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No evidence, not even anecdotal ("I have a friend, he and his family love being poor....") Lack of ability to imagine another's experience. Naivete regarding

No evidence, not even anecdotal ("I have a friend, he and his family love being poor....") Lack of ability to imagine another's experience. Naivete regarding power relationships, especially ones you participate in without knowing it. Basic fallacy of assuming people are different than you when convenient. No attempt, however lame, to support your off-the-cuff remark with anything. Lack of introspection and self evaluation. Stupid post, downvoted.

bnegreve 11y ago
> Lack of ability to imagine another's experience. Actually assuming that it's impossible to enjoy life without money is a very western centric opinion. You don't necessarily need to buy food, you can grow food, you can hunt food, you can search for food in garbage bins or you can even steal it. For what it worth, I do have a friend in that situation and she seem to enjoy it. Now, I agree that GP's comment is pretty stupid: the fact that some people can enjoy living in that situation shouldn't be an excuse to let the other starve.
erikb 11y ago
I assume you want to add value to the discussion. Otherwise you wouldn't have explained your down vote. But as other responses you felt you should make assumptions where trying to understand the statement better would have been the right call. Let me show as example how your comment would look as a value addition to the discussion: "I'm still not getting your point What sources are you referring to? [instead of "no evidence"] What does it look like for such a person who lives on ~$1.50 a day but being happy about their life? [instead of "Lack of ability..."] Would an increase in income not help these people as well to maintain their individuality/culture against stronger outside forces? [instead of "... power relations..."] How would your life change on that kind of money a day?" Can't put anything for the last three lines. Wouldn't that have offered you the chance to learn something you didn't know yet, namely about people who can live without ~$1.50 a day and still be happy? Wouldn't that have increased the chance to discuss how poverty should be defined differently, maybe on a more complex level?
- EdSharkey 11y ago
  Most people in poverty don't have a choice on how their lives might play out. As I understand it, they're often quite ignorant and helpless to improve their lot. Or they're bonded servants, or slaves. It's very sad, there's no way out, no possible route up and out. This world is so often a hell for its denizens. I suppose that's why others are reacting so strongly to you. You're latching onto some odd hobo hipster ideal - but reality does not come close to your ideal.
  - erikb 11y ago
    I didn't say that you should avoid helping people in need.
    - EdSharkey 11y ago
      And I didn't imply you said that. Your "some people choose a life of poverty/beggary and have a good time with that" thing is just plain silly.

bnegreve 11y ago

> Lack of ability to imagine another's experience. Actually assuming that it's impossible to enjoy life without money is a very western centric opinion. You don't necessarily need to buy food, you can grow food, you can hunt food, you can search for food in garbage bins or you can even steal it. For what it worth, I do have a friend in that situation and she seem to enjoy it. Now, I agree that GP's comment is pretty stupid: the fact that some people can enjoy living in that situation shouldn't be an excuse to let the other starve.

erikb 11y ago

I assume you want to add value to the discussion. Otherwise you wouldn't have explained your down vote. But as other responses you felt you should make assumptions where trying to understand the statement better would have been the right call. Let me show as example how your comment would look as a value addition to the discussion: "I'm still not getting your point What sources are you referring to? [instead of "no evidence"] What does it look like for such a person who lives on ~$1.50 a day but being happy about their life? [instead of "Lack of ability..."] Would an increase in income not help these people as well to maintain their individuality/culture against stronger outside forces? [instead of "... power relations..."] How would your life change on that kind of money a day?" Can't put anything for the last three lines. Wouldn't that have offered you the chance to learn something you didn't know yet, namely about people who can live without ~$1.50 a day and still be happy? Wouldn't that have increased the chance to discuss how poverty should be defined differently, maybe on a more complex level?

EdSharkey 11y ago
Most people in poverty don't have a choice on how their lives might play out. As I understand it, they're often quite ignorant and helpless to improve their lot. Or they're bonded servants, or slaves. It's very sad, there's no way out, no possible route up and out. This world is so often a hell for its denizens. I suppose that's why others are reacting so strongly to you. You're latching onto some odd hobo hipster ideal - but reality does not come close to your ideal.
- erikb 11y ago
  I didn't say that you should avoid helping people in need.
  - EdSharkey 11y ago
    And I didn't imply you said that. Your "some people choose a life of poverty/beggary and have a good time with that" thing is just plain silly.