Things I've Noticed

Charity Donation Justification and Confusion

It’s admirable when anybody helps a charity and/or donates money. As long as the charity supports a “good cause”, then it’s worthwhile to help. Fundraising helps them each to gather money from people. But who are the people and how did they choose to donate to any charity in particular? In a prior post, I brought up the point that people tend to support charities that can ultimately help them or their loved ones. I’m guilty of this since I raised funds for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society when I rode 100 miles on my bike with the Team In Training organization. I was partially motivated by the fact that my dad had leukemia. It was a great satisfying experience knowing that I was helping to prevent this disease from affecting other families.

Helping charities that could cure a disease is only one type of place to donate money. It is surely a worthy cause, but this help may not ultimately help to develop a cure. It doesn’t help all the people who are sick now. It also doesn’t help people who are starving now. One could argue that the most important charities are the ones that keep people alive right now. Some would rather donate money to keep animals from being destroyed. Once you get past helping humans survive, there are other charities such as those funding the arts, or to pay for a local marching band to travel to a parade. These are important to develop well rounded people but they aren’t necessary to the same degree. Alumni associations are always asking for money from their alum. Education is important for people to fulfill their potential, so funding scholarships helps students attend college is helpful especially as universities become increasingly more expensive. It may seem like it’s only helping kids that aren’t as needy as refugees in Africa, but these students could be ones that eventually cure cancer.

Then there are the cases of where we send goods and money to help people that have gone through catastrophes. These are also worthy but totally random and in nature. Donating to such charities takes money away from other charities that we can donate to. I once explained to a homeless man that I am asked for money by many street guys and I have a finite amount of money. The more I give him means that I can't give o the next person that asks me for money. But then, should I even be giving money to panhandlers who may not truly be needy or may actually be using the money for drugs or alcohol? Should we donate to people who could afford insurance but chose not to buy it and are now bankrupt? Everybody’s answer is different. Often people like to support local charities to help their own community, but I’ve seen kids that are starving and I would argue that hundreds of millions of more children are hungrier in Africa and Asia than anybody in North America. I believe that helping your own is helping humans regardless of where they live. Even if you pick the charity that’s most worthy in your mind and heart, then you have to wonder if the money is actually going towards helping people and that it’s not being siphoned off by some official.

In the end, it’s probably a good thing that people have differing viewpoints on charities. This way, they all get some money. But I question whether raising money for an alumni association to fund their big-time sports programs is as worthy as helping starving people feed themselves. Decisions on where to donate can be mind-boggling. I guess it all depends on how I feel, how much money I have available, and who approaches me at any given time. These are the things that dictate where my charity money goes. No matter what though, giving feels good and it does good so we need to keep doing it.

+ Atul

Quick Quote on Eating Well

"You know you haven't been eating well when your sink is full of dirty cups and spoons and no pots or plates."

+ Atul

Thoughts on the Financial Crisis One Year Later

It has been about a year since our world underwent a huge financial crisis and it has been a stressful yet valuable time. We’ve learned what makes people tick, how greedy people can be, how stupid they can be, and how we sometimes have to help people who didn’t necessarily deserve it for the sake of the rest of us. What’s ironic is that people who spent a lot or too much on “stuff” ended up often doing better. Stuff, (except real estate), didn’t really go down in value. And then people who bought this “stuff” on credit and went bankrupt were able to keep it for free. On the other hand, those of us who did “the right thing” and invested like good soldiers, were hit hard. Those who possessed things still had them, while values of our investments, (just ink on paper), vanished. It was very disheartening. Some of these losses have been recovered, but not fully. And many of us panicked by making stupid financial moves in case things would never be the same again. People who bought more than they could afford will be forgiven of some of their debt. Those who foreclose or file for bankruptcy received a discount at the expense of the government and the banks, (many of whom deserve it). But we had to help them out or we would have gone into a deeper crisis. Few people want to buy a house next to a foreclosed house, and they certainly won’t pay as much for one if they do. It’s also funny how the Chinese finance so much of our debt to buy all the stuff they manufacture for us, but if we never pay back our obligations, we’ll have the last laugh, (and the cheap stuff we bought from their factories).

Job losses have been staggering as employees have been treated more like numbers than at any other time in history. Apparently, some companies think work can get done without people. Well, at least they think they can squeeze every last drop of efficiency out of those who are still employed. When the market turns around and the pendulum swings the other way, employees will take advantage of the situation. Turnabout is fair play.

As far as consumption goes, this economic crisis has taught me that although it’s good to invest, remember to also buy the things you can cherish or hold onto, whether they are experiences or objects that mean a lot to you. And diversify like crazy, not just in the U.S., not just in stocks and bonds, but in commodities, foreign companies and other areas you might not have thought of before. And don’t get greedy. Nothing goes up forever so cash in as you need to as you get older. Nothing goes up forever! What’s great about saving money when times are good is that it allows you to buy and spend during economic downturns when the deals are great and nobody else is buying.

It appears that we’ve avoided a depression, (and I don’t think we’re out of the woods yet), but we should never forget the lessons we can take away from this last year of economic mayhem.

+ Atul

Compliments and Criticism for Compliments

The compliment is the most controversial positive social phenomena in existence.  Compliments are often obvious and direct, but they can sometimes be hidden or subtle.  The basic idea to is tell somebody that you like or appreciate something about them or something they did.  If we were simple creatures, that would be the end of it.  But there's so much more that we must consider.  First of all is the compliment appropriate and does it fit the situation?  You don't want to tell an executive of the opposite sex that they look hot in that suit even if you feel that way.  With respect to courtship, compliments must be used judiciously so as not to appear desperate or overly doting.  You also don't want to give anybody a big head. 

And then there is the reciprocation factor.  Many people expect compliments in return, (even if there is nothing to compliment).  I've also come across people that give compliments freely because they are fishing for compliments for themselves.  We all like to be appreciated, so compliments make us feel good and can be motivating.  But some people take it too far, needing them as a self-esteem crutch.  Others use compliments to establish position over somebody else.  A compliment can indirectly indicate, "I'm good enough to critique you."  Or, "I'm so secure that I can give compliments and I don't need them".  In fact, I often make fun of myself as proof."  Compliments are complicated.

Maybe this partially explains why our world is so negative.  Criticisms are sometimes easier and usually more appropriate.  They often convey more useful information as well.  If something is nice, a compliment won't Constructive criticism often lets the other person know how they can improve.  And a criticism also shows a different kind of authority over the receiver.

Some people never give compliments.  Perhaps they feel it, but don't say it and they take for granted what they already have.  Or they want others to perpetually try to get a compliment from them.  Why change the status quo if the status quo is good and compliments might cause unwanted change?

Receiving compliments is not always easy either.  What does one say?  I get a little bashful when somebody compliments me.  Sometimes I don't feel worthy of the compliment.  At other times I do feel deserving, but I feel obligated to reciprocate.  And than I have to be sure that any compliment I give sounds genuine, and hopefully is genuine.

Compliments are nice, but they aren't all good.  They need to be brought back down to earth.  That's why I wrote this post.

+ Atul