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I'm interested: why join this when you can simply donate 10% to charities without joining this?

Kranar 5y ago
Sense of community. I used to have the belief that being an anonymous donor, giving money to charities quietly, was the right and noble thing to do. Then there was the Ice Bucket Challenge and I realized that an individual donation is nothing compared to the multiplying effect that comes from having others within your community and network join in, and that requires finding creative ways of signaling your donations to others. Some find it distasteful to signal this, but the problem is that the end result of signaling donations is so much more effective that it's worth it. Joining a community of people who also pledge to participate in charity and promote charities to one another could be a way to eliminate the distasteful part of signaling to others that you donate to charities. It can also work as a way to integrate charities and donations as a routine part of your expenses and budgeting.
- 0des 5y ago
  giving as a group activity feels weird as if without an audience these folks might just not be interested.
  - nearbuy 5y ago
    If true, then that's exactly what makes it good. We can save lives for the small cost of giving donors some recognition and a sense of community. Edit: To add the above, the median annual donation amount for someone earning $60k-$80k in 2010 was $107. Roughly 0.15% of their income. It feels weird to criticize people donating 10% for having not-pure-enough motives while letting the majority who donate almost nothing escape criticism.
    - 0des 5y ago
      Performative altruism, so hot right now. I used to have this old book by this guy Matthew something or other that talked about good deeds being done for the purposes of being seen. Might have to revisit that one again, personally.
      - nearbuy 5y ago
        I kind of wish you'd stop shaming people for donating to effective charities. What if these comments discourage someone from donating?
      - MisterSandman 5y ago
        Performang Altruism is still Altruism.

Sense of community. I used to have the belief that being an anonymous donor, giving money to charities quietly, was the right and noble thing to do. Then there was the Ice Bucket Challenge and I realized that an individual donation is nothing compared to the multiplying effect that comes from having others within your community and network join in, and that requires finding creative ways of signaling your donations to others. Some find it distasteful to signal this, but the problem is that the end result of signaling donations is so much more effective that it's worth it. Joining a community of people who also pledge to participate in charity and promote charities to one another could be a way to eliminate the distasteful part of signaling to others that you donate to charities. It can also work as a way to integrate charities and donations as a routine part of your expenses and budgeting.

0des 5y ago
giving as a group activity feels weird as if without an audience these folks might just not be interested.
- nearbuy 5y ago
  If true, then that's exactly what makes it good. We can save lives for the small cost of giving donors some recognition and a sense of community. Edit: To add the above, the median annual donation amount for someone earning $60k-$80k in 2010 was $107. Roughly 0.15% of their income. It feels weird to criticize people donating 10% for having not-pure-enough motives while letting the majority who donate almost nothing escape criticism.
  - 0des 5y ago
    Performative altruism, so hot right now. I used to have this old book by this guy Matthew something or other that talked about good deeds being done for the purposes of being seen. Might have to revisit that one again, personally.
    - nearbuy 5y ago
      I kind of wish you'd stop shaming people for donating to effective charities. What if these comments discourage someone from donating?
    - MisterSandman 5y ago
      Performang Altruism is still Altruism.