my dreams won't come true, you are still preaching to the choir here, we all want to fix the world but those who hold the real amounts of money simply want to make sure they stay rich for security reasons
"business" means "to make money" and it's businessmen who run the world, nothing EVER happens if someone isn't making a profit
This isn't pessimism, it's just reality...
While I do agree with you, I have to point out that one of, if not the, biggest contributor to the worlds hunger issues is over-population and a lack of resources. Not just an imbalance in said resources. And, throwing money at the issue isn't going to fix it, unfortunately. Still, I'm with you on everything else.
It's not pessimistic to say the world is in a bad place right now. It's simply stating the truth. Because, let's face it, it is. Is it worse than years past? Probably not, but that doesn't mean it's in a good state.
Though, I will say that not all of those with extreme wealth do everything for personal gain. Granted, they still hold onto a vast majority of their wealth, but some still give freely of that wealth to help others. These "givers" are few and far between, of course. So much so that at times it's hard to find them.
Yopaz said:
I am nothing but electric signals and chemical reactions. I say this because I am a biologist, not because I am miserable. I'm quite happy and I know that my feelings are chemical reactions. Why should that make me depressed? I got chemical reactions that makes me enjoy things!
Hear, hear. I'm reminded of the old adage "Ignorance is bliss". As if you have to be stupid to be happy. I understand a lot of how the world works. I know how bleak things can be. I can still be just as, if not more, happy than someone who doesn't.
