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.
