Why bother?
Help me. I'm trying to come up with facts to persuade the naysayers to give to charity. I'm thinking of people whose eyes roll heavenwards when they hear, 'charity', and who dismiss givers as naive or stupid.
I have come up with nine lines so far. As many as possible are predicated on the fact that self-interest is the best motivator (and that no-one likes to be preached at). Please offer up your reaction/suggestions.
1. It's good for us
All research on happiness comes to the same conclusion: the more we look outside of ourselves, the happier we get. I'd imagine giving to others is a good sign of looking outwards.
2. You'll be more popular (probably)
Research on schoolchildren shows that the ones who help charities are more popular, happier and more respected by their peers. Do you think the same might apply to adults?
3. We're lucky...
We are the lucky country: democracy, peace, sun & showers, plasma TVs, no malaria/ lions/ scorpions/ earthquakes/ hurricanes/ volcanoes, all protected by a moat. Britain is extraordinary and it's not through any effort of our own. We have lucked out.
4. ...but not all of us
Most of us don't see a fraction of the problems in this country (and who'd want to?). But many problems are there and occasionally they'll prick your bubble. Gruelling statistics are available but if you don't have the appetite, believe it: there's plenty to fix.
5. As for other countries...
If you go to a poor country you'll meet people with genius in their eyes but you'll know they will stay poor because they cannot possibly escape their situation. Then you'll realise it's not simply your brilliance that explains your nice lifestyle (see 3).
6. Others have paid for us
Great Uncle Cyril and his great uncles shelled out to create wonderful things we take for granted. Apart from hospices, helplines and scanners, this includes life-changing laws (equal rights, free education and healthcare) which charities lobbied for. What wonderful things shall we leave behind?
7. It works
If charities weren't around, government and business would forget about social needs, the arts would collapse, and young, old, poor, bullied and disabled people would have a very grim time indeed. Charities provide a third of all social services in the UK. The money clearly makes a difference.
8. We're freeloading
If you have cycled anywhere, been to the theatre, enjoyed a view, been to hospital... a charity has almost certainly paid to improve your experience. Fair dues?
9. You'll be joining everyone else
The most conservative statistics say 65% of Brits give to charity but most put it nearer to 85%. So if you don't give you're in a pretty tight, I mean small, minority.
Naive, stupid, moi?
posted by David Pitchford @ 7:14 PM
23 Comments:
Don't know what you think of these possibilities. Of course, it depends on who you're talking to.
Like all good things, it's better if you do it right. Give the right way, and it means that the money is ging directly to make a real difference to people's lives. How often do you make a positive mark on the world? Make it tax efficient and instead of it being spent on John Prescott, it goes directly to where it is needed.
If not you, who?
It is possible to achieve some of the things that you never thought possible by doing it for charity. Personally, skydiving is one, or consider David Walliams who otherwise would probably never have swum the channel.
It makes you live longer! People who leave a legacy gift to charity in their will live longer then people who don''t.
It depends enormously on who you're talking to. Some of these 'lines' would work on people who don't give because they're always afraid of not having enough money. Others would work on people who just have never thought about it very much. You probably need to classify the reasons for not giving before you can go much further. Admirable effort though.
Too long. Fit it on one screen and offer prize money to whoever responds. Or intersperse with pictures of Paris Hilton. Or something. You're trying to escape "dull and worthy" but I'm not sure it's possible.
Dear anonymous former poster (but can you be former if now you're... never mind ;)) I like your suggestions, especially the 'living longer' one - it presses my buttons.
Dear anonymous, yep, this isn't scientific - I'm going by instinct. You have a point.
Dear Bixet. I just need royalty-free images of Paris Hilton. Can you help?
Hi charity blogger!
i've really enjoyed reading you this morning.
I think all your suggestions are fantastic. In fact, I linked you to my blog and copied this post in today's entry. I hope you don't mind! Perhaps you'll get some more items for your list through me! Anyhow, I am currently "working on" a friend of mine who firmly doesn't believe in giving. He doesn't trust charities and also says that he watches his money very carefully and that giving is not a part of his budget. I just told him that my life is much better since I started giving. This is true, by the way. It makes me feel good to write someone a check. I feel less concerned about myself. And this is really a good thing. Thanks for having this great blog. I'll read it often and tell people about it. Margarita
also, i really like number five.
MotownrunnerGirl
There are a lot of theories about giving as part of what you do. I think, that under islam and Judaism, you're 'supposed' to give away 10% of your income to charitable causes.
Similarly, a number of life coaches and motivational speakers, and at least one top selling book tell you the same.
A number say things along the lines of: giving away 10% creates a sense of abundance, which fills your life, and actually helps you make more money. Or something.
Charityblogger. I'm a former poster, having posted before, but choose to remain 'anonymous' for this topic.
MRg - I have the other problem, I don't understand people who *don't* support 'charities'. is there nothing they want to help/change/support?
I respect their decision, and that of anyone to turn around and say to someone, 'no thanks I don't want to support this', but I can't see why people would refuse to support charity, as in any and all.
Any info?
Your thoughts are well concieved and cover a lot of why we do and why we should give to charity. Perhaps one of the most compelling reasons to give is partially covered by point 6, but really to expand on this one has to look at reasons why for example, many rich citizens spent millions of their own money building the London sewer and water treatment plants that still exist today. To put it simply, it was to improve their own quality of life! Summer in London before these improvements was a very smelly sewerage filled affair. Smell doesn't avoid the noses of the rich. In equal measure, to be forever looking out of your carriage window observing the filth and depravation experienced by others takes a hard heart to ignore. Nowadays there are similar examples of other peoples poverty impacting our quality of life, such as being mugged for your gucci watch, or taking it to another level, living in Brazil as a multi millionair, but living in perpetual fear of your children or wife being kidnapped. So you see, possibly the most pertinent reason for giving is selfish. As for all those who don't give, it is possible that they are not getting the same messages accross the brain that the other 85% of us do. i.e. if you are born with no feelings for your fellow man, then why would you give to charity? I'm not wanting to give those who don't give an excuse, but it is well recognised medically, that serial killers don't have the empathy and feelings of sorrow that "normal" people do, this is not their fault, they were born like it! Could it be that "none givers" have what we would term a genetical anomaly? Lastly, for many people "i have no money to give" is a common excuse not to. How about "Only a Pound"? anyone and everyone can afford a pound. Times that by the people living in the UK. £60 million, thats not bad for a start, it is my intention to try and get a website going, to collect just one pound from everyone in Britain. If i succeed, we can joyfully announce that all Brits are givers.....
Charity from the business world is not always known by the public. I am sure there are many cases such as the one I discuss below that are never publicized, or by people that you would suspect of doing so.
A have had the pleasure, or not, of meeting a business man during a couple of occasions.
He started his career in the Canadian Navy and when he left he was the Lieutenant of Special Intelligence. Before this there is no history on this man known as Justan Case, and they would most likely deny that he was in the Navy as well. People speculate that this may not have been his real name before this time. Rumours flying that Justan Case was ‘just in case’ you need a helping hand.
After leaving the Navy, Mr. Case quickly climbed in the business world and became VP in a large Canadian software firm (as big as they could get in that country). Soon leaving this company he became CTO within a large Retail organization at the age of 39.
With reasons unknown, Case left and joined an unnamed company that specializes in helping companies in trouble financially. Many stating that this help was more to a financial gain to the company Case worked for. At times the company is bought out, split up and all assets sold to various buyers.
I had the experience of sitting in the boardroom with Case a little over a year ago, luckily not on the other side of the table from him. His reputation holds still as a cut throat, no nonsense business man. He does his job and he does it well. He finds a weakness in people and feeds on it until they are broken down.
My impression of him was not a good one. Although he was always fair on his proposals he left the company with little or no choices.
Just recently, October 2006, I met Justan Case again. This time during a charity function in Mexico. The company that Mr. Case works for, again unknown, shut down a sweat shop somewhere in Mexico that took advantage of young children for their cheap labour cost, among other things. During this charity event all of the monies taken from the assets, clothing, and shoes were all donated to the under privileged children of this particular area in Mexico. Many other companies took place within this event and were convinced easily by Mr. Case to donate various items and money.
I watched Mr. Justan Case give a speech to the group at hand, with tears in his eyes as he spoke of the children, their families, and the hardships that they endured during their lives. His words and stories touched all of us there.
My wife and I shared dinner with Justan and enjoyed his humour and stories of life. My wife was quite taken with him as many women were.
I also watched him, not in a suit, but in ripped jeans join in with the construction workers rebuild the homes of these families. Fathers and mothers hugging him with thanks for what they believe was their saviour (coincidence of having the initials JC?)
He took the time to sit with one of the local Priests and converse, or try to, in their native tongue and give comfort to the church community.
My impression of this man changed drastically during this week and I was honoured to be able to shake his hand and spend only a few moments with him.
This is the type of charity that needs to be given around the world, and most likely is without many knowing of it.
In response to the last note concerning Justan Case.
Are you kidding! I have had the not so pleasant experience meeting this man.
To put it kindly, he is a hard nosed person out to get what he wants not caring at all for the people he runs over in the process. He talks smoothly and convinces people that his ideas are the best options. I guess that is his job, but has no heart in the process.
Rumours had it that this man did not leave the Canadian Forces, but was forced to leave, and then spent time in a Federal Prison for activities he was involved with!
Wake up.
I saw this posted last week and I can not believe the response from the last Anonymous writer.
You are judging a man without knowing him truly.
I know LT. Justan Case, well I did know him and wish I was still in contact with him.
True, he did not leave the Forces on his own accord. There were circumstances around this that not many people know, or will ever know unless they read this. My assumption is that this will not be posted for long.
The Canadians along with some American soldiers were in South America during a Peace mission. Nine men, boys, were taken into ‘custody’ by gorilla type militia trying to force their political differences upon the people of the area. While these men were in ‘custody’ (to put it in their words, while it was actually a primitive war camp of death threats) the Canadian and American politicians were sorting through their ‘red tape’ on trying to negotiate a release of the nine ‘hostages’, me being one of them.
LT. Case was ordered to STAND DOWN, not to engage in any, any type of activity with his team to attempt a rescue when he proposed a mission of rescue.
A month went by, which to us seemed like years, with no progress.
LT. Case, with three others took it upon themselves to move in and force the situation.
LT. Case used his connections within the various companies of the Canadian Forces, and some connections on the outside to position himself and his team into the area of hostile grounds, against all orders of his commanding officers (we believe).
To make a long story short, his team rescued the eight of us. The other, an American boy was killed in the process. This was no fault of LT. Case, but rather the American felt it not necessary to follow orders of a Canadian Officer, and slipped in his own decision making.
Upon return LT. Case was stripped of his Officer Title, court-martialled and sentenced to five years imprisonment, which he only served 10 months of. The other men involved were released since LT. Case insisted that they were only following his direct orders.
LT. Case showed a commitment to his team, more then I can state for the officials above him.
He will allows be a true Officer and have a special place in my, my wife’s and children’s hearts.
I live thanking him in my prayers every day, and I know he lives with the pain of the one boy that did not make it with us.
LT. Case, Sir, Thank you, Sir!
to the last anonymous poster on LT. Case.
Hey 'TH' - remember me?
I am glad you posted the last note on LT. JAC (remember that name, havn't said that in awhile).
I watch for any news on him all the time - never here from him, guess he just disappeared again.
Hats off LT. Case, Sir.
'KM' (you know)
Okay guys,
Stop the posting here on JAC.
If you want more on him drop me a note
in-my-thoughts @ hotmail.com
He is out of the box!
Ghost
Wow, I thought I would never get the chance to do this. JAC, in 1991 you came to Iraq and gave me and two other nurses our lives back. I hope you remember this, I will never forget it. I was 23 years old and gave up on ever returning to my life, or having one at all. Thank you JAC, and thank you for the flowers I woke up to in the hospital, I still have one pressed in remembrance of you – along with the card. If you remember this time, I was the redhead.
I would love to get in contact with you, I will try “in-my-thoughts”.
I hope that life finds you well my dear friend.
I can not believe that this man’s name is mentioned here, it appalls me. It was always thought that the names and personal lives of the members of the Canadian Special Forces would never be released because of the secrecy that surrounded the various units. So how was his name not protected? Will this has this, happened to others that believed their actions and lives were protected when acting under federal authorization?
If truth is a casualty of war, secrecy is one of war's first exigencies. There is no better instance of this than Canada's elite commando unit, which is so secretive Canadian authorities do not refer to it as an elite commando unit. At one time a Canadian Federal Judge threw out a request to move ahead with a court martial against an unnamed officer. It was rejected since court martials require the accused to be named.
The Forces take these men and women and train them as protectors and yes killers. Some question whether we want these highly trained soldiers on the public streets.
They are the fittest and most capable armed soldiers and are trained to rescue and kill people, they are considered among the best of its kind. This runs contrary to many Canadian’s ideas that their military are strictly peacekeepers. The nature of their bloody work – which can involve convert ‘hits’ on enemy commanders and operatives – is another reason the Federal government does not like to talk about what its “commandos” do.
A former army general once said, "They're very highly trained people who are trained in anti-social skills, I would call it -- they're trained to kill people in various ways," “they operate behind enemy lines destroying selected targets and gaining intelligence. They are trained to kill and no trick is too dirty in getting the job done. What they do is infiltrate into dangerous areas behind enemy lines, look for key targets and take them out. They don't go out to arrest people. They don't go out there to hand out food parcels. They go out to kill targets." These are the units deployed to trouble spots to act with stealth and deadly force. They are trained to rope down from helicopters, live off the land for months, break a combatant's hip with a kick to the upper femur and kill with their bare hands.” “I would prefer them to be under iron-tight discipline inside a military base."
Do you think he forgot to mention rescues – just look at the previous note.
Y
This is very new to me and a product of my desperation. I left a secure job in December for big promises from the guy that owns SVM Cards, a gift card reseller. I got laid off three months later because he didn't like the guy who hired me - so I'm out the door. I went three months before I landed the only job available - with another crazy entrepreneur, 725 miles from home. I spent the next three months trying to turn around his lousy business - the business he has spent over three years running into the ground. I was away from my wife and four kids most of this time. After three months of killing myself, I get a drunken e-mail from by boss (did I mention he's a bipolar alcoholic?) saying I suck and he doesn't know why they hired me. I've been hanging on only because I can't find something else. My career has been in B2B sales of financial services. I am not an IT guy, don't know healthcare, never did consumer products, no wireless and I'm not an engineer. I got my MBA three years ago, and it's killing me. I am going to take it off my resume because everyone thinks I'm overqualified! It's just an e-MBA that I got online! I'm a Managing Director, I've been a Director, and I can't land a stupid job as a territory sales rep.
My insane boss cut my pay by 12% today. My wife went crazy, even though I told her it was probably coming. I got turned down for two jobs two weeks ago and I absolutely was sure that I would get offered at least one of them. A little while back my boss decided he wasn't going to reimburse $985 in expenses - why? Because he didn't want to. I'm a hostage because we have no savings to fall back on.
The last nine months have been pure hell on me and my family. I've never had to deal with so much uncertainty, instability and sheer depression. I want out of this dysfunctional company so bad I can taste it. It's impossible to focus on my job because of my incredible dislike (almost said hatred, but I won't stoop to that level) of my boss.
I've led a pretty good life. I think I've taught my kids right, but it hurts to watch them suffer through this. We have to tell them that we can't afford what their friends have all the time. My oldest son graduates from college in December. He's going to be a teacher. He's getting married in February. We said we'd pay for the open bar at the reception - I have no idea how. We can barely make our mortgage payment. My mortgage is through HSBC. We have an 80/20 mortgage (zero down, of course). The 20 is at 8.75% and the 80 is at 5.75%. With everything going on with mortgages, I thought I'd call and see if they can help. Since I'm not delinquent, I'm not eligible for the programs. I explained that I don't ever want to be delinquent, which is why I want to restructure the loan. I don't want any of the debt forgiven, I just want the 20 rolled into the 80 somehow. The home is worth more than I owe - there is no loss or additional risk. But, they can't do anything to help me. I have to fall behind on my payments and ruin my credit rating first.
Is it too much to ask for someone to help me? All the time I see people donating tons of money for causes. Someone just gave millions and millions to University of Chicago business school. A school! A measly $41,000 of that would have paid off my second mortgage (the 20) and made my life bearable.
My wife just walked by - she can barely stand to look at me. I'm a failure in her eyes. She manages the budget and she knows there is more going out than coming in.
I know there is someone out there who can help me. Come meet me. Meet my family. Look at my bank statements and pay stubs. Check me out. I'm a real person. I'm a real person who just can't take much more.
John
helpmyfamilyplease@gmail.com
I recently came accross your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I dont know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.
Sara
http://smallbusinessgrant.info
Justan Case, yes JAC you! I see that you have returned as General, good for you old rival. Yesterday you directed an assault that slaughtered over 300 of our men and you captured just as many. JAC you missed me, I will not neglect you.
'C'
We celebrate the demise of JAC. I take over now as sovereign of family with freedom of judgments in my hands. Many more celebrations will come.
Jac, muerto! No es cierto! Acaso
Would anyone like to donate items they do not use nor want anymore, for the less fortunate people of Africa?
I know this site may not supposed to be used for this reason, but it is supposed to be used for people who need help with something, and I need your help.
I'm fifteen years old and I travel with my parents for their work, so we are constantly on the move. Now we are in Morocco Africa, and I have finally decided something I would like to do, and it is to give homeless people as much as I can, but I need your help. Rooming the streets of Morocco, is honestly scarrryy to death, and sad of course, there are people all over the streets laying in the pavement and sometimes even with children on their lap asking for help.
I have realized I can do so much, but not with so little, so I want you to look through thing you do not use anymore and do not want, it can be anything, I would love as much appreal things as possible however.
Anything will do however, because everything you do not use at home, people that are less fortunate will use in theres'.
By the way, this is not a spam, and I would greatly appreciate people more if they stop saying that it is.
If you would like to help, then thank you, if you do not then keep your comments to your self.
You know a comment may just be filled with a bunch of words, but to the people here and everywhere else I have been, they are quite hurtful, even for me, because I see this everyday.
Anyways back to the point, if you would like to help and donate things you do not use or need anymore, and remember it can be anything, then email me in the address below, and I will give you the necessary information and I will also answer any questions that you have, Oh and I do not accept money, it is unnecceary, I just want the stuff you do not want to give it to people who need it is all.
Thanks for your time, hope to hear from you soon, and those who want to help, you are thanked from us all.
My parents travel a lot like I said in the beginning, and now we are currently in Morocco, Africa for a while and that is why I am asking for your help in this country. It really would be nice of anyone to just offer, something if anything, please and thank you.
Email me, please.
kbelakziz@iqacademymn.org
Lovely idea, but I'm afraid there are many things wrong with it:
1. You will need to do a cost/benefit analysis to work out what is worth transporting to Morocco and what isn't, based on real value to receipients and transport costs.
2. You will need money and expertise to store these items
3. You will need money and expertise to package and send these items
4. You will need money and expertise for some kind of distribution centre at the other end
5. You will need a process by which you choose the most deserving recipients/organisations.
Look, your heart is clearly in the right place, which is rare and wonderful. But this is not how to address these problems. One amateur trying to do this will be incredibly inefficient and may well fail. You need people who know how to do this stuff. I'd suggest your first step is to find some.
Good luck.
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