7 ms·

Sometimes I dream that if I ever become very wealthy (either because of something I created or because I won the lottery) I would go around and donate some nice

by saganus 10y ago

Sometimes I dream that if I ever become very wealthy (either because of something I created or because I won the lottery) I would go around and donate some nice money to these under-appreciated developers/organizations/projects. I mean, if I had billions, wouldn't it be feasible to spend say 1M or even 0.5M to say, 100 projects? 200 maybe? Does this not happen or do we just not hear about it if it ever happens?

brianwawok 10y ago
Most people would rather save 1,000 people from Malaria in Africa than give 1 white college educated man living in one of the richest counties on earth a year's salary to write code from his home office. (I am sure it happens, but I am sure that it is pretty low on the donation list)
- ktta 10y ago
  If anyone's interested, here's a good article about how one billionaire decided to spend his money - on better science. https://www.wired.com/2017/01/john-arnold-waging-war-on-bad-science/ https://www.wired.com/2017/01/john-arnold-waging-war-on-bad-...
- bzbarsky 10y ago
  For what it's worth, http://www.givewell.org/international/technical/programs/insecticide-treated-nets#HowcosteffectiveisLLINdistribution http://www.givewell.org/international/technical/programs/ins... estimates about $3000 per life saved (which I will grant is not the same thing as "malaria case prevented"). So a year's salary for a good developer would be on the order of 30-150 lives saved, depending on market and definition of "good"... Agreed with your overall point, though.
  - dragandj 10y ago
    The cost of one Matlab license could save a human life, by such accounting.
    - brianwawok 10y ago
      Or every time you buy a new car instead of a used car, you kill 1-2 starving people somewhere. Such math is hard...
  - deleted 10y ago
    [deleted]
- saganus 10y ago
  Well yeah, I agree. I didn't mean to say I wouldn't ever donate or use my (imaginary) millions to save lives as well. I was just daydreaming about something that I would like to do if I could. In that sense I would also like to donate a few millions to Watsi for example. (I have already made a few donations there, but nothing close to millions) or to some institution in my own country.
justinclift 10y ago
It does happen. eg: https://freebsdfoundation.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/freebsd-foundation-announces-generous.html https://freebsdfoundation.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/freebsd-fou... There are others too. :)

by saganus 10y ago

brianwawok 10y ago

Most people would rather save 1,000 people from Malaria in Africa than give 1 white college educated man living in one of the richest counties on earth a year's salary to write code from his home office. (I am sure it happens, but I am sure that it is pretty low on the donation list)

ktta 10y ago
If anyone's interested, here's a good article about how one billionaire decided to spend his money - on better science. https://www.wired.com/2017/01/john-arnold-waging-war-on-bad-science/ https://www.wired.com/2017/01/john-arnold-waging-war-on-bad-...
bzbarsky 10y ago
For what it's worth, http://www.givewell.org/international/technical/programs/insecticide-treated-nets#HowcosteffectiveisLLINdistribution http://www.givewell.org/international/technical/programs/ins... estimates about $3000 per life saved (which I will grant is not the same thing as "malaria case prevented"). So a year's salary for a good developer would be on the order of 30-150 lives saved, depending on market and definition of "good"... Agreed with your overall point, though.
- dragandj 10y ago
  The cost of one Matlab license could save a human life, by such accounting.
  - brianwawok 10y ago
    Or every time you buy a new car instead of a used car, you kill 1-2 starving people somewhere. Such math is hard...
- deleted 10y ago
  [deleted]
saganus 10y ago
Well yeah, I agree. I didn't mean to say I wouldn't ever donate or use my (imaginary) millions to save lives as well. I was just daydreaming about something that I would like to do if I could. In that sense I would also like to donate a few millions to Watsi for example. (I have already made a few donations there, but nothing close to millions) or to some institution in my own country.

justinclift 10y ago

It does happen. eg: https://freebsdfoundation.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/freebsd-foundation-announces-generous.html https://freebsdfoundation.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/freebsd-fou... There are others too. :)