How do YOU appease your conscience in regards to how selfish you probably are?

[StageLeft]

Antagonistic title - I apologize. Or do I? Most of us have more money than most of the rest of the world. Some of us are really doing well, and yet few of us give anything away of real significance. I donate only a small sum of what I make. Yes, I have debt, but I know it will be paid off and I don't use my debt as an excuse to not give money to those less fortunte. I don't really have an excuse.

And I'm not so blind to think that my place in life has been reached through only my own abilities and ambitions. I feel like at least half of where I am is attributable to my upbringing and parents and being born in a rich country as opposed to a shack in Kenya. I have this in common with most of the people reading this thread, so why is it that chances are you're reading this and you know full well that you could be giving more money to other people (and I'm not talking about a bum begging for liqour cash), so why is it that you find it alright to spend so much money on yourself without giving much or any to people who, through no fault of their own, are in a really bad spot in the world?

 

[notfred]

If I did'nt want to have any money I'd quit my job. People in Kenya aren't my problem. I really don't give a sh!t about them, and 95% of people who say they do are lying. Very few people in the US really give a sh!t about the people in poor countries, it's just that we don't like to watch people starving and dying, so when they're on TV we pretend like we care, but when they're not on TV, well... out of sight, out of mind.

 

I have no such issues, I give of myself on a daily basis, money, advice and physical assistance to my elderly nieghbors.

 

[Spoooon]

I don't feel like I'm selfish. I don't donate all I can, but I donate some. And if you got a good look at my refridgerator, you'd see that there are probably people on the street that are eating better than I am.

As for people in Africa and what not, it should be a concern. What happens there is going to affect us one or another in the future.

That doesn't necessarily mean that we should adopt the continent and take on the task of feeding them. But helping them become self sufficient would ultimately benefit us.

 

[DnetMHZ]

conscience?.. what is this you speak of? *runs to get dictionary*

 

[pulse8]

I have no problems with being selfish. Why should I live my life for anyone else but myself?

 

[Mookow]

Originally posted by: dnetmhz
conscience?.. what is this you speak of? *runs to get dictionary*

damnit, you took my line


bastage

 

[DuallyX]

I donate what I can every month...which sometimes is very little, but other times is around 8-10%.

EDIT: I also think it's VERY important to be careful about who you give to, and what THEY are REALLY using it for. There are legitimate one, illegitimate ones, and then ones that are kind of legitimate, but half your donation goes to thier "operating costs" instead of those that actually need it.

 

[moonshinemadness]

I poke my conscience witha Q-TIp when it starts voicing its opinions

 

[DnetMHZ]

Originally posted by: Mookow

Originally posted by: dnetmhz
conscience?.. what is this you speak of? *runs to get dictionary*

damnit, you took my line


bastage

:evil:

 

[Mookow]

Originally posted by: dnetmhz

Originally posted by: Mookow

Originally posted by: dnetmhz
conscience?.. what is this you speak of? *runs to get dictionary*

damnit, you took my line


bastage

:evil:

"Conscience? What is this 'conscience' you speak of?"?

Ha, now its trademarked, biyatch

 

[DnetMHZ]

Originally posted by: Mookow

Originally posted by: dnetmhz

Originally posted by: Mookow

Originally posted by: dnetmhz
conscience?.. what is this you speak of? *runs to get dictionary*

damnit, you took my line


bastage

:evil:

"Conscience? What is this 'conscience' you speak of?"?

Ha, now its trademarked, biyatch

Shenanigans!!!!

 

[lchyi]

Originally posted by: dnetmhz
conscience?.. what is this you speak of? *runs to get dictionary*

It's the science of conning people. ?

 

[vi edit]

I appease it by buying things and making it feel better.

 

[Mookow]

Originally posted by: dnetmhz

Originally posted by: Mookow

Originally posted by: dnetmhz

Originally posted by: Mookow

Originally posted by: dnetmhz
conscience?.. what is this you speak of? *runs to get dictionary*

damnit, you took my line


bastage

:evil:

"Conscience? What is this 'conscience' you speak of?"?

Ha, now its trademarked, biyatch

Shenanigans!!!!

Well, lets see you show someone else trademarked it before me.

You jackhole bastage?

 

[PlatinumGold]

Selfishness is what makes the world go around.

 

[DnetMHZ]

Originally posted by: Mookow

Originally posted by: dnetmhz

Originally posted by: Mookow

Originally posted by: dnetmhz

Originally posted by: Mookow

Originally posted by: dnetmhz
conscience?.. what is this you speak of? *runs to get dictionary*

damnit, you took my line


bastage

:evil:

"Conscience? What is this 'conscience' you speak of?"?

Ha, now its trademarked, biyatch

Shenanigans!!!!

Well, lets see you show someone else trademarked it before me.

You jackhole bastage?

hey man, have a little respect!... at least capitalize Jackhole Bastage!

 

[Mookow]

Originally posted by: dnetmhz

Originally posted by: Mookow

Well, lets see you show someone else trademarked it before me.

You jackhole bastage?

hey man, have a little respect!... at least capitalize Jackhole Bastage!

Hey, I will do whatever I want with my trademark, thank you very much

 

[DnetMHZ]

Originally posted by: Mookow

Originally posted by: dnetmhz

Originally posted by: Mookow

Well, lets see you show someone else trademarked it before me.

You jackhole bastage?

hey man, have a little respect!... at least capitalize Jackhole Bastage!

Hey, I will do whatever I want with my trademark, thank you very much

I've got a couple suggestions of things you could do with it..

 

[Analog]

i think of this until Bill Gates' name pops up...

 

[DaveSimmons]

> to people who, through no fault of their own, are in a really bad spot in the world?

I agree somewhat with this, but there is still some element of choice in their condition.

In America, some people claw their way up out of welfare and some don't. Some people who end up on the street do what they need to get back on track, and some just go get another 40oz of forgetfullness. I'm not saying we shouldn't do more for them, but it's true that some people with problems work harder than others and overcome them.

It's the same way with nations. When Russia was teetering on the brink of returning to communist rule, enough people were willing to die to stop it that they did. Meanwhile, the people of NK and Iraq did not want freedom badly enough to sacrifice enough to get it. People do get the government that they are willing to accept.

In Africa, many of the nations are in shambles with corruption and starvation, but their citizens have to take some responsibility for letting this continue now more than a decade after the US and USSR ended their proxy wars. I'd vote to increase government aid to help repair the damage we caused, but a lot of the aid we send now is wasted because citizens allow the corruption to continue. It's hard to fell guilty for the nations that go for the 40oz instead of the job interview.

Meanwhile, I do give money to the local food bank since I can see a direct result from that.

 

[Vic]

Objectivist philosphies.

 

[Ulfwald]

The IRS takes care of that for me.

I work, millions on welfare are depending on me.

 

[Amused]

Although I do give roughly 20% of my income to charities, why should I feel guilty for working to support myself and buy things I want???

Other people's suffering is NOT a claim check on my success.

 

[Amused]

Ayn Rand said it best:

"Poverty is not a mortgage on the labor of others - misfortune is not a mortgage on achievement - failure is not a mortgage on success - suffering is not a claim check, and its relief is not the goal of existence - man is not a sacrificial animal on anyone's altar nor for anyone's cause - life is not one huge hospital."