Some individuals point out that folks who like to help people do so not so much because it helps others, but because it makes them feel good about themselves because they're making a difference in the lives of others. I agree with them that those who want to help people aren't completely altruistic. But I think it must be stressed that those who like to help others, such as a friend, a family member, or just someone they know, also do so because they really do care about them. Their actually is a lot of altruism involved. Hence, I give a lot of credit to those who try to make a difference in the lives of people who appreciate the help.
It just depends on the situation. Most people that give $ to the guy on the corner with the sign do so because it makes them feel like they are good and have helped. Even if 50 people have told them it's drug money or "that's his Lexus over there." Then there are others who give of themselves and truly have a servants heart.
I have spent a large majority of my life always doing the right thing, and I can tell you when you do the right thing, you get no compensation. There are no awards, rewards, glory, sense of feeling good or better, nothing! You do it because it is the right thing to do, and if you have any other reason then it is no longer the right thing. So, with that said, I think the people who do the right thing, knowing that in return there will be nothing, those are the people who matter. There is an old Outer Limits episode that ends with this saying The true measure of a hero is when a man lays down his life with the knowledge that those he saves... will never know. Those are the people... Just my opinion..
You're right. For the most part if I donate to charity I just get a thank you at the time I donate. There is no reward for doing so, except that you're "helping out". A lot of the time, I have learned, is that throwing money at the situation doesn't always help. It might be more useful to buy a homeless person a sleeping blanket and a bunch of easily consumed food for example. I'm not saying we shouldn't donate to charity, the homeless, or other worthy causes though, but sometimes it is more useful to inject cash. Take Bill Gates for example. Guy is firmly in the richest people in the world category, but he is pouring a great deal of it into research. He has little to gain from donating billions, and convincing others to do the same, to charity once they die. Bill Gates is only giving a few millions to his children, or so I heard. The rest is going to the foundation he and his wife created. And he convinced a load of other billionaires to do similar things. That's pretty altruistic to me. He didn't need to do any of that shit. I'm not a fanboy on purpose, but he became the richest man on Earth - and he became the man that donated the most to charity. Good guy.
Ah yes but how did he become the richest man on earth? Buying out the competition and making computer users buy his software by having it pre installed on computers. I'd guess he's giving back because of his conscience and not because of a do good instinct. He now has 2 things we all get eventually, that his money can't fix. Age and bad health.
