Do you care that so many people are dying in poor countries every second?

[phantom_ko]

Many people I have met say "Yes, of course I do" but if you really care, should you not be sad about it? If you are sad then how can you be happy when someone around tells you a joke when the number of people that died during that joke must certainly cumilate a mass of sadness?

Some other people however might say "Yes, but what can I do about it?"
Many people see this as a big problem although they don't think about it. If you really wanted to deal with this problem surely you'll find a way somehow.

I personally admit the face that I see this as a problem although I don't feel sad for every person that dies :sad am I cold blooded?

[II Xion II]

Its a little more complex than that.

I do care, but because I am not emotionally-connected to those people, I do not shed tears for them (hell, I rarely shed tears for anything) and I do not actually feel upset by their deaths.

Of course I don't want people to die, but I am emotionally-disconnected from their deaths, so it does not actually affect me. If I were to go to where people are dying like this, I am sure I would certainly feel for them, but no matter how hard one wants to feel, one needs actual experience to truly comprehend the suffering that these people undergo.

[Guy]

I do care, but since I don't know anybody personally in third world countries, I wouldn't cry for their deaths, but I would be sad to hear about it. As for helping them, we can't really do much. For one thing, if we donate stuff, the government might use it for their own personal gains. And another thing: by helping them, we might make them dependent on us to survive. That is the worse scenario. Third world countries have to learn how to take care of themselves with minimal aid from us. Otherwise, they will forever remain third world countries that rely on us with no real economic output.

[Pyramus]

I care about the dying people in poor countries! However, im only human, and i cant think about everyone else all the time, sometimes i have tpo come first! And if i laugh at any jokes to do with africa and stuff, its mostly cuase of peer preasure! I aint perfect! Thats a given, but i will help if i can!

[Mikado]

I do care, but I just don't think of it. If your grandmother died, and it's twelve years from that day, do have tears, I don't think so. But you still care.
You only feel sad if you lose something dearfull. But you didn't lose anything. You don't know them. But caring is something different. It means, that you don't want, or want that something (doesn't) happen. If all people in afrika died, I would care allot, and think why, and how to prevent.. But real sadness is something you feel when you lose something.

[Dreams]

Yes I do care, but, what do you want me to do? Do you want to donate? If you do donate then you will be helping one or maybe two people. But what about the rest? Should they suffer?
It's like the birds. They don't get food from anywhere, so they are starving. But, you could give them some bread, but what about the other birds?
If I were you, don't get involved with this. Let the government do his job.

[Saiyuri]

Your right Dreams, but if the governement doesn't do his job then all who feel that they can do something should do it even if they can't help the rest at least they can save one or two and that's pretty good.

[dragoneyes001]

I was in Rwanda during the genocide I think I can safely say I do care and have put my life on the line trying to help.

if you feel you want to help. pester your government to abide by all the promises they made about reducing world debt because that will help if we all force the issue enough.

[Shaehl]

People die everywhere, every second of every day. You can't expect someone to mope about in a state of perpetual sadness because of it. Peope die. That is life.

I don't know any of the dead or dying personally, so how can I feel sorrow the loss of someone I never knew? Yes, it is horrible that all these countries have backwards and incompetent governments, and that people are dying because of it, but oh well.

[Undying]

What kind of a debate is this supposed to be? "Do you care..."

No. I don't care. Unless it's happening to ME, or to mine, then I don't care, and that's the end of it.

[SLVR]

I know this sounds bad an sad and all that but not really. Its hard to relate to that if you are note experiencing it for your self. I donkt know people who are dying in places like Africa and stuff so it really has no effect on me. Sorry if I sound inhumane to the light hearted and easy offended

[Icestorm]

No I dont. Whats the point of putting emotions into something that cannot be changed... Where rich people exist.. poor will exist. The only thing I see that could change such a predicment is communism.. that in itself is also impossible. Its cold.. but its the truth.

[♥ Tess]

it's hard for people to empathize with something that doesn't directly effect them. (especially if it's not local)

If you have noticed, there is bad news everyday.
(people being robbed, raped or murdered is nothing new)

Shootings in schools & terrorist attacks later become jokes & skits on tv shows.

The people are aware, they just don't care.
Best they can do is fake sympathy during tragic times to save face.

Afterall, everyone has their own problems.

Who cares how many people are dieing in poor countries,
because guess what, Britney is bald!! now that's headline news...



-.-

[SLVR]

it's hard for people to empathize with something that doesn't directly effect them. (especially if it's not local)

If you have noticed, there is bad news everyday.
(people being robbed, raped or murdered is nothing new)

Shootings in schools & terrorist attacks later become jokes & skits on tv shows.

The people are aware, they just don't care.
Best they can do is fake sympathy during tragic times to save face.

Afterall, everyone has their own problems.

Who cares how many people are dieing in poor countries,
because guess what, Britney is bald!! now that's headline news...



-.-
You know I had that same thing come up in class exactly the way you said it
O.o
:)
And is their really a reson we should care? I dont know of one that merrits emotion towards the loss of a unknown life

[koreasamurai]

i think all humans should at least go and experience it once by going 2 a third world country. I did for this ywam thing in our church. And if u c the ppl living in broken cars with 5 ppl in their families and having no water, light, food, they're covered with lice and fleas, and they have little clothes then u truly understand poverty. Yet we are all in our own little worlds blind at the things occuring at other places

[lekela]

dying of hunger, eh? of course, YES. i've involved myself in different charitable institutions in our country and i've seen many people under poverty line. we can't just think of people suffering from hunger, we should do something. that's the most important. thinking isn't enough. [i don't need to expound this. LOL].

what i can say is, the world is not balanced. people suffering obesity in the west [i don't want to do some bashing] while people are dying of hunger in Africa. i guess, they just kept on THINKING about those dying of hunger.

@koreasamurai: yeah. try going to Africa, or to our country [Philippines]. And let your eyes be opened.

[Lucki]

i do care to some degree, it is awful, i do feel sorry for them.i try and help out charities.

but i don't know how to care truly as i have no idea what they are going through or if they even notice what happens to them doesn't to everyone. so basically my eyes are most likely closed to their suffering, i have never seen it, heard much of it, and obviously never felt it. so i do feel selfish and greedy if i think about, but different cultures and lives right. you can only do your best to help and be aware of it.

[Pie <3]

A poor child just died , while I was posting this message.

[Future]

Hmm... i try not to care, there isn't much i can do anyways

[Haskabab]

I might sound like a total a**ho*e but, i don't give a *blieb*.
I would love to make a difference but i simply can't so why should i think about it.
Like anyone here is going to change it.

A poor child just died , while I was posting this message.
And 100 new ones were born, that's live.

[lekela]

I might sound like a total a**ho*e but, i don't give a *blieb*.
I would love to make a difference but simply can't so why should i think about it.
Like anyone here is going to change it.


maybe, a person cannot solve the whole problem.

but a single, small deed to address this problem can create a change. got what i mean?

we cannot feed all those who are hungry, but save some or at least one from hunger, right?

[Setsuna Ai]

Like some people said, the fact that I have no relationship with these people makes it so that they don't affect me seriously (it's like trying to feel bad for an ancestor of yours to the past..it doesn't work since you don't know them). However, I do get upset when people are ignorant of such things. I know right now it seems that everyone is aware of Africa's problem..this and that... but I actually have a classmate who believes African countries are in great shape D: . Now THAT pisses me off. Or people who go like, "Omfgz0rz, my mom just, lyk3, ugh! She lyk3 took away my cell phone! Now i'm gonna, like, omg, die!" <____<.

Americans think they have it so bad. When i lived in the Philippines, I remember feeling so privileged. There would be children knocking on car windows, trying to ask for money during traffic.

As for the whole "solve the problem" thing. I don't think one individual is capable of fixing everything. We, as a whole, need to help these people by: donating (such as those sponsoring programs), visit those countries and help them out, etc. Yes people, that's making a difference. There are red cross branches, etc etc you can give money to. Penny for Patients anyone? Don't you even see those infomercials that ask people to sponsor children from South America, Southeast Asia, and Africa?

As for the whole, "So what if one dies, a 100 now are born". That is totally heartless. You cannot replace someone's life with another. That's like saying, "it's okay to kill Haskabab since there's going to be a new baby."

[Neko Ruki]

yea but I cant do anything

[shaberry]

Kinda but not really...yes...I know I'm cruel...

[Hell's_Gift]

Nope cause then it will only depress me. But it is a sad reality. Let's think of it this way they are better off dead than living in a rotten world

[Chad]

i care but i can't do anything about it

[媚俗]

Its a little more complex than that.

I do care, but because I am not emotionally-connected to those people, I do not shed tears for them (hell, I rarely shed tears for anything) and I do not actually feel upset by their deaths.

Of course I don't want people to die, but I am emotionally-disconnected from their deaths, so it does not actually affect me. If I were to go to where people are dying like this, I am sure I would certainly feel for them, but no matter how hard one wants to feel, one needs actual experience to truly comprehend the suffering that these people undergo.

This pretty much sums it up for me as well. I'm not connected to them in any way and I'm not "upset" by their deaths. However, I would be lying if I said that I didn't care completely. Of course I want it to stop, but theres not an awful lot I can do to stop it. It's all down to the corruption in African governments and such.

[zonda]

for me, the short answer is no, i don't care
for those who need to know why, well, for starters, millions of people die every day, whether they are rich or poor, it's simply nature taking its course. i don't care about somebody, who i've never heard of before, dying, otherwise i would spend every second of my life going "NOOO! not another one!"
i do feel sympathy for the children that die of starvation/AIDs etc in poor countries, as they haven't had a chance at living, but it looks as though that is a process that will never change. certainly not for another 100 years or so. live aid, children in need and all these charities are doing theit utmost to help, and i support their cause, but in truth the help they bring has barely scratched the surface in terms of the aid needed. it is a damn-near impossible task, which is why i find it better to distance myself from africa's plight, but help if i can

[madam.elsie]

I'm emotionally unaffected by the deaths of others, but I do think something needs to be done to help those people in poor countries who are dying of starvation or neglect by their governments. But what can I do, aside from write my state representative as them to send money which that government will probably just use for their own selfish advancement?

[Polosaity]

Are you kidding me, I don't give a damn! In fact, don't mention any of this at all, because it pisses me off!

Please, donate 2$ a month for kids who have AIDS, please donate for kids dying of hunger in Africa, please donate donate for victims of Katrina, please call Red Cross, NSPCC, UNICEF and God knows what else do they want. Not to mention they make all the commercials that are supposed to knocking on our conscience and to redeem ourselves we will donate to feed the children in Africa.
You didn't donate! How horrible and selfish can you be?!?

No I don't care. it's not that I don't have 5$ a month to spare to donate, I simply hate the fact how charity is used and advertised. Why are they giving us, ordinary people hard time about this? Angleina Jolie donated freaking 11 mio $ few weeks ago for charity, there is Bono, there are 1000 other celebs with tons of money and tons of time, let them worry about it and leave me alone. I have enough of my problems and problems of people I actually care about. yes, their fate is miserable but I don't care, and what I hate even more is being accused of selfishness because I have doubts where the money that is supposed to be feeding this kids actually goes, with all the people that are saving the world. Consequentially, it make me stop caring about people actually suffering from that.

Sorry, slightly off topic but this has been irritating me some a while and I just had to say it.

[mishaxelle]

Yes I do care very much so I sponsor some kids through a program called World Vision and Compassion. You send them money and gifts and even letters and they send you letters back. It's a wonderful thing.

[Ice Prince]

Yes, it's a sad concept for me to.

I've donated to such organizations as well. I think it's sad that a child has to be in such poor conditions, but really there isn't much we can do. However, at least I can feel better knowing I've helped a small bit.

[Bun]

If I said "yes," I'd be lying; not that I don't care on the whole, but it's kinda hard to think about all the bad stuff happening in the world when it's not directly effecting you. When you don't walk by it on the street, when you're not witnessing a child dying from starvation everyday, chances are you're probably not going to worry about it until you get home and hear about some similar story on the news.

Yes, I think it's a shame, but no I don't worry about it every chance I get.

[Tablo.]

No.

Sadly, I never really thought of even thinking about it.

-man, i'm a bastard-

[Hiraishin]

Yes, but how much money from these sponsors do you suppose actually make it the people who need it?

I care, I'd like to help them, I'd like everyone to food, water, shelter, other stuff, but I can't do anything about it. ;w;

[SoundWave]

No I don't care..

If it happened to me I would care. Don't give me a lecture, 'cus I've already thought this through and I don't like half-assed decisions, like "I want, but I can't". More obstacles means more effort.

[Twinky]

the question is not do you care. it is should you care? we all try to help and all yes its good will and we are proud of it, how ever if all the giving we sacrifice turn out to be in some ware house of a drug lord or the pocket of some big corporation's CEO, then no i dont give a sh1t, why? because in history all the reform, revolutions rose with in the people's own mind, if those poor african country people wont stand up to fight for their freedom them selves but rather wait for the Red Cross to send them food? then they don't deserve those help. so **** them and **** them all. until they realize the only people that can solve their problem is them selves they will always be slaves of tyranny and nothing more

[Rorschach]

No, I don't really care.

Why should I care about something that is an inevitability?

[Bad Karma]

I don't care either. Some people are afraid and want to give you "The right answer", or something that "they should say". It's sad don't get me wrong , however in this world, world peace and happiness is unattainable. The idea of world peace is folly. People have to chase down happiness for themselves. may sound harsh, but it's truth. Also I'm not attached to them emotionally. Which even makes me further Detached from them. I'm more focused on what goes on around me. I have my own troubles to deal with. And taking on another person burden and adding it to my own load will bring me down. I'd be carrying the weight of the world on my shoulders. And something like that is not my obligation. If you send money or gifts, you are at least making someone's life a little easier. That's a commendable action. However Death is an inevitability. Death knows no Race, Gender, or Creed. It happens to all of us. If sending gifts or food gives you peace of mind by all means do so. As I said before, I People must attain happiness for themselves. I'm just grateful for myself and my loved ones.

[Rascal0302]

It is unfortunate, but who in the world would think about that all the time? That would just be depressing. Most of us care, we are just a bit ungrateful because when we eat a meal, it is just a meal to us. We don't think from others people's perspectives that its a delicious feast that could save our lives. When we walk through the door to our house, we are just going home, not finding shelter that could save us from harsh outdoor conditions. I honestly never think about it(unless im watching the news and they talk about such things), but thats not because I don't care.

[anamacote]

Yes i do!
I´m from Colombia and my father is still there.I can say i use every single choice that i have to tell him how much i love him because i know i can loose him soon.The Guerrilla Group has been killing peole for over 30 years and i hope that it stops one day.It is really sad to hear that a good friend was mordered on the street because of his shoes.This must be stoped soon!

[Lelouch]

No, I don't. :)

[Twinky]

persuit of happieness, in my own opinion its just mean we will always chase after it but never achieve it. like couple of us said above. the only differents is some of us were born with a head start, some us got stripped of our running shoes and socks. IT SUCKS, we all know it, but changing it its like telling the U.S to change their measuring system to metric, almost impossible to be done, it CAN be done with some extreme measures besides that, were ****ed

[momo-taichou]

Well I care of course but i just don't do anything about it lol . I also don't even think about it...
Sounds kinda bad but it is what it is.

[.Rik-uh-shey]

No I don't care.

brb watchin' mah TiVo.

[Nicole]

^ :(

I do care, but at the same time I realize that that's life and there really isn't much that can be done about it. If I'm sitting here brooding about people dying in poor countries every day, there's nothing that will get done in my life. I guess no sense in brooding over something that can't easily be changed, but better to focus on things that can be changed and to grow as a person yourself.

I know that sounds selfish, but it's true. :|

[StoneTitan]

Well it's a yes, but it sadden me more how the earth is treated.
There will always be poor people and people that die from it, the more people there are the more casualties.

I admit being cold regarding this, but countries that can't take care of there own population in other ways then Destroying the nature around them I don't fell much interest in helping.
There problem is what there ancestors have done from desperation and selfishness that lead to where many poor countries are today.

The Good solution:
Get fewer children

The Bad Solution:
Leave them to die or allow the problem to expand and hand it to the next generation to take care of the build up problem.

[Kuta~]

It Concerns me, It Angers me, but it doesnt Sadden me as much as it probably should.
Some people could argue that its the people who believe they cant do anything that are the reason that these countries are the way they are still. Although...I put that down to being Picky more than looking for Genuine reasons.

[Unji-Chan]

I do care, I have a lot of friends who come from poor countries. And I always do my best to be their friends and defend them in times of need. My aunt taught me to eat my bowl of rice cleanly and other dishes cleanly too. Not leaving one peck of meat etc to the trash. Because she said, "do you know I used to eat potato vines and soy sauce with rice. There are so many people dying of hunger. You should be grateful you have a roof over your head and food to fill your hunger."

So I never left a piece in my bowl uneaten again.

So I can feel those who are dying in poor countries. And I wish to do something about it someday greatly. ^^

[lover ichigo]

i care alot people keep dying and bush is sitting on his butt not caring

[NS69]

Yeah i care and it feels so sad that i live a great life eating healthy food , dressing good clothes , driving nice cars . while there is people out there are dying of hunger and poverty .

even if you give money to charity , you can't help it . because the cause of this poverty is the countries politics , ideology and their bad economical plans and strategy [that if they have any plans in the first place ] .

I hope each country suffers from wars or poverty gets like any other normal country . but the change in these countries is hard its not that easy .

[Lady Ushio]

You question me - if I care of dying people in poor countries?

Yeah, of course. To be specific, I only care for poor people that have kind hearts and don't take advantage of others - just for their own benefits. Some poor people are very selfish and unkind. They also take advantage of others and that's crapping bs* - right there.

I actually donate money to UNICEF today. I'm doing it for the kids. :)

[Princess Gheyfu]

Not at all, really. :S

I won't delve further into "why," for it'd be considered inhuman to reveal my thoughts on the matter. :\

[Graffik]

I care enough to donate whatever change I have if I see a box for charitable organizations and what not, however I only do it when its convenient. Truth be told I find it to be bothersome since I can only have so much money. I'd like to see large corporations doing more to help with this issue, though I don't really care for going out and advocating it. Maybe if I was president :cm:

[SaberBlade]

Does it concern me? No.

There are plenty of people who die in this country, there are plenty in this country who could do with donations, support, a better way to provide for themselves and their family yet they get nothing. Personally I'd rather see people look closer to home for people to help that worry about a well being dug in some random third world hospital when people they pass in the street could need help just as badly.

Plus, it's human nature not to care unless it affects you. You really think most celebrities support disease and medical care because they are nice? Hell no, it's because they are somehow affected by it.

[Sono i Lupi]

i do care
but people die eventually
thats just how it is
its always has been that way and always will be
some people have it harder then others, but its really just luck of the draw
if everyone lived to 100 and had perfect lives the earth would be a boring pointless place
a place i wouldn't want to live in

[myrvann]

In norway we have a famous saying from a poem. it goes like this:

Du skal ikke tåle så inderlig vel
den urett som ikke rammer deg selv


it means
'you shouldn't have to bear it so much
those unfair things that don't happen to you'

The meaning in the entire verse is that if you're not going to do anything about it, feeling sorry for people is just a waste of time.

I hate when people give money only to free themselfes from their own thoughts. 'Oh, I feel sorry for those who suffer. I know! I'll give this guy some money, that should make me feel better"

For those who cares:

the entire verse is

Du må ikke sitte trygt i ditt hjem
og si: Det er sørgelig, stakkars dem!
Du må ikke tåle så inderlig vel
den urett som ikke rammer deg selv!
Jeg roper med siste pust av min stemme:
Du har ikke lov til å gå der å glemme

it means

You musn't sit safe and sound in your home
and say: What a pity, poor souls
you shouldn't have to bear it so much
those unfair things that don't happen to you
I shout with the last breath ov my voice:
You're not allowed to forget!
(the poem is named 'du må ikke sove')

If you're not going to do something about it, then you should keep your mouth shut!

[Sono i Lupi]

thats one way to look at it myrvann
but in contrast it would be inhumane of us not to sympathize for people that died, but mainly the loved ones of the deceased
i understand ur point that people should help not pity
but not everyone has the time to go out and help the poor, we have our own lives to worry about first, we do have a world to run, it cant all just stop to help the poor and sick even though that sounds like the most humanitarian thing to do but the world just doesnt work that way, i know it sounds selfish but thats just how it is
which is why we donate to charities, its a middle ground
it is true that giving to make ur self feel better is wrong, but thats not always the thought process when people donate

[Aristocrat]

mm..i do
but its not my responsibility to care
they have like the leaders of the country to blame
so nyeh

[myrvann]

sosno i lupin

It's ok to care, but to pay for the sake of freeing yourself from your own guilt, rather than to actually help someone is even more inhuman. And sadly, a lot of people tend to do that.
Not everyone, but many.

You don't have to go to far off places and build houses, there are many other things you can do that equire less time, and helps at the same time.

Poor people don't ned pity, they need help.
I'm not saying I don't care. Because I do, really. I work for sereval projects every year.

Bleh, I can't come up with something smarter to write .__. I think I forgot my english skills home in bed D:

[Shaehl]

Do I care about people dying in far off places? Not really.

First off, their deaths don't really have any meaningful impact on my life. So it's impossible for me to actually care that they no longer exist.

Second, everyplace has its share (though not necessarily a fair one) of problems, and the world is a big place. I can't care seriously about all the problems plaguing the world and I sure as hell can't fix all of them.

So I care about the issues that confront me and affect me directly.

[Jareddd]

Well its not like I don't care, I am human. It's that it's not really on my mind all the time, and even though I constantly hear about it, the bullshit stuff that is going on in life right now really distract me from all of that stuff.

[choking]

yeah i care.. its an issue of this world, but that much.. i have a lot of problems as it is so i dont really have much time to think of other problems.. but i do occasionally remember some crucial issues and pray for them (this is one)...

[Funkfreed]

To be honest, No.
like Shael said, it doesn't impact on my life very much.