The Ethics of Spending

Somewhere_

Somewhere_

i don't know where
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    So I saw a girl in my class on her phone donating money to a fundraiser for this kid in a different grade to buy a bunch of food at Hooters.

    And it got me thinking: Why donate $5 or whatever amount to these joke or inconsequential fundraisers when that same $5 can go to a fundraiser for charity?

    But at the same time, dont we all do this everyday? We buy products and items that we dont need. Every dollar we spend on the newest Pokemon game is a dollar not going towards people who truly need that money.

    So where should the line be drawn? Should we focus on crowdfunding important things, but ignore our hypocrisy? If we are to be consistent, should we only be spending money on our needs instead of fulfilling our wants?

    (this thread can be expanded past a discussion on crowdfunding websites to the broader question)
     
    I believe that there needs to be a balance. I very much believe in "from each according to their means, to each according to their needs" and I think to some extent we do all need to contribute to help society and to look out for our fellow human beings - and the more we have the more we should be prepared to give.

    By that same token though, we deserve to spend our money on things that make us happy too and lots of people contributing small amounts to charity can equal quite a lot leaving plenty for individuals to spend on themselves.

    So I don't think the idea of spending on yourself is mutually exclusive with charity. It's possible to do both.
     
    There's a difference between buying frivolous bullshit for ourselves and giving some loser $5 on a crowdfunding site so they can buy something they absolutely don't need. And trust me, if you're e-begging for something unnecessary to your overall being, you're a loser.
     
    I try not to concern myself with what other people spend their money on. I don't think anyone is fundamentally obligated to give to charity and I don't think anyone has the right to judge what anyone else wants to spend their money on so long as they're not harming others.
     
    To an extent this is what taxes are for so most of us are already indirectly doing this. We just don't have much say in where that money is going to. Aside from voting for the governments who distribute it, that is.

    I think the core idea is about what the money is going to and whether that is a "good" cause or not. Spending money to feed, clothe, and shelter yourself and others is unquestionably important and necessary, but we're not robots and we do need things to make life feel worth living. That means art, culture, community, entertainment, rest, and relaxation. We might drop $40 to play Pokemon, which to some might seem frivolous, but if you're like me it gives you a way to relax and unwind after working all day long. For someone else to question how I spend my money is, ultimately, to question whether I deserve the money I have, and any money that anyone has. If all money is suspect then we're lead to ask about the effect of money and the real concerns behind money. That is, whether people have shelter and culture and all of that. I think the natural conclusion of all this is to question a system that gives money to people who have all the necessities while it withholds it from people who lack basic necessities.
     
    I also sometimes crowdfund "non-important" things that are not related to some sort of charity for health or disaster, but that's because I want creativity or other technical efforts (on a low budget) to be encouraged and rewarded too.

    And no, I don't ever think of buying games as a waste of money. I am supporting the developers of the game so that they can make more games.
     
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