3 ms·
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
by 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 agoIf 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 agoFor 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 agoThe cost of one Matlab license could save a human life, by such accounting.
- brianwawok 10y agoOr 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 agoWell 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.