What (if anything) do you do to make a difference?

[AppleDumplingHead]

It depends or whether or not you're trying to lead by example, or if you've been asked for your advice, or if you're just mentioning it.

You're not psychic. To assume that you have psychological insight into the majority of humankind is a heck of a piece of hubris

Lead by example! Don't hugbox over it. Actually doing it is a labor of love that doesn't feel very good most of the time. This isn't psychic ability or hubris, it is wisdom.

 

[JollyRoger]

I rarely pass on the chance to donate a couple of dollars to any stripper named Charity.

 

[Timsup2nothin]

This isn't psychic ability or hubris, it is wisdom.

Not sure where psychic ability fits in here, but is there a more obvious form of hubris than proclaiming one's own wisdom?

 

[JollyRoger]

Is their anything more wise than proclaiming one's hubris?

 

[HoloDoc]

Not sure where psychic ability fits in here, but is there a more obvious form of hubris than proclaiming one's own wisdom?

Give that guy some wings made of wax.

It takes a special kind of person to denounce people for "bragging" about their good deeds in a thread that explicitly asks people about their good deeds.

As for me; not as much as I should. I try to raise my children right, treat people well, vote responsibly. I try to help people when I can, which has resulted in me being screwed over and back stabbed more often than it has actually resulted in anything positive.

 

[El_Machinae]

Lead by example!

I do. But I will post in the thread that specifically asks a question about what people do.

I said that you weren't psychic because you were claiming to know the motivations of people. You're not qualified. At best, you can speak to the motivations of people for whom you have an empathy towards their mindset

 

[AppleDumplingHead]

At best, you can speak to the motivations of people for whom you have an empathy towards their mindset

That's actually a really mean thing to say to me in my philosophy. I absolutely work to empathize. It doesn't mean I'm going to say, "it's all ok".

Is "saying it's all ok" helping people?

 

[Dekker]

Lead by example! Don't hugbox over it. Actually doing it is a labor of love that doesn't feel very good most of the time. This isn't psychic ability or hubris, it is wisdom.

...I'm sorry but I think sharing here is leading by example because it gives someone like me who has done none of these kinds of things some ideas of how I can contribute. I've lent some time here and there either cleaning a beach or afterschool activity with kids but nothing consistent, and since I'm perfectly able to I want to hear more productive ways to give back rather than doing some hugboxing to make myself feel good about myself. I feel quite fine enjoying life and helping those I personally care about so it's not like I am seeking some extra fulfillment or validation, but rationally knowing that while not rich or anything, being of average enough means every effort counts for something I hope and I'm just looking to hear from anyone hear what might count in ways I haven't thought of before.

 

[HoloDoc]

That's actually a really mean thing to say to me in my philosophy. I absolutely work to empathize. It doesn't mean I'm going to say, "it's all ok".

This doesn't even make sense in the context of what ElMac said. He wasn't insulting you. If you took it that way, perhaps you need to work on that "wisdom" thing.

As for leading by example; I do, every day. It's called "parenting."

 

[AppleDumplingHead]

This doesn't even make sense in the context of what ElMac said. He wasn't insulting you.

Yes, actually it is, because there are people wholly incapable, and there are people capable but don't care to. I can see, from the outside, their positions and I am not that. It's actually a pretty big issue I have with people here.

 

[HoloDoc]

Yes, actually it is, because there are people wholly incapable, and there are people capable but don't care to. I can see, from the outside, their positions and I am not that. It's actually a pretty big issue I have with people here.

I hate to go there, but is English your first language? You really aren't making a lot of sense. You seem to be trying to make a point, but missing words that would make it.

 

[El_Machinae]

That's actually a really mean thing to say to me in my philosophy.

Okay, then my feedback is that you spoke too broadly. You were impugning a motivation, and spoke as if that motivation was broadly applicable. It isn't.

 

[AppleDumplingHead]

I hate to go there, but is English your first language? You really aren't making a lot of sense. You seem to be trying to make a point, but missing words that would make it.

No, sir. That is 100% proper, well educated English. I guess maybe, to nitpick, I was replying to the unspoken pointed question, "is that an insult", rather than your "he wasn't insulting you".

 

[AppleDumplingHead]

Okay, then my feedback is that you spoke too broadly. You were impugning a motivation, and spoke as if that motivation was broadly applicable. It isn't.

I believe it is.

 

[El_Machinae]

I believe it is.

You can believe that it is all you want, but then we get back to what I was saying. You're not psychic. You can only speak to the motivations of people with whom you can empathize a mindset. Your statement casts too wide of a net

 

[HoloDoc]

No, sir. That is 100% proper, well educated English. I guess maybe, to nitpick, I was replying to the unspoken pointed question, "is that an insult", rather than your "he wasn't insulting you".

As a guy who works in a university and has a degree in Information Management; it really isn't. As ElMac is demonstrating himself in his replies, you're not really making sense.

 

[Gori the Grey]

I try to cheer up Phrossack.

Remember, the OP asked for things one

can . . . actually do

 

[Ryika]

That's actually a really mean thing to say to me in my philosophy. I absolutely work to empathize. It doesn't mean I'm going to say, "it's all ok".

Is "saying it's all ok" helping people?

He's entirely right though. The claim you made was extremely broad, and so far the only thing you've demonstrated, is a lack of ability or willingness to demonstrate that the claim you made is based in reality.

To me it seems like you took the sensible observation that people who go around telling others about how much charity they do often do the charity work to look good and not because they really care about these issues, but then applied it to the people here, who didn't go around, telling people how good they are, and instead simply responded to a thread where they were ASKED to tell the world about these things. That, and the generalization you made, the claim that you know the motivation of "all" people who act that way, instead of merely seeing a statistical correlation, are logical jumps that are entirely unjustified, and you were rightfully called out because of them. You claim to understand the motivations of the people in this thread, but you don't have the faintest idea of what you're talking about.

That is 100% proper, well educated English.

Is it though?

 

[El_Machinae]

Five years ago I tried getting super extra real and that was okay but meant turning into a plant which isn’t going to work because at the end of the day humans are glory seekers and celebrators and if you want people to change you have to be better than they are at the things they value so I’ll have done my part when I’m rich and then living a more optimistic phrossack and El mac approach of being the change you wish to see.

I don't really have a problem with 'get rich first, then do good'. First off, I think it's important to be able to fund your retirement. Secondly, the 'limit your harm' still kicks in. You get rich by avoiding wasteful consumption, and are putting the money into savings instead of into something else. Eventually, your savings should grow to the point where you can earmark a larger portion of your labour and income into making the change. It's similar to the Warren Buffet idea; make mad cash and then donate the mad cash.

I tend to view investments a bit differently, because I got into economics after I was in finance. My savings can earn a return, let's <handwave> call it 5% after tax. Any dollar I save can become even more money donated later. But I think that there are areas of charitable investment that can vastly outperform the 5%, in real terms. If I can find an area that creates 6% compounding benefits, I am better donating those dollars now. This is sometimes harder, because it's is easy to commodify my investments. My $100 saved creates a $5/yr income stream that buys 2 loaves of bread for the Food Bank. Meanwhile, funding a $200 cavity filling now prevents a $1500 root canal later. So, I spent $200 to save $1500. It's an amazing return-on-investment, but it's also hella hard to calculate when it's far away. But I believe in compounding returns, and so I believe in the compounding-return potential available today.

Another nice thing about earmarking a few hours' wages, is the idea of comparative advantage. I am NOT built for fighting polio. But, because of comparative advantage, my 'hourly donation' (of my wage) is very similar to my output if I'd just gone and worked on polio for that hour. From 8 am until 2 pm on the first of every month, I'm working for the things that I care about

 

[Live trash can]

Some of you might laugh of this, but I am just saying what has helped me. I believe some forms of meditation help the world being a better place. AND meditation can give you insights into how the world is built and what you or someone else can do.

I believe it is in a way, the opposite of numbing oneself with excess entertainment. But it should be meditation on ideas and things and energy and not "emptiness". In my view. There probably is something to say for emptiness, but I haven't figured it out yet.