5 ms·

IDK, I’m a little more skeptical of this post. It seems more posturing than actually effecting change. CFOs have other means of doing that, in better ways than

IDK, I’m a little more skeptical of this post. It seems more posturing than actually effecting change. CFOs have other means of doing that, in better ways than a simple blog post. This is no different than the celebrity cause du jour tweet except that it’s coming from a business leader rather than some actor/actress/pop star. Let’s see this CFO use their connections and influence to make things better in real ways.

rubyfan 6y ago
what do you suggest?
- brodouevencode 6y ago
  I would hope and can safely assume that they (Citi) have relatively decent community and governmental connections. Leverage those.
  - scarface74 6y ago
    I’m sure that the current administration will be willing participants in a forum about police conduct with respect to minorities.
  - dahfizz 6y ago
    Leverage them how? What are specific actions you think a bank can reasonably take to effect large scale social change?
uncletaco 6y ago
> CFOs have other means of doing that, in better ways than a simple blog post. I believe this CFO agrees with you. Most of the "celebrity cause du jour" tweets are just that, tweets. At least at the end of this post he listed groups that he's donating to [1] NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund [2] Advancement Project [3] Color of Change This may not mean much to you, but at least he's claiming to put his money where his mouth is. [1] https://www.naacpldf.org/ https://www.naacpldf.org/ [2] https://advancementproject.org/ https://advancementproject.org/ [3] https://colorofchange.org/ https://colorofchange.org/
- brodouevencode 6y ago
  Meh, some of us have been making charitable contributions to (not these exact ones but similar) like charities for years. This just seems a little too convenient and charlatan.
  - kthejoker2 6y ago
    Saying "meh" and declaring virtue signal! to someone donating money or otherwise doing good is the ultimate 21st century turnoff. Quit being so cynical, it's not healthy.
Rury 6y ago
Agreed. Actions speak louder than words. This (and many other company statements like this) are mostly empty nice feel good words, but merely that. Just like what a populist or demagogue would say/do to appear favorably in the eyes of others... IMO donating to an organization seems weak. It's like outsourcing the problem to someone else, and thinking your helping them because you're giving them money. If you really want to help, get your hands dirty, and take matters into your own hands...
- kthejoker2 6y ago
  Strongly disagree with this sentiment. Not everyone has the time, skills, or even the "cred" to get their hands dirty. Giving money to good causes is never weak. It is an extraordinarily effective tool for those of us who want to help. An effective legal advocacy or lobby group is a force multiplier - they're hands down the best "bang for your buck" in this situation. By contrast, me spending a day working with inner city youth or building Habitat for Humanity is laudable or protesting in the streets is at best effective on a much smaller scale. And secondly, this message is clearly aimed squarely at other well to do concerned citizens like him who are looking for ways to help. He is effectively vetting these organizations as "acceptable by the CitiGroup C suite." As an example, I forwarded this to my parents who would never "get their hands dirty" but also are open to donating to good causes. This will reach them in a way no celebrity tweet or protest sign possibly could.
- dahfizz 6y ago
  What do you expect him to do?? This mindset is incredibly toxic. "If you are not personally fixing all the problems in the world you are weak". And what are you doing?? Complaining about it on HN? There is a very reasonable argument that says this guy is using all the tools at his disposal. He has money, and he has influence. He is exercising both to make the world a better place. How can you possibly complain about that?
scarface74 6y ago
Yet and still HN thought it was some type of act of martyrdom when a multi millionaire old enough to retire resigned from Amazon as an act of protest. Taylor Swift for instance didn’t exactly gain fans among Trump supporters for speaking out against him. What exactly are they suppose to do besides use their platform?
dahfizz 6y ago
This is such a toxic and cynical stance. You are putting all responsibility onto people with "connections" so that you don't have to feel guilty about doing nothing. But at the same time, you are complaining that a rich and powerful person is using both their money and their influence to try and help! You are part of the problem.

rubyfan 6y ago

what do you suggest?

brodouevencode 6y ago
I would hope and can safely assume that they (Citi) have relatively decent community and governmental connections. Leverage those.
- scarface74 6y ago
  I’m sure that the current administration will be willing participants in a forum about police conduct with respect to minorities.
- dahfizz 6y ago
  Leverage them how? What are specific actions you think a bank can reasonably take to effect large scale social change?

uncletaco 6y ago

> CFOs have other means of doing that, in better ways than a simple blog post. I believe this CFO agrees with you. Most of the "celebrity cause du jour" tweets are just that, tweets. At least at the end of this post he listed groups that he's donating to [1] NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund [2] Advancement Project [3] Color of Change This may not mean much to you, but at least he's claiming to put his money where his mouth is. [1] https://www.naacpldf.org/ https://www.naacpldf.org/ [2] https://advancementproject.org/ https://advancementproject.org/ [3] https://colorofchange.org/ https://colorofchange.org/

brodouevencode 6y ago
Meh, some of us have been making charitable contributions to (not these exact ones but similar) like charities for years. This just seems a little too convenient and charlatan.
- kthejoker2 6y ago
  Saying "meh" and declaring virtue signal! to someone donating money or otherwise doing good is the ultimate 21st century turnoff. Quit being so cynical, it's not healthy.

Rury 6y ago

Agreed. Actions speak louder than words. This (and many other company statements like this) are mostly empty nice feel good words, but merely that. Just like what a populist or demagogue would say/do to appear favorably in the eyes of others... IMO donating to an organization seems weak. It's like outsourcing the problem to someone else, and thinking your helping them because you're giving them money. If you really want to help, get your hands dirty, and take matters into your own hands...

kthejoker2 6y ago
Strongly disagree with this sentiment. Not everyone has the time, skills, or even the "cred" to get their hands dirty. Giving money to good causes is never weak. It is an extraordinarily effective tool for those of us who want to help. An effective legal advocacy or lobby group is a force multiplier - they're hands down the best "bang for your buck" in this situation. By contrast, me spending a day working with inner city youth or building Habitat for Humanity is laudable or protesting in the streets is at best effective on a much smaller scale. And secondly, this message is clearly aimed squarely at other well to do concerned citizens like him who are looking for ways to help. He is effectively vetting these organizations as "acceptable by the CitiGroup C suite." As an example, I forwarded this to my parents who would never "get their hands dirty" but also are open to donating to good causes. This will reach them in a way no celebrity tweet or protest sign possibly could.
dahfizz 6y ago
What do you expect him to do?? This mindset is incredibly toxic. "If you are not personally fixing all the problems in the world you are weak". And what are you doing?? Complaining about it on HN? There is a very reasonable argument that says this guy is using all the tools at his disposal. He has money, and he has influence. He is exercising both to make the world a better place. How can you possibly complain about that?

scarface74 6y ago

Yet and still HN thought it was some type of act of martyrdom when a multi millionaire old enough to retire resigned from Amazon as an act of protest. Taylor Swift for instance didn’t exactly gain fans among Trump supporters for speaking out against him. What exactly are they suppose to do besides use their platform?

dahfizz 6y ago

This is such a toxic and cynical stance. You are putting all responsibility onto people with "connections" so that you don't have to feel guilty about doing nothing. But at the same time, you are complaining that a rich and powerful person is using both their money and their influence to try and help! You are part of the problem.