The Dolphins Make Me Cry.com - Forums

Have any of you ever been disgusted by some sort of popular, local cause?

I'm not saying one that you were politically or religiously bound to be against, but rather something you just found disgusting.

My story is this: there is this rich kid who went to my high school. Apparently he was nice enough, although I didn't know him. He had some sort of popular local band which was named after a local weather guy's facial hair. Apparently they were fairly well-known locally, but, that's it. The kid is from the rich part of town, he went to private schools, but, other than being a nice guy, hasn't really done anything.

Anyway, while heading home from a gig one night, he and his bandmates get in a wreck. He was ejected from the car and was then run over by the other vehicle involved in the wreck. He had a long hospitalization and rehabilitation. I believe he had to have part of one of his legs amputated. However, again, he's rich, is on his parents' insurance as I understand it, and his dad is a former county councilman.

There has been this complete and total outpouring of support for him. It's as though he was the greatest guy in the world. I'm fine w/ benefits, and I sympathize w/ someone who was severely injured through no fault of their own, but, to an extent, the support of this person disgusts me. There are plenty of poor-but-deserving people out there in this area who deserve outpourings of support. Apparently, a lot of money has been donated to this kid's cause...

I just don't get it. Why would you support someone who's rich, politically connected, and has a job that does absolutely nothing of serious importance *WHEN* there are many other deserving people out there who could use the help. Shiiiiit, when I used to work at the local Crisis Ministries doing free legal work for the less fortunate, I saw plenty of people who were clean and pretty on top of their game, but who the recession had not been kind to. THOSE people could deserve the money and support, not this guy, as powerful as his story may be.

Am I  totally off base w/ this?

On the surface, I would say no. Digging deeper, I would say yes. Regardless of this person's situation, it instills hope in the rest of us. It says, "No matter what your situation is. We as a people will help. We as a people, still have empathy." If we turn apathetic towards the obviously advantaged, what is stopping us from turning on each other? Empathy is a virtue that unites & uplifts. Without it, injustice prevails. It is unjust to have others, not receive the same outpouring of support. That's why, we do what we can. When we can.

Look at the same problem in reverse. There are those in government that want to help those in need. There are those who do not want the government to do anything. Then there are those that don't want the government helping the disadvantaged. But want the government to continue to help  the advantaged (see "job creator") Sorry. Anyways, there are those that understand that the funds to support the disadvantaged would be limitless. While their funds are limited. You can't make everyone a millionaire, but you can make everyone penniless. Should that stop us from trying to make everyone a millionaire?

Its a shame. That the face of the nameless, will never replace the face of the famous. Especially when. At one time, we were all nameless. Empathy over apathy, my friends.

I've seen benefits that I disagreed with before as well. I don't want to go into specifics but I can understand your issue. I think part of the reason is self explanatory though. This is a rich, connected family. That means they know and associate with other rich, connected people. They are of course going to be able to hit them up for money more easily than a family which is poor and knows no one of power. The poorer people need more help to geth their story out to the right people but they don't have the same connections usually.

While not aligned with the particular "cause" you noted, every time I see a televangelist begging a TV audience for money, I feel a Biblical level of disgust...

So your question is ....

Why would someone be more symothetic to someone who they know, who they like, who looks similiar to their own child (skin color), is from the same part of town, who went to the same schools as their own children VS. some one they don't know, who looks different, who is from a different location, but is objectively more needy?

   

Disgust is a strong word for me.

I do get annoyed at what I consider "feel-good" solutions.  This is usually tied to some kind of false support.  It's a way of people doing very little, but they can feel better about themselves.  There are many examples of this, but a good example is when someone buys a "support our troops" ribbon at the mall and sticks it to their car.

This might be a total hijacker, and I don't mean it to be, but I'm just being honest: I feel similarly when something bad happens and you're encouraged to pray for those suffering (especially irritating when this advice comes from a politician.)

No, I understand why. I just am kinda disgusted by it.


Yes, I empathize quite often. I kept hoping the CERN lab would accidentally create a black hole that only sucked in Joel Osteen somehow.


While we disagree over the efficacy of prayer, I can understand where you're coming from.

I assume then 100% of your charity dollars go 3rd world countries then.  By any objective measure they are more needy than any domestic charity. 

Pretty much. I have sponsored 2 kids on Childfund (one currently), earmark my non-tithe giving to Catholic Charities missions in places like India and Pakistan, and then I tithe. I can't control where the tithe goes. And I can't not tithe.

I do have about 3 homeless people in Beaufort that I regularly help out, though.