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Comment by only-one1701 | Hacker News Reader

When you see how much suffering is allotted to those less lucky than yourself it’s natural to feel a little bad or guilty. It shows that you care about the wellbeing of others. Not helpful to beat yourself up but to shrug your shoulders and go “sucks to suck” is bad.

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I've traveled to some of the poorest parts of the world. I try to donate regularly to the less fortunate. Yet, I've never felt guilt. What does guilt have to do with admitting the world is a cruel place?

Why do you donate? Do you owe them anything? No. Yet, you still donate. But how much do you donate? Why that amount and not nearly everything? Surely there are people in need!

Can donations be egoistic? Wanting to improve others lives will lead to a better world also for me, even if that's one dime a time.

You are right. I haven't thought about donations possibly not being altruistic, but there actually are such ones. Personally I would say we need separate words to distinguish egoistic charity/donations from the altruistic ones.

But how does donating to some poor people abroad benefits you?

The word "faith" is sufficient to describe the discordance here.

A person cannot be reasoned out of a position they didn't reason themselves into.

I believe you are misunderstanding empathy. Putting yourself in the shoe of the other and feeling his pain does not necessarily leads to guilt.

I don't recall suggesting that it must.

(I do recall saying suggesting that people will not be swayed from whatever they believe on this matter, though.)

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