give-a-shit-meter

[rainfall]

How much do you really care about earthquakes, tornadoes and natural mayhem around the world? Since I am mostly disinterested about this kind of news in the world, I find it fascinating that there are people who are really buzzed up about this sort of thing.

0-5, one being that you honestly couldn't care any less, 5 being that you'd hop on a plane and go saving people.

[Neville]

0

[LastRailway]

Maybe a 4.

I wouldn't jump on a plane to go and help people, but I am interested on what happens in the world and on the possible ways to resolve problems.

EDIT: A (public) poll would have been interesting.

Re-EDIT: Oh there is a poll.

[Infinityvers]

There seems to be no poll option for me as I don't watch TV.

[rainfall]

EDIT: A (public) poll would have been interesting.

Drats... My mistake... If polls can be de-anonymyzed by admins, then I have no objection to that happening.


There seems to be no poll option for me as I don't watch TV.

Bah!

[YHWH]

I do very much give a shit but there's nothing I'd do about it because there's nothing I can do about it, anything I can offer is worthless and vain.
But that's probably just an excuse to remain passive.

[Karl]

I might donate a small amount of money once I find my credit card. I guess I'll wait to see if I do that.



I wouldn't jump on a plane to go and help people

Their airport is screwed up anyway. You would have trouble getting there, I think.

Really, I don't see how I can be useful in person. I have no medical knowledge, I'm clumsier than other people and have trouble with coordinated manual labor (I've never gotten sweeping down, for instance), and I have no special knowledge in construction. If anyone can think of anything I can do, feel free to tell me and I'll consider it, but I sound pretty useless to me.

[ApeTheDog]

It fluctuates between 1 and 4. It depends on my particular disposition that day multiplied by the severity of the situation.

[Ellipsis]

Contrary to my INFP nature which makes me care about kittens, puppies and flowers: I don't really give a damn.

Actually I care more about the general state of things then some Natural disaster etc. because I know celebrities and everyone else will rush to the rescue. Donating money through Kiva.org to eliminate the general problems which most people ignore is more important to me.

[starla]

I care. Or at least I did for a day or two. But I don't see the point of caring if you're not going to do something to help. And since there's no clear way to get help to these people, I'm currently not doing anything to help. So I'm starting to not care. Actuallly, I'd say I stopped caring sometime yesterday.

If Bill and W can come up with something convincing or the red cross can get some planes together to fly some doctors and supplies over there, I'll probably throw some money at the problem and move on with my life.

[Delilah]

I care. Or at least I did for a day or two. But I don't see the point of caring if you're not going to do something to help. And since there's no clear way to get help to these people, I'm currently not doing anything to help. So I'm starting to not care. Actuallly, I'd say I stopped caring sometime yesterday.

I've been trying to find a place locally where I can volunteer, packaging food or something, so far the only place I have found is no longer accepting walk-ins, only groups of ten or more.
Pfft. As if I know 9 people I could stand to spend the day with!?

If I don't find something soon I will get bored looking and wander off. Sucks, but it's true.

[starla]

If I don't find something soon I will get bored looking and wander off. Sucks, but it's true.

There's no point in boo-hooing over shit you read on CNN.com all day. Either do something or go back to your life. I don't understand how people can think caring in and of itself matters. It's kind of like putting one of those "support our troops" stickers on your car. Paying your taxes is the best support you can give short of enlisting. That stupid sticker doesn't help anyone.

[edge walker]

http://14.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kvhlmh30cR1qz4h0bo1_400.gif

[Delilah]

There's no point in boo-hooing over shit you read on CNN.com all day. Either do something or go back to your life. I don't understand how people can think caring in and of itself matters. It's kind of like putting one of those "support our troops" stickers on your car. Paying your taxes is the best support you can give short of enlisting. That stupid sticker doesn't help anyone.

Exactly. I am coming across a lot of shit that says to post updates on Twitter and FB to "get the word out". What? Unless you've been living under a rock (or are trapped under a building somewhere else in the world) chances are you know about it and are either already doing something or have no intention of doing anything but "caring" or praying. Both of which are entirely useless as far as I am concerned.

"Put out the word"? Morons.

[Oso Mocoso]

and are either already doing something or have no intention of doing anything but "caring" or praying.

http://www.demotivatorblog.com/wp-content/uploads/yapb_cache/prayer_motivational.cdt3nzsr6vwwco04c0swgc4gg.ap2qhjyqp08cgc0c80ss4cco4.th.jpeg

I don't think very much about this one. Some time when I'm better situated to actually volunteer to help out, I'll get involved in another relief effort. Honestly, if I'm not going to lift a finger to help I don't see why I should expend the effort that having tons of empathy would involve. I'll save it for where it'll do someone some good.

[1104]

change the channel. maybe donate money or time if i got it. never do.

(completely disregarding non-people i.e. the environment) how many people die each day of preventable causes? there's little reason to care now more than before. i'm more shaken by failed terrorist attacks.

[bluebell]

I prefer to live in a media blackout.

However, the Victorian bushfires in Australia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Saturday_bushfires) last year did actually make it through my self-imposed cone of silence. I cried watching the news updates. (and yes, I'm one of those who cares more about local disasters than far-off ones) 173 people died in one day. I'd been to some of the towns that were destroyed.

I'd been directly under threat from a firestorm a few years before that (and another fire the year before that); some of my colleagues and other people I know lost their houses in that particular fire, waiting for news updates hoping that no lives would be lost, knowing which areas were under threat and knowing I knew way too many people who lived in the most vulnerable areas in that previous firestorm.

Hence the extreme empathy with the Victorian fire victims, methinks. I rarely donate to disaster relief fundraisers (unless there's something organised at work), but I did donate a fairly substantial amount to the Victorian bushfire appeal at the time.

/rambling

[Delilah]

I'll save it for where it'll do someone some good.

I happen to have a lot of free time on my hands since i'm not boozing, so if I can find a place to donate my time, I will. Otherwise fuck it. I don't have any money.


I prefer to live in a media blackout.

However, the Victorian bushfires in Australia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Saturday_bushfires) last year did actually make it through my self-imposed cone of silence. I cried watching the news updates. (and yes, I'm one of those who cares more about local disasters than far-off ones)

Yeah, my cone of silence is pretty impenetrable. I think the last thing I really cried about as far as disasters and things go, was the Oklahoma city bombings. Of course I was pregnant and hormonal and I cried about a lot of shit that I otherwise wouldn't. There is no crying about this one, or even feeling terribly bad, but if I can help I might as well.

[JamesGold]

2, just about always.

Then I think about all the people like me who would yawn at the TV if they heard a massive earthquake destroyed my home and family. This makes me sad, but still doesn't motivate me to give a shit about what kinds of disasters go on around the world.

[MoneyJungle]

My reaction is typically temporary gladness that I'm not in some post-disaster clusterfuck. I wouldn't talk to someone about it unless they had some personal history or expertise regarding the affected area.

[zago]

INTPs usually don't like to give without knowing exactly how they've helped. To simply donate money blindly would seem uncertain and ineffective. That's how I feel anyway.

[pocohauntus]

And since there's no clear way to get help to these people, I'm currently not doing anything to help.

What people? The people of Haighti?

[Jonah Davids]

Actually I care more about the general state of things then some Natural disaster etc. because I know celebrities and everyone else will rush to the rescue.

Ah. The bystander effect.

[Yummy]

It depends on where it happened, who it happened to and whether or not I can actually do something.

So it could be a 0 or a 5...

[Qlippoth]

It's not that I like bad things to happen to people, but if it has no direct consequences to me, why should I care more about bad things that happen to a concentrated amount of people in a geographical location than all the bad things that happen to evenly distributed people around the world?

It's not that I don't care, but what's caring worth if it's not followed up by actual assistance? In a world of pain, who do you help with your limited resources? Probably friends/family and the people in front of you instead of half way across the world.

[euterpenc]

I just think about it in passing. I'm too broke to donate any money... well I guess I could spare some of the 200$ that I have to my name...

[SensEye]

Near zero on an emotional level, of course, as explained by the monkeysphere (http://www.cracked.com/article_14990_what-monkeysphere.html) and discussed on INTPc in the past.

Some excerpts:

So? What difference does all this make?"

Oh, not much. It's just the one single reason society doesn't work.

It's like this: which would upset you more, your best friend dying, or a dozen kids across town getting killed because their bus collided with a truck hauling killer bees? Which would hit you harder, your Mom dying, or seeing on the news that 15,000 people died in an earthquake in Iran?

They're all humans and they are all equally dead. But the closer to our Monkeysphere they are, the more it means to us. Just as your death won't mean anything to the Chinese or, for that matter, hardly anyone else more than 100 feet or so from where you're sitting right now.


"Why should I feel bad for them? I don't even know those people!"

Exactly. This is so ingrained that to even suggest you should feel their deaths as deeply as that of your best friend sounds a little ridiculous. We are hard-wired to have a drastic double standard for the people inside our Monkeysphere versus the 99.999% of the world's population who are on the outside


"So I'm supposed to suddenly start worrying about six billion strangers? That's not even possible!"

That's right, it isn't possible. That's the point.

What is hard to understand is that it's also impossible for them to care about you.

That's why they don't mind stealing your stereo or vandalizing your house or cutting your wages or raising your taxes or bombing your office building or choking your computer with spam advertising diet and penis drugs they know don't work. You're outside their Monkeysphere. In their mind, you're just a vague shape with a pocket full of money for the taking.

[INA]

Discuss; donate.

Disaster-struck areas often need more help, fewer helpers. Getting on a plane to get involved shouldn't be the highest value.

[Martavious]

One.

Though I care very much about what happens in the world, such events become cyclic media fads and not only lose attention but encourage my disdain. Furthermore, if someone asked for me to donate, I would go on a rampage discussing issues I find within public charities (specifically, they are not government run).

[Ben Dover]

Near zero on an emotional level, of course, as explained by the monkeysphere (http://www.cracked.com/article_14990_what-monkeysphere.html) and discussed on INTPc in the past.

Some excerpts:

Well this about covers it. I change the channel, I'm afraid.

[doob]

I give a shit. Not because I'm teary eyed over any strangers plight. I care because what happens "over there" if neglected and ignored will soon happen "here." To think than first worlders are anymore enlightened, empowered or less like sheep or less apathetic than "those poor bastards," is an exercise in self delusion.

[starjots]

It's data and you can absorb the pertinent facts in a couple of minutes. After that I usually change the channel. I do not respect sensationalizing (?) the aperiodic hiccups of nature and the endless coverage. It strikes me as voyeurism.

[Cbug]

1

I care more that certain countries are too poor or messed up to have good disaster planning. Natural disasters are bound to happen. People should care before they strike, giving money and supplies afterwards is necessary but a little too late. How many news segments are there on TV about the crappy building codes in Haiti? How many people from developed nations lobby to improve them? I wager not many.

[jesterlolz]

I used to care...

With the media as it is though, I've pretty much assumed that somewhere there's a tragedy, so I just change the channel and wait for Jon Stewart to make fun of it at 11.

[cripple]

How much do you really care about earthquakes, tornadoes and natural mayhem around the world? Since I am mostly disinterested about this kind of news in the world, I find it fascinating that there are people who are really buzzed up about this sort of thing.

0-5, one being that you honestly couldn't care any less, 5 being that you'd hop on a plane and go saving people.
I'm interested in the actual earthquakes, tornadoes and natural mayhem around the world. But not about it's results, more about the operating mechanism, very interested. So not sure what to vote. Maybe 4, since I can purge the material that is irrelevant, especially when I use the net as I do for this sort of information. If not the answer would probably be 1.

[Defensin]

Ranges from 3-4.5.The nearer the higher.
Yes, donating money is tricky and I won't do it unless I'm 100% sure that it would go to the people. Find trust-worthy organizations isn't really difficult.

Blood donation campaigns -so are medicine campaigns-are big around here but too often I've been on medication that prevented me from donating. Nevertheless I like the idea. Also the making donations for the refugees or students who have lost contact with their families in the disaster zone makes lots of sense.

Does it make me feel better? It doesn't. It's almost always lacking. in the back of my head I know it might have helped someone get through the day but it didn't fix anything and in a couple of months -if they're lucky- they'll be struggling on thier own dealing with the serious outcomes. The emergency-phase is nothing in comparison.

Someday I hope I could go on a rescue mission; it would justify a great deal of my life

[zoltan]

0, natural disasters happen, maybe 1-2 when it comes to human brutalities. I realize there is hardly a thing we can do. Bad things will keep happening no matter what.

I'd much rather watch discovery channel, history channel or comedy central than the news.

[Geminii]

Tragic things will always happen. I have a preprepared set of responses which take into account the level of resources I happen to have at the time and the amount the particular tragedy affects me or things/people I care about. That way I don't have to waste time wondering what to do, and if the particular level of response to a given incident is "do nothing", I can get it over with before I hit the next news paragraph.

[Resonance]

you're probably a J then

[Ptah]

How much do you really care about earthquakes, tornadoes and natural mayhem around the world?

How much? This much: to the extent that the news has anything whatsoever to do with my life and my ability to continue living it as I prefer.

Practically, this boils down to much much if at all.

"Not my problem" and I move on.

If I dwell on the (say,) tragic news, it will only be to listen to the wording and tone used to convey the information; the bias and/or emotionalism, if not outright agenda being conveyed above (if not at the expense of) the facts of the matter.

Then I laugh and/or sneer, depending on my mood unrelated otherwise, and then move on.


Since I am mostly disinterested about this kind of news in the world, I find it fascinating that there are people who are really buzzed up about this sort of thing.


Me too, when there's clearly no reason for them to give a shit either. Your world keeps turning, people. Do you prefer to be happy or whine about the state of the world? The answer seems pretty obvious when you wail on about this or that thing entirely unrelated to your evident, practical ability to continue on as you were.

[mxmxmx]

I am intellectually drawn to destruction, and will watch raw footage if available through the internet. (I have very little interest in media reports.) Many times such events will make for fascinating documentaries that encompass not just the event itself, but the history of the area, as well as the inevitable getting on with life that follows. My personal interest will be piqued if I have visited the affected area, or know someone from the area - even in passing.

I have never donated any money to any cause whatsoever in my life, but have no problem volunteering if I can be of immediate and practical utility.

There is one thing I can't handle though - footage of animals in distress. Can't do it. And acts of kindness by humans to animals in distress or need completely melt my heart.
I did experience visceral contempt and sadness during the first couple of years of the Iraq War, but then I found peace in misanthropy.

[Spartan26]

I've donated money and clothes. Do some volunteer work locally for some intl orgs. Say a quick prayer. Maybe not too much of that. That usually prods me into getting off my butt and doing something and really I have enough "poor bastards" close to me that take up too much of my time as it is. I'm really not on a quest to save everyone. It does make my head spin sometimes to sit in the comfort of my living room and see destruction in areas of abject poverty. Then I'll get an e-mail from someone mention someone close to them who has just been diagnosed w/cancer and then think it's all relative.

I'm not much for pity and find the people who do often be the ones who perpetually suck the life out of things. I know just thinking about people in bad situations doesn't exactly help the people themselves but people who do often go out of their way to be nice to people around them. Even if it's just a day where some loud mouth obnoxious co-worker lends a hand to help someone else get a project done, it sorta elevates the mood of the office for a couple of hours.

I don't feel guilty when I don't do anything. At least not for very long. Like a phone call asking for a pledge. Would often love to give but I'm not exactly crapping out money myself. But then 30 secs later I'm onto something else. I don't get a gushy warm feeling when I do give either. 30 secs later I'm onto something else.

[Chunes]

If you care about all the tragedies on the other side of the planet then I can't imagine you're very free of neuroses.

Not giving a shit is the only way not to go insane..

Sometimes I wish a huge natural disaster would strike where I live, make life a bit interesting perhaps.