NationStates Jolt Archive

This is addressed in response (in part) to another thread on this forum, which I'm choosing not to link to because I donot want my comments to be directed specifically to that one person.

The problem is that some (I do not know if it is all, so I refer only to the one's I know of) of the volunteers are hopping in their cars to give twenty minutes work and rack up some warm fuzzies and a glass of good karma.

Well I'm sorry, that's not how it works. Do not get me wrong, helping people out is good. Helping people out is great. But your hearts are in the wrong place.

These people aren't going to thank you. When a person has nothing left and feel at the lowest they will probally ever feel, thanks is the last thing on their mind.

Furthermore this is probally the only charity work some of you will ever do again. Help is not just needed now but everyday.

I have already mentioned once or twice that I volunteer to feed homeless people most friday nights and used to hand out clothing and essential foods to low income communities (unfortunately I cannot do the later due to timetable restrictions any more).

I can tell you from experience that volunteering is thankless and that many people the world over need help not just in the wake of Katrina, but every single day.

I'm not asking you to give up your life to stop people starving to death, God forbid I should do that. I am asking you to give more than twenty minutes on a once off task.

[/rant]

George Orwell details some of these problems (attitudes of charity workers, resentment amongst the recepients of aid &ct.) In Down and out in Paris in London.

After I read it, I decided that a lot of charities are run for the benefit of the people in the charity, and not those who are purportedly the intended beneficieres.

I am not saying that this always the case, but it seems true more often than not.

This is addressed in response (in part) to another thread on this forum, which I'm choosing not to link to because I donot want my comments to be directed specifically to that one person.

The problem is that some (I do not know if it is all, so I refer only to the one's I know of) of the volunteers are hopping in their cars to give twenty minutes work and rack up some warm fuzzies and a glass of good karma.

Well I'm sorry, that's not how it works. Do not get me wrong, helping people out is good. Helping people out is great. But your hearts are in the wrong place.

These people aren't going to thank you. When a person has nothing left and feel at the lowest they will probally ever feel, thanks is the last thing on their mind.

Furthermore this is probally the only charity work some of you will ever do again. Help is not just needed now but everyday.

I have already mentioned once or twice that I volunteer to feed homeless people most friday nights and used to hand out clothing and essential foods to low income communities (unfortunately I cannot do the later due to timetable restrictions any more).

I can tell you from experience that volunteering is thankless and that many people the world over need help not just in the wake of Katrina, but every single day.

I'm not asking you to give up your life to stop people starving to death, God forbid I should do that. I am asking you to give more than twenty minutes on a once off task.

[/rant]

I disagree. While from a moral standpoint you may have a point, from a practical one you do not. Practically speaking, if every individual between the ages of 15 and 64 in the US dedicated 20 minutes to doing some charity, it would be equivalent to one person working 7,543 years and 4 months non-stop. Every little bit counts and adds up to making a huge difference.

An interesting thing to note is how you fall for the very trap you accuse people of. On the one hand you say that people should volunteer for the right reasons but on the other hand you act as if the reason the person is volunteering is what matters to you rather than the work they are actually doing. Ive been in charge of volunteer efforts before and I could care less if the reason people are helping is so they themselves feel good, Im not doing it to benefit them Im doing it to benefit the people Im leading an effort to help. Most of the time, I would rather have an army of half-assed volunteers than a few dedicated ones.

I disagree. While from a moral standpoint you may have a point, from a practical one you do not. Practically speaking, if every individual between the ages of 15 and 64 in the US dedicated 20 minutes to doing some charity, it would be equivalent to one person working 7,543 years and 4 months non-stop. Every little bit counts and adds up to making a huge difference.

An interesting thing to note is how you fall for the very trap you accuse people of. On the one hand you say that people should volunteer for the right reasons but on the other hand you act as if the reason the person is volunteering is what matters to you rather than the work they are actually doing. Ive been in charge of volunteer efforts before and I could care less if the reason people are helping is so they themselves feel good, Im not doing it to benefit them Im doing it to benefit the people Im leading an effort to help. Most of the time, I would rather have an army of half-assed volunteers than a few dedicated ones.
It would be nice if every single person able volunteered, but they aren't. You also claim that it doesn't matter about what attitude people have as long as they help, well it matters to those receiving the help and it matters when people start spouting bullshit all over the media and internet about how refugees are ungreatful.

It would be nice if every single person able volunteered, but they aren't. You also claim that it doesn't matter about what attitude people have as long as they help, well it matters to those receiving the help and it matters when people start spouting bullshit all over the media and internet about how refugees are ungreatful.

It matters very little. If you rebuilt my house which had been destroyed by a hurricane, I could care less about your attitude, the fact I have a house again is going to outweigh any negative attitude some of the builders may have had. What the media says might matter, but thats an entirely different topic unrelated to this thread.

It matters very little. If you rebuilt my house which had been destroyed by a hurricane, I could care less about your attitude, the fact I have a house again is going to outweigh any negative attitude some of the builders may have had. What the media says might matter, but thats an entirely different topic unrelated to this thread.
No it's not, my points are that we need more people helping more of the time and that people shouldn't expect thanks from those they're helping.

No it's not, my points are that we need more people helping more of the time and that people shouldn't expect thanks from those they're helping.

That's the ironic part of your whole post. The fact that although you claim you volunteer for the benefit of those who are being helped, you place all the emphasis on the attitude of those helping rather than on the actual results of their contribution.

I could care less about the attitude of people helping, Id rather they help for 20 minutes than not help at all. What is important to me is the results, not the attitude or expectations of those who volunteer.

a close friend of mine didnt get any thanks from the Katrina victims she is helping. she isnt looking for it, either.

she is embalming the dead and trying to fix horribly disfigured, water soaked corpses up so the families can have some type of closure.

sometimes ones services are needed only certain times.

Hey ... I gave nearly a week ...

Here's what I have to show for it:

I helped some folks.
I reunited some kids with their parents.
I helped bring medicine to some elderly.
I brought some cousins back to Houston with me.
I have an awful rash on my legs.
I have a cough that won't quit.
I have a nice cut on my arm.

I gave my time.
I wallowed in the shit and the muck.
I didn't eat for 2 days at a time.
I gave more blood than is reccomended by going to different clinics and just "manning up and taking it".

I did it not for on camera glory, but because New Orleans is my soul's home.
I did what I could.

My illness will pass, my cut will heal, and my memory will fade ... but don't ever tell me I didn't do what I could. I don't want accolades and hero worship. I don't want pats on the back.

Watching a 7 year old cry with glee that she's able to hug her mother again is all I ask for.

So, frankly, you can take this thread and shove it right up your ass.

Edit: I'm sorry ... my emotions got the better of me. No offense, Rotovia.