Debate : 21828


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Subject:	Re: Altruism is a bad idea? (was Re: Finally some church/state mingling that I can really get behind!)
Newsgroups:	lugnet.off-topic.debate
Date:	Wed, 13 Aug 2003 14:00:29 GMT
Viewed:	256 times

In lugnet.off-topic.debate, Larry Pieniazek wrote: <anip> > > Under that definition, altruism, in my view, is a bad idea, as it fosters > incorrect behaviour. Giving money directly to panhandlers that you know nothing > about only gets you more panhandlers. Giving the same money to the Salvation > Army (note that I'm an atheist and I nevertheless favor this) is likely to have > a much more desirable outcome. > > If you want to feel good about yourself, find a *worthy* charity for that tenner > burning a hole in your pocket. But if it's worthy, it's not altruism. Altruism > requires selflessness. Perfectly said, Larry. Walking down the street years ago, guy says, "Hey, spot me some coin for a coffee?" Well, we just happen to be close to a Tim Hortins (Canadian version of 'coffee shop') and I say to the guy, 'C'mon, I'll buy you one...' Turns out that (*gasp*), he really didn't want the money for coffee!! He was all, "Well, ummm.... actually I need the money for something else." Eh, I'm on the fence with this one. Sometimes I throw a loonie in the cup when I walk by, sometimes I don't. I don't know where I saw this scene, but I don't think it was TWW this time ;) Guy throws a coin into the cup of a pandhandler--buddy says, "What are you doing, man? He's just going to blow it on booze or drugs!" Our guy says, "The guy doesn't have anything to live for--he does his thing to make it thru the day. If I can give him some comfort money, even if it's for booze or drugs, hey, his short meager life is just a little more comfortable." But like Larry, I think the more you give to the 'street people', the more street people there will be. Dave K

Message has 1 Reply:

		Re: Altruism is a bad idea? (was Re: Finally some church/state mingling that I can really get behind!)
(...) Allow me a maudlin, over-wrought digression: We're all street people. It's just that some of us have had the good luck to be related to wealthy people, and others have had the good luck to achieve a personal wealth by what they perceive as (...) (21 years ago, 13-Aug-03, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)

Message is in Reply To:

		Re: Altruism is a bad idea? (was Re: Finally some church/state mingling that I can really get behind!)
(...) I grant that the assertion that altruism is a bad idea sounds a bit unusual. It's not a new assertion, however. I've made it before. Either review what was said then, or feel free to demonstrate that altruism IS a good idea, if you like... But (...) (21 years ago, 13-Aug-03, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)

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