6 ms·

When someone asks for help, you either give it, or you don't. Your aid ought not be contingent on what you get out of it.

ars 15y ago
It shouldn't be. But it is. People want to get "paid" in information.
- scott_s 15y ago
  Yes. And empathetic yet rational beings can then remind themselves that they have no right and no need to have the information, and can quietly let it pass.
  - ars 15y ago
    Of course. But they still want it. A nice person would ask, but not press the point. A rare person would not even ask. And some will demand to know.
    - scott_s 15y ago
      Some won't ask. We can't control the world, but we can influence this community. And I think it would be nice if people here chose to be empathetic and rational human beings.
- mrleinad 15y ago
  No, that's just you.
- Joakal 15y ago
  It doesn't help that the requests for help were made to sites like HN where the demographics of those sites tend to consist of information-curious people.
- droithomme 15y ago
  You believe in a world governed by profit and financial transactions. The real world is not like that. Once invited to join a tribe by requesting assistance for someone, others who have joined that tribe by becoming concerned and investing time into worry and concern are not expecting to be paid, they are merely wanting to know what happened to the person they have been ASKED to care about. It is exceptionally cynical and economically oriented to cast requested concern for a fellow human into something it is not.
  - ars 15y ago
    You are taking the word "paid" over-literally. I put it in quotes for a reason. "wanting to know" without also having the ability to help and without the other party appreciating your concern (i.e. it's not a personal communication) is not "concern for a fellow human" - it's curiosity. There isn't anything wrong with that, but don't make it out to be nobler than it is.
droithomme 15y ago
An observation. You are ascribing nefarious intent to people motivated by concern and empathy for the welfare of a fellow human being, whom they were specifically requested to care about. I find such projection malicious in itself and unwarranted.

ars 15y ago

It shouldn't be. But it is. People want to get "paid" in information.

scott_s 15y ago
Yes. And empathetic yet rational beings can then remind themselves that they have no right and no need to have the information, and can quietly let it pass.
- ars 15y ago
  Of course. But they still want it. A nice person would ask, but not press the point. A rare person would not even ask. And some will demand to know.
  - scott_s 15y ago
    Some won't ask. We can't control the world, but we can influence this community. And I think it would be nice if people here chose to be empathetic and rational human beings.
mrleinad 15y ago
No, that's just you.
Joakal 15y ago
It doesn't help that the requests for help were made to sites like HN where the demographics of those sites tend to consist of information-curious people.
droithomme 15y ago
You believe in a world governed by profit and financial transactions. The real world is not like that. Once invited to join a tribe by requesting assistance for someone, others who have joined that tribe by becoming concerned and investing time into worry and concern are not expecting to be paid, they are merely wanting to know what happened to the person they have been ASKED to care about. It is exceptionally cynical and economically oriented to cast requested concern for a fellow human into something it is not.
- ars 15y ago
  You are taking the word "paid" over-literally. I put it in quotes for a reason. "wanting to know" without also having the ability to help and without the other party appreciating your concern (i.e. it's not a personal communication) is not "concern for a fellow human" - it's curiosity. There isn't anything wrong with that, but don't make it out to be nobler than it is.

droithomme 15y ago

An observation. You are ascribing nefarious intent to people motivated by concern and empathy for the welfare of a fellow human being, whom they were specifically requested to care about. I find such projection malicious in itself and unwarranted.