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I don't think it's about excitement. It's just that what happened was so unusual that it captured everyone's imagination. It reminds me of an incident that happ

I don't think it's about excitement. It's just that what happened was so unusual that it captured everyone's imagination. It reminds me of an incident that happened in India probably a decade ago when a child fell into a open borewell. It was broadcast live for 2 full days until the child was rescued. But that wasn't the end of it. From then on, many children have fallen into open borewells but have never received the same amount of coverage. I guess it has more to do with viewers getting accustomed to such stories that it becomes "just another news headline". But that doesn't mean mankind is insensitive to suffering. It just so happens that none of us can do anything about it even if we wished to. > meanwhile how many kids have died worldwide from hunger, disease, and warfare since June 23rd? Probably a bit more than 12. I guess that's not as exciting to read about though. Food for thought: there are probably a few million stars dying everyday wiping out possible civilizations and life we may never know about. I guess at some point we need to stop looking at statistics and instead focus on fixing what is possible.

MperorM 8y ago
A single individual can do much if they want to. more than 400,000 people die each year from malaria alone, a disease easily preventable by buying cheap mosquito nets. If you donated just 10% of your income each month, you'd be able to save many lives each year. https://www.givingwhatwecan.org/get-involved/myths-about-aid/ https://www.givingwhatwecan.org/get-involved/myths-about-aid... Dispels the most commonly held incorrect beliefs about charities.
- shripadk 8y ago
  It's not giving that's the problem. The problem is in misuse of the donations. Your link does classify it as a myth but I live in a developing country and I can attest to the fact that most aid money donated by Western society either gets misused or swindled unless it's through proper channels. Finding proper channels is not as easy as you think. Even reputed organizations have been caught misusing funds: (1) https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/foreign-funding-of-ngos-comes-down-sharply-in-2016-17-after-crackdown/articleshow/62186877.cms https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/foreign-funding-of... (2) https://www.oneindia.com/india/crackdown-on-fcra-violation-ngo-receiving-foreign-funds-must-open-accounts-in-these-banks-2608961.html https://www.oneindia.com/india/crackdown-on-fcra-violation-n... (3) https://www.socialpost.news/national/modi-govt-cancels-licences-14000-ngos-crackdown-foreign-funding/ https://www.socialpost.news/national/modi-govt-cancels-licen... If you truly are a "noble charitable cause" then there is no reason to hide your source of funding. Majority of these NGOs (Charities are classified as Non-Governmental Organizations in India) haven't filed their annual returns since their inception. So basically it's unaccounted dollars free-flowing into the country with no mention of source or the purpose for the donations. It could very well be money-laundering or for other ulterior motives. That can only be dispelled if the NGOs filed their annual returns just like every other organization. But the fact that they refused to do it, inspite of it being clearly laid down in law, shows ill-intent. You can't eat your cake and have it too.

MperorM 8y ago

A single individual can do much if they want to. more than 400,000 people die each year from malaria alone, a disease easily preventable by buying cheap mosquito nets. If you donated just 10% of your income each month, you'd be able to save many lives each year. https://www.givingwhatwecan.org/get-involved/myths-about-aid/ https://www.givingwhatwecan.org/get-involved/myths-about-aid... Dispels the most commonly held incorrect beliefs about charities.

shripadk 8y ago
It's not giving that's the problem. The problem is in misuse of the donations. Your link does classify it as a myth but I live in a developing country and I can attest to the fact that most aid money donated by Western society either gets misused or swindled unless it's through proper channels. Finding proper channels is not as easy as you think. Even reputed organizations have been caught misusing funds: (1) https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/foreign-funding-of-ngos-comes-down-sharply-in-2016-17-after-crackdown/articleshow/62186877.cms https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/foreign-funding-of... (2) https://www.oneindia.com/india/crackdown-on-fcra-violation-ngo-receiving-foreign-funds-must-open-accounts-in-these-banks-2608961.html https://www.oneindia.com/india/crackdown-on-fcra-violation-n... (3) https://www.socialpost.news/national/modi-govt-cancels-licences-14000-ngos-crackdown-foreign-funding/ https://www.socialpost.news/national/modi-govt-cancels-licen... If you truly are a "noble charitable cause" then there is no reason to hide your source of funding. Majority of these NGOs (Charities are classified as Non-Governmental Organizations in India) haven't filed their annual returns since their inception. So basically it's unaccounted dollars free-flowing into the country with no mention of source or the purpose for the donations. It could very well be money-laundering or for other ulterior motives. That can only be dispelled if the NGOs filed their annual returns just like every other organization. But the fact that they refused to do it, inspite of it being clearly laid down in law, shows ill-intent. You can't eat your cake and have it too.