Alms... Alms for the Poor
When did life become; Those who are able to take care of themselves need to take care of everyone who can’t while they are at it? How is it that some people can make their way and be ok but others who couldn’t seem to steer clear of the hazards in life expect… no, demand to be hand held? How did those that succeed begin to except that responsibility? I really, honestly, Scouts honor don’t understand how this became an acceptable practice. Let me explain (you had to know this was coming)….
Let’s set the stage…
Joe: A loser who can’t find his ass with both hands and could wind up in jail for stealing a stick of gum, because not only is he stupid enough to steal gum, but he is stupid enough to mouth off relentlessly until he winds up in jail over it. Wash Rinse Repeat under most circumstances.
Mark: Has managed to get through the stealing gum stage of his life relatively intact, and in fact has determined that not only was it smarter to say “I am sorry it won’t happen again” and deal with whatever came of it, but also determined it was more intelligent to actually use money to get gum.
Joe: has had 14 jobs over the last year and has to mooch a place to stay because McDonalds only pays enough to afford beer, and occasionally a pack of smokes.
Mark: Has managed to keep a job for 5 years, may one day get promoted to head lettuce cutter, thereby increasing his odds of upgrading his place of residence.
Ok now that you have a very simplistic version of the types of people Mark and Joe are let’s set up a situation.
Mark having grown up with Joe encountered the same problems to overcome as Joe, and while getting ahead managed to get things that Joe thinks Joe deserves. So Joe Bitches and Moans about how he has nothing and can’t believe the “Luck” Mark seems to enjoy. Joe starts saying “you know you have it so good and should help me out.”
Now here is where my confusion comes in:
Mark, being socially minded and a conscientious person, thinks to himself “you know Mark has had it hard, and I should help him.”
Where the hell did that come from?!? SHOULD??!? Why should Mark help Joe who has done nothing to help himself, and in fact consistently impedes his own progress? I could see it if Joe had done something to alter the habits that have gotten him to the point he is at now, but for the sake of this conversation Joe has not done, and has no intention of doing, anything any different. My question is why does it seem to be the moral obligation, of someone that has worked hard to do what needs to be done, to help someone that will just drag them down? In this case Mark and Joe apparently grew up in the same area, have had very similar issues confronting them through the course of their life, so Why!?!
For the sake of clarity:
I have had people help me in the past and still from time to time I get help from folks I know. However I always repay debts, and always respect the help I get by improving my methods, or altering the issue that got me in a position to need help. I am not boasting, it’s just the way I go about my business I try not to get in a bad spot, if I do I work to get out of it and make sure I don’t get into it again. I have helped folks out too, and I have to tell you it has been, 95% of the time, a major disappointment that I wind up looking like an asshole over. Sidebar; I aid, I do not carry, and when it appears to be turning to a carry situation I cut it off. To those that have helped me and are reading this; Thank you, I hope you feel I have done right by the assistance you have given me.
Closing thought; Help those that deserve help, not those that just need it. If you find yourself caught up in helping someone that does not deserve it cut them off and don’t feel bad about it. You did not put them in the position they are in.
Let’s set the stage…
Joe: A loser who can’t find his ass with both hands and could wind up in jail for stealing a stick of gum, because not only is he stupid enough to steal gum, but he is stupid enough to mouth off relentlessly until he winds up in jail over it. Wash Rinse Repeat under most circumstances.
Mark: Has managed to get through the stealing gum stage of his life relatively intact, and in fact has determined that not only was it smarter to say “I am sorry it won’t happen again” and deal with whatever came of it, but also determined it was more intelligent to actually use money to get gum.
Joe: has had 14 jobs over the last year and has to mooch a place to stay because McDonalds only pays enough to afford beer, and occasionally a pack of smokes.
Mark: Has managed to keep a job for 5 years, may one day get promoted to head lettuce cutter, thereby increasing his odds of upgrading his place of residence.
Ok now that you have a very simplistic version of the types of people Mark and Joe are let’s set up a situation.
Mark having grown up with Joe encountered the same problems to overcome as Joe, and while getting ahead managed to get things that Joe thinks Joe deserves. So Joe Bitches and Moans about how he has nothing and can’t believe the “Luck” Mark seems to enjoy. Joe starts saying “you know you have it so good and should help me out.”
Now here is where my confusion comes in:
Mark, being socially minded and a conscientious person, thinks to himself “you know Mark has had it hard, and I should help him.”
Where the hell did that come from?!? SHOULD??!? Why should Mark help Joe who has done nothing to help himself, and in fact consistently impedes his own progress? I could see it if Joe had done something to alter the habits that have gotten him to the point he is at now, but for the sake of this conversation Joe has not done, and has no intention of doing, anything any different. My question is why does it seem to be the moral obligation, of someone that has worked hard to do what needs to be done, to help someone that will just drag them down? In this case Mark and Joe apparently grew up in the same area, have had very similar issues confronting them through the course of their life, so Why!?!
For the sake of clarity:
I have had people help me in the past and still from time to time I get help from folks I know. However I always repay debts, and always respect the help I get by improving my methods, or altering the issue that got me in a position to need help. I am not boasting, it’s just the way I go about my business I try not to get in a bad spot, if I do I work to get out of it and make sure I don’t get into it again. I have helped folks out too, and I have to tell you it has been, 95% of the time, a major disappointment that I wind up looking like an asshole over. Sidebar; I aid, I do not carry, and when it appears to be turning to a carry situation I cut it off. To those that have helped me and are reading this; Thank you, I hope you feel I have done right by the assistance you have given me.
Closing thought; Help those that deserve help, not those that just need it. If you find yourself caught up in helping someone that does not deserve it cut them off and don’t feel bad about it. You did not put them in the position they are in.
posted by Capt. Obvious at 6:40 AM
3 Comments:
ok and now that we are passed the 30 person community? Joe isn't as necessary and well should eat shit and die as far as i am concerned. Thereby improving the community by his absense. plenty of productive types to fill his void.
I suppose if you want to feel guilty for your accomplishments and let yourself be brought down by someone less worthy of your work and efforts your solution would be great.. oh and if we were still a community of 30.
By todays standards we could do with a few less joes in the world. Helping him to continue breathing and by default, most likely, reproducing we are in fact aiding to the detriment of our community. The rosey image is great if you are tryin to get laid.. but honestly your not my type ;) hehe
madcap is right captain -
most of those really in need dont get the help they need. but how do u make a moral choice about who is worth helping? who's to decide whether joe is ever gonna sober up and whether he's worth giving a chance? and how can we make that choice - being as flawed as we are ourselves?
it could come from something like this;
once upon a time - religion had a thing to do with what was right and wrong. That was, being nice, charitable, helpful and caring were important things to be [or something terrible will happen].
These days, people dont need religion; dont want religion; don't even wanna hear about it.
So people are left with a vague sense to be compassionate and help others - but dont know how to do it. Its what stops us culling the weaker ones and not even giving them a chance. call it guilt, misplaced compassion, whatever - its different for each person.
Heathen-
What are we going to do... tha's a good question, and sums up teh rant pretty well I think. Me I am gonna keep being a trend setting cynic, help those I believe to be worth helping and laugh at teh rest :) I may make the wrong choice on who to help, and tha's where the "Cut them off" thing happens. I don't get the guilt issue myself but I am wierd. all in all the choice is there for each of us.
Fatty -
yeah having known Madcap for a while I have noticed he has this freaky habit of being right, and in most ways alot more accurate than me hehe. Funny you should mention Religion... tha's the topic of the next rant.
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