4 ms·

I think it's good people have an honest desire to make the world a better place. But it's not always going to be the responbility of your specific app or busine

I think it's good people have an honest desire to make the world a better place. But it's not always going to be the responbility of your specific app or business to do just that. Bringing internet to people who can't even get water without a trek to a well isn't best place to start sometimes, internet will be needed eventually, but basic needs are needed first. There are many, many, many great NGOs that you can donate to and make a huge impact. I was just looking at UNHCR the other day, and they have some really important projects going on in a world where some 30 million people are displaced. If you have kids, you have people who you can spend each and every day investing in and you'll likely get to see that impact firsthand, and lead them in the right direction for many years to come, and I think that's really just awesome. And if you're reading this, you probably went through the challenges of learning to code, and think of how you can improve the lives of your friends who will put the work forth to honestly learn - now they have a desireable skill and can find a job and poteintally take better care of their families as well. I'd call both of those changing your world!

rwallace 12y ago
With regard to your first paragraph, it's often the other way around; trying to cater to people's material needs from several thousand miles away through multiple layers of agency problems often ends up doing more harm than good, distorting local economies, encouraging corruption and undermining the efforts of developing countries to build a stable society. If people have literacy and Internet access, they have access to all the world's knowledge and a better chance of helping themselves; if you would send gifts, send those. I agree entirely with your second paragraph, however.

4 ms·

I think it's good people have an honest desire to make the world a better place. But it's not always going to be the responbility of your specific app or busine

by kylehotchkiss 12y ago

rwallace 12y ago
With regard to your first paragraph, it's often the other way around; trying to cater to people's material needs from several thousand miles away through multiple layers of agency problems often ends up doing more harm than good, distorting local economies, encouraging corruption and undermining the efforts of developing countries to build a stable society. If people have literacy and Internet access, they have access to all the world's knowledge and a better chance of helping themselves; if you would send gifts, send those. I agree entirely with your second paragraph, however.