[s5300]

Little thing called empathy.

Some people are literally incapable of feeling happy no matter what they're doing when they see so many people and friends in utterly fucked situations in life, especially when it's purely because of finances.

If you make quite a bit of money, and have never even remotely felt this way, you may actually be a clinical psychopath (not that this is in any way a bad thing. Really... can't be helped with our current state of medicine, even if the person would want it)

I have a good bit of personal anecdata that psychopaths that are financially better off do seem to enjoy youth-middle age a good bit, but crossing over into older age leads them towards some rather harsh methods of suicide fairly quickly.

Also, on a slightly different note - if all your wants in life are to be able to spend your time playing video games... well, many, many things can be said about this and related to why this person feels the need to financially help others. May want to consider some self reflection... or not. In the end, the world really owes you nothing, nor do you it. Enjoy your time here in whatever way you find yourself able to.

[h1bthrowaway]

The guy was genuinely curious and you go ahead and respond like this. Step back for a bit. What did your comment actually accomplish?

[viraptor]

There's empathy and there's giving away so much you're a step away from making your own life a disaster by giving away everything. I mean, given possible life situations, OP is on average likely to help more people by skipping one or two months of giving and building some buffer to make sure they're able to keep helping in the future. Giving away almost everything goes past plain empathy and is an interesting choice.

[regularemployee]

The replies to your comment is correct. If you are making 300k+ a year, you can borrow money easily for rainy day. I also have many close friends and I have a developed a habit of reaching out for help early when I feel mentally unhealthy. So I think "a step away from making your own life a disaster" is not likely.

"OP is on average likely to help more people" -> A few years ago, I've come to conclude that the goal of achieving "more" is a toxic goal and I've come to accept the mindset of doing just enough. Helping only 1 person is good enough for me, I don't have a desire for helping a statistically significant number of people.

[viraptor]

That was supposed to be "help people more" rather than "help more people", sorry. What I had in mind is that if anyone you're helping comes to rely on your continuous support and you're suddenly unable to work for a year due to health issues, you'll have a problem anyway. Unless you have a home with no mortgage and other people can step in to both support you long term and the people you've been helping.

I'm thinking less of "achieving more giving" and more of "what's the plan when you're current support system fails long term".

[regularemployee]

> "help people more"

Thanks, I agree :)

> If anyone you're helping comes to rely on your continuous support

From my experience, everyone I've helped is trying to get out of the situation so they are not depending on me for 2.5k / month. Compared to a real job, my help is unsustainable in the long run and depends on my job / health / lifestyle. They know that, I think its common sense. Also, 2.5k is not alot of money to rely on for their families.

> and you're suddenly unable to work for a year due to health issues, you'll have a problem anyway.

I have a great network of friends / family. Alot of friends I grew up with, I helped them get jobs in early 2000 and they are all millionaires. My family is not poor either so I think I have a cloud to fall back on (thankfully).

> I'm thinking less of "achieving more giving" and more of "what's the plan when you're current support system fails long term".

Despite a strong support group (family and friends), I'm always prepared for the worst case scenario. I've worked with a homeless person before, someone whom I really respected. I don't mind living homelessly. As long as I am a good person at heart and have good intentions, it doesn't matter what financial situation I live in.

[spoonjim]

Not really, if someone is reliably earning $300K then they can borrow if they have an emergency expense, take money out of their home, etc.

[s5300]

"making your own life a disaster" is purely a view of your own opinion. Stop thinking you know what makes another human being tick.

[pedroma]

Giving money to your low income parents so they can retire early I can understand. I do that.

But that's not what that guy is doing. He gave away everything (except $3k with a $300k income)!

That's like a month's rent in the Bay Area, I'm kind of worried to be honest.

[snypher]

I feel like when they say 'all my money' they probably have other assets. Plus at $300k a year, it's only two weeks until another $11k paycheck, right?

[viraptor]

Unless they are unable to work for a few months due to health issues/accident. Unless they're fired. Etc.

[s5300]

Giving money to other human beings that are emotionally meaningful to you so they don't have to live what's perceived to be a shitty life by the giver or even be turned to commit suicide because of their financial situation (if you don't think this happens regularly congratulations you're ignorant) I can understand :)

Like I said. Enjoy your life of video games - but realize that's not what makes quite a large amount of the population tick.

[pedroma]

I would be more comfortable believing most of the world would rather be playing video games than working 8 hours a day for someone else (other than for their immediate family of course).

But I may be too naive!