This post is about the difference between the illusion of charity and actually taking action to make a real difference. (Disclosure: This may be classified as a rant. Proceed with caution.) Okay, here we go.
Although I don’t use Facebook much these days, I log in occasionally to check in. Each time I have a dozen or so requests to process. These include friend requests, event invitations, group invitations and other cute social media requests. Today one such request caught my eye. It read, “Jane Doe has invited you to support the cause “End child hunger worldwide!!!” This struck me. Being in a logical mood, I thought, “Joining this group will not, in any way, feed a hungry child. True, maybe if I join this group I will help spread awareness of child hunger… but the real impact approaches zero.”
So why do these groups exist? Answer: to make us feel like we’re helping. We trick ourselves. We feel good by “supporting” a cause and it makes us look good. The worst part is, I believe these groups actually perpetuate inaction by tricking people into feeling as though they have “already done their part” to help.
I believe most people recognize the importance of helping those in need. In some form or another, everyone feels the itch to do something selfless to help a neighbor. I’m afraid, however, that people are joining these groups as a way to scratch that itch instead of actually, you know, doing something!
What do you think? Are these support-a-cause groups poisonous, helpful, or both? Am I missing the point and taking it too seriously? Looking forward to your discussion.
{ 2 comments }
I think you’re absolutely right. But..sure it “feels” like we’re helping and yes I 100% agree that our efforts should be more than just clicking confirm into a causal group. But since our resources and contacts affiliated with those groups are not local sometimes, people become lazy and dont want to use the available resources that they can find online, to help. Therefore, I think for most, it mainly shows and stands as what the person cares and supports…while sharing awareness through a few mini-feeds letting others know that jane doe joined the “Feed the hungry in Africa” group. And if someone is honestly joining a group just to show off that they’re not selfless, that’s selfless in itself. Overall, yes, I agree, our actions dont match our words.
I suppose if they are calling attention to a problem that has heretofore been unknown, they serve a purpose. But most are “feel-good” causes. Yes, I know that child hunger is a problem. Who doesn’t? For complicated geopolitical reasons, we will never conquer it, yet there are things we can do to help alleviate suffering. Clicking to join a Facebook group–without ever following that up with any real action–is meaningless. Taking food to a hungry family in your community, now that accomplishes something.
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