So, there's this discussion in the
Humble Indie Bundle Thread about Charity. And as it is really quite Off Topic, I thought i'd better make it a thread of its own. Please note that it is indeed my believe that charity is actually harmful. I'll try to give reasons as to why and how. I'm also open for different arguments, as long as they're not just "but won't anyone think of the children?".
First things first, it started here:
Gnarr, it quite rubs me the wrong way to see people argue about the so called "charity" aspect of the Bundle. Charity
is bullshit. You can help the Indie Devs, fair enough and of course you can help people, but if you'd want to do that, you'd really do that. Charity ain't helping. So called Charity is the good old letter of indulgence reborn. And in most cases that charity makes things worse.
You are aware that of the two charities involved one lobbies to protect freedom of speech and privacy online, and the other provides money and entertainment for sick children?
How does giving to charity make things worse? Unless I'm reading what you're saying wrong. Most people don't donate to charity. It's not really on most people's to-do list. Certainly not on mine, but I donate to the local fire houses when they give me a call and I buy those cans of food at the grocery store that get donated, because they are up in my face. I think of the Humble Bundle in a similar way. It's like the tin can at the store, put a couple bucks in it or some change and buy your shit and get out. Hard to see how anyone could think that's a problem.
Like I said, in my opinion, charity is a bad thing. I'm not denying that people indeed do need the money to operate and help people. At the tip of the iceberg, things are looking pretty neat, we've got people with some spare money on the left and a bunch of organisations on the right, that do help people in need. Combine the two and you get the glorious
institution that is charity.
So why the fuzz, why say charity is bad? The issue is deeper down the iceberg. It starts with the basic issue of people in need. Why do they need that help? Let's start with some basic examples, something everyone can relate to because they've seen it at one point or another:
We've got the problem of hunger.If you look at the UN MDGs, it's one of the top priority issues and a lot of charity goes towards providing meals and rations to people. What is hunger, apart from the biological facts of course? It's not the actual lack of food, ironically enough, there's plenty of food. But said food is too expensive for the locale to buy (interesting read about
this: Amartya Sen and his books about Hunger). And the reason it is too expensive to be bought, is because of low wages. People simply don't earn enough money or don't even have a job to buy food with. And why are those wages that low? 'cause Companies ain't paying more. It's so we can throw stuff away and live in a world where there's always at least one thing of everything and for dirt cheap too.
So what does charity do and why is it bad? Charity buys a portion of those exported good and imports them back into those countries to distribute as aid. There might be some localized exceptions but good luck finding them. Buying goods only further strengthens the companies. The state profits too, as those goods are usually tagged with an import Tax. Money that rinses down into corruption. So by wanting to help with a donation, you're feeding the very demons that are responsible for the issue. In this regard, charity makes it worse by keeping up the Status Quo.
Actual education, strengthening the infrastructure, you know, water, electricity, streets would be that much more useful but require an actual effort. There are some charities that do that, but then again it's teaching people to be dependent. You want actual alternatives? Try micro loans for example. Help people to help themselves.
We've got the problem of medical care.It's quite similiar to hunger in how it operates. It's not that there isn't enough medicine to go around, it's that it is too expensive to be bought. What does charity do about this, well it goes and buys the medicine. We all know at least something about market, supply and demand, right? By buying it, this does give a quite strong signal that the price tag is fine and could in fact be even higher - after all it was bought. This circle has reached absurd levels, it's even a big issue in our countries now with perfectly fine middle class families not being able to pay for treatment.
And my personal pet peeve charity, governmental issues.Like the mentioned free speech thing. Instead of rallying people, making the issue known, a fee is donated to some organisation to do it for you. To make it obvious why this is such an absurd idea, imagine the following:
Your boss is giving you a bloody hard time, squeezing you dry and having you work late hours all year. You don't like that. Now naturally, you'd confront your boss about it. Talk to him or check with other workers whether they feel the same.
Instead, you go to some random stranger, give him money and hope he does it on your behalf. This is so unbelievably absurd! You bloody can't do everything by proxy. Some things require actual participation. In all honesty, what's your boss gonna do when he sees someone else complain to him? He's gonna laugh his ass off, because the issue can't be a real issue if the person didn't get his ass up for it.
So, there you have it. Three examples why I think charity is making things worse.
1) It's keeping up the Status Quo.
2) It sends the wrong signals.
3) Creates a false sense of having helped.
That's why I said its the modern indulgement letter. The reason for this is our lifestyle and our overblown expectations. Instead however, of actually attempting to change those things, you know start something, people are offered indulgement letters in the shape of charity. Little voices telling them "You know your living standard is absurd, for the small amount of... ah you know best whats it gonna be worth, eh? Well for that small amount, you can balance it out. Promise! Pay up and everything is fine, you've helped people. You ain't bad, you're a helper!".
That's my reason for saying charity is bad. If you want images, charity is like trying to divert a river by tossing rocks into it, one at a time. Fair enough, you do divert the water for a bit. But the rocks are quickly getting washed away, not that you'd see, because you're already looking in a different direction again.
Instead of paying a penny in the tin can to calm your conscience, do some honorary work at the right places. That'd be actual help. And if you really want to change things, read up, get politically involved. Just not by proxy please.
Please note:
I often use the word you to describe something. This isn't meant to target a specific person. Also please keep it civil, please. I know charity is a topic that can get emotionally supercharged.
Also: If my tone is at times somewhat harsh; I do apologize. Kindly tell me and I'll try to tone it down.
TL:DR;
Three examples why I think charity is making things worse.
1) It's keeping up the Status Quo.
2) It sends the wrong signals.
3) Creates a false sense of having helped.
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