Am I Stupid?

[quake]

Give to small local charities.

There is more chance the money gets to the right people.

Rather than , paying for staffs BMW, Merc, Porsche in the office car park

.But still no guarantee.

Is the OP stupid.

No.

[bokningar]

22 hours ago, still kicking said:

So being a pensioner I am not rich but I do donate to certain Groups for helping people (like handicapped kids or home less ones ) I feel better Do you think I am stupid?

If you aim it all on birth control in Africa I think you could do a lot of good in prevent human suffering.

More than any other way you can spend your money.

Look at the UN prediction of population, and compare with the prediction of production of food in Africa that China isn't taking away with LONG contracts with corrupt leaders, that will go strait to China. And you will see a HUGE catastrophe coming.

And it has nothing to do with climate change. More co2 will increase the amount of food that can be produced.

   

[BangkokReady]

If you can afford it and it makes you happy, not stupid.  If you cannot afford it or it has a negative impact on your lifestyle, maybe stupid.  If you're in serious financial difficulties or failing to meet financial responsibilities, stupid.

[Kinok Farang]

Do you get to keep one after a certain amount of donations?

[bokningar]

19 hours ago, Cameroni said:

I also help needy people on a regular basis, one girl needs a new phone, another help for school fees, one girl needed clothes, another help for food money, one needed help with her rent, there is overhwelming need across the board here.

Always girls, a lot of happy endings I assume 😜

[gargamon]

All I read was the title. I'll answer that question. Yes!

[Cameroni]

7 minutes ago, bokningar said:

Always girls, a lot of happy endings I assume 😜

I wish, all miserable endings. 

[bokningar]

5 minutes ago, Cameroni said:

8 minutes ago, bokningar said:

Always girls, a lot of happy endings I assume 😜

I wish, all miserable endings. 

The way I read it you like happy endings for you. Not saying that you don't wish miserable endings for everyone ells

[Cameroni]

9 minutes ago, bokningar said:

The way I read it you like happy endings for you. Not saying that you don't wish miserable endings for everyone ells

I certainly don't wish it for them, but they're so demanding. There's nothing they don't want. And all to themselves! 

[john donson]

YES... 99% sticks to someone fingers ...

[sidjameson]

Sat next to a NGO worker on a AirAsia flight once. I was surprised and happy she was on the flight. She told me all her colleagues flew business class on full priced airlines.

 

Want to give to charity? Find an individual you trust whose doing something good and give to them. Simon43 being a good example.

[simon43]

40 minutes ago, sidjameson said:

Sat next to a NGO worker on a AirAsia flight once. I was surprised and happy she was on the flight. She told me all her colleagues flew business class on full priced airlines.

 

Want to give to charity? Find an individual you trust whose doing something good and give to them. Simon43 being a good example.

Thanks! I occasionally get $5 donations from radio hams in Japan 🙂  That sounds a pitiful amount, but that buys 2 school books or bilingual story books. 

 

Yonks ago (2010), I coined the phrase 'A little extra helps' for a philanthropic mobile phone venture that I started. https://www.24-7pressrelease.com/press-release/143465/if-only-1-of-twitterers-used-xtrer-it-would-generate-more-than-1-million-for-charities-every-month

 

It was based on my view that even small amounts of money could make an important difference to people's lives, if that money was spent wisely and not squandered or 'mud thrown at a wall' syndrome.

 

So even though I am somewhat poop-poor, I have still managed to help more than 3,000 Burmese kids with their school books over the years...

 

I know several, small charities which adopt the same policy as myself.  I also know some who provide help in Myanmar in exchange for converting to Christianity...  Many foreign teachers that I have met in Myanmar over the years have been from the USA and have a hidden, religious agenda to their charity work or teaching employment.

 

Therefore, if donating to a charity, dig deep, ask difficult questions!

[StreetCowboy]

On 12/13/2024 at 9:56 PM, still kicking said:

So being a pensioner I am not rich but I do donate to certain Groups for helping people (like handicapped kids or home less ones ) I feel better Do you think I am stupid?

Working for the benefit of others builds pride and self-worth. It is recommended as a diversion from addictive behaviours.

 

Giving money is an easy way to do this, but it can easily get addictive in itself and get out of control.

 

We support a local orphanage, where we can see where the money goes; for beggars in the street, I’ll support the visibly blind or maimed - the overheads as a beggar to gangsters are  not much different than the overhead of employing the person in a factory, and you have to trust the gangsters to keep the person safe and their territory free from intruders.  I generally don’t support foreign charities, least of all in response to canvassers on the street.

[rattlesnake]

I have a Srilankan friend back in France. 20 years ago, his village was devastated by the tsunami. Millions were collected for relief funds by "charity" organisations, with the involvement of several governments, and I know for a fact that the Srilankan people did not get a cent from it, or mere peanuts.

We organised a private fund collection in our circle in early 2005 and this was handed directly to him and his acquaintances (a few thousand euros). This money allowed for the construction of small concrete houses which gave a shelter to several families, allowed the fishermen to get new boats, amenities up and running etc. They were ever so grateful and sent regular pictures of the progress to all those who donated.

Charities are like lotteries, once in a while a nice enough cheque is written to perpetuate the illusion, but the vast majority of the funds "disappear" in a purposely opaque array of "processes"… and as another poster here mentioned, the top management are on five-figure salaries… paid for by the donors.

[fasteddie]

No, if you can afford it, obviously.

[Airalee]

On 12/13/2024 at 10:19 PM, persimmon said:

Some of these charity bosses are on 6 figure salaries . No way that I would ever give to one of those .

Some are on 7 figure salaries.  I wouldn’t donate to them either.

 

https://www.charitywatch.org/nonprofit-compensation-packages-of-1-million-or-more

 

There are many charities that seem have failing grades due to the fact that the bulk of the donations goes to “overhead”

 

https://blog.charitywatch.org/rip-f-rated-charities/

[radiochaser]

On 12/13/2024 at 8:56 AM, still kicking said:

So being a pensioner I am not rich but I do donate to certain Groups for helping people (like handicapped kids or home less ones ) I feel better Do you think I am stupid?

No.  I wonder why you would feel that way.  

[FritsSikkink]

On 12/13/2024 at 8:56 PM, still kicking said:

So being a pensioner I am not rich but I do donate to certain Groups for helping people (like handicapped kids or home less ones ) I feel better Do you think I am stupid?

No, looks like a very decent human being to me.