How do you cope with knowing that there is needless suffering?

[davmat787]

They don't have the ability or knowledge to be able to change their situation. They don't know any better. But then again, neither do you

Well, what are you doing to help these situations that bother you so much? Not to be an ass, but bitching about it won't help.

Just sign up with one of them Christian kid sponsor commercials you see late at night, maybe that will help ease your conscious. It is impossible to end all of the suffering and injustice, but maybe you can help your conscious. It sucks, but not your fault, but ultimately I think that is what you are after, easing your guilt, not the problem.

 

[slayer202]

Well, what are you doing to help these situations that bother you so much? Not to be an ass, but bitching about it won't help.

Just sign up with one of them Christian kid sponsor commercials you see late at night, maybe that will help ease your conscious. It is impossible to end all of the suffering and injustice, but maybe you can help your conscious. It sucks, but not your fault, but ultimately I think that is what you are after, easing your guilt, not the problem.

I'm not saying we can fix the problem or that everyone or anyone should try. I'm saying it's scummy to not care. Unless I drop everything and start volunteering all my time, I don't have the resources to do anything that would really help. I get through the day just fine, because like most people, out of sight, out of mind. But that doesn't mean I don't care.

It's pretty disgusting reading through the comments in this thread. People are trying to make excuses, throwing blame around. But there are atrocious tragedies occuring around the world probably every minute of the day, where the victims are not to blame in the slightest. I don't want to lecture people but I've already typed this up, not that any of the people who have posted idiotic comments will even care.

 

[alkemyst]

If one is going to donate to any cause, make sure you ask what percentage of your donation will make it to that cause. Some only give 1-2% of what you give them.

 

[davmat787]

I'm not saying we can fix the problem or that everyone or anyone should try. I'm saying it's scummy to not care. Unless I drop everything and start volunteering all my time, I don't have the resources to do anything that would really help. I get through the day just fine, because like most people, out of sight, out of mind. But that doesn't mean I don't care.

It's pretty disgusting reading through the comments in this thread. People are trying to make excuses, throwing blame around. But there are atrocious tragedies occuring around the world probably every minute of the day, where the victims are not to blame in the slightest. I don't want to lecture people but I've already typed this up, not that any of the people who have posted idiotic comments will even care.

I hear you, but I would take many of the comments you are referring to with a grain of salt, and not use it as a tool to gauge someones level of compassion. This is a message board, lulz earned are the treasure many are after. And if someone truly does feel that way, maybe it is a defense mechanism to shield their guilt of simply having so many advantages due to where you are born.

Look at this way: The value of the computer you are typing on and internet charges could probably feed a family in Africa for a year. There are many other material examples of things we could go without but we choose not to. Why? And does this make us bad people? At what point do you balance charity with personal effects and finances?

You might also take some comfort with the fact that our country provides the most foreign aid of any, along with personal charitable contributions.

 

[jman19]

Some real dickbag comments in this thread.

 

[Jeff7]

The problem is this has been going on for as long as i can remember, and in 45 years i haven't seen one charitable organization do much to change it. Giving people supplies doesn't seem to change anything, they need to teach them how to live better. One person could change how a village lives. But don't think you need to travel to Africa to find starving children, go to Detroit, teach people that drugs are bad. There should be some kind of law that makes people get sterilized after the second drug offense.

I too would like to know of a charity that helps guide poor regions or communities toward some manner of self-sufficiency, rather than making them dependent on foreign handouts. The latter is simply not a sustainable or equitable solution. Moving to make others more self-sufficient, and generally more productive in relation to the whole of humanity, serves to help out everyone on the planet, even if only a small amount. Raise the collective standard of living.


In theory.

 

[alkemyst]

Some real dickbag comments in this thread.

Makes them feel better for being a grown man stuck living with their parents I guess.

 

[OverVolt]

The suffering is not needless. The suffering is usually the result of political turmoil. The individuals may not have brought the situation onto themselves, but collectively they did bring the situation onto themselves.

Aiding them simply prolongs the corruption that led to the event in the first place. Sending aid in the form of money is usually misguided because flooding the area with outside money won't fix the problem if the leadership is corrupt.

 

[William Gaatjes]

As we speak, there are innocent kids in third world countries who are dying from malnourishment; there are people starving to death; there are babies and small children, helpless, who are neglected and abused by their parents; and there are dogs, cats, and other domestic animals who's owners torture and mistreat them. There are probably millions of innocent living beings, human or otherwise, who are in pain and they don't understand why, and/or they don't deserve it.

So how do you cope with knowing this? Do you turn a blind eye to it all? Do you work or volunteer somewhere? Are you part of a religion or belief system that helps you? If you feel sad about it, and you know that as one person you can't possibly help everyone who are needlessly suffering, then what do you do?

Not meant to be troll-bait, or whining, or anything like that. Legitimate question looking for legitimate answers.

I cope with it because i know i am not responsible for the misery of others unless they had it coming because my response is a reaction against "evil" behavior directed at me.

For all those poor kids, i did not cause their misery or their despair. But i also accept that alone i cannot do much to help them. I can give some money to a charity or do some charity work but that is it. And if i would for some reason have tomorrow the ability to help them, i would. But that will not happen.

Sometimes it seems that for every soul in misery and despair, there is another soul that makes sure there is misery and despair to take hold of innocent souls...

 

[Specop 007]

Some real dickbag comments in this thread.

Really. Do tell, how much do you help out? Making the world a better place 1 post at a time I suspect.

 

[soulcougher73]

It doesn't enter my thoughts during the average day. Not really a concern of mine.

This. Out of sight, out of mind for the most part.

 

[guyver01]