[tycho77]

Okay. I'll try and explain why you're being downvoted.

Every time someone wealthy donates a whole lot of money to a philanthropic cause, people like you pop up in the comment section. "Oh it doesn't matter, it's only X% of his net worth, that's the same as me only donating Y". Seriously, you followed this template almost to the letter.

First, charity isn't a competition over who can sacrifice the most. At the end of the day, that $500,000 helps Wikipedia five thousand times more than your $100. More, probably, because his donation raises the profile and will convince others to donate. Second, people aren't "expected" to give anything, regardless of how much money they have.

I think the thing that annoys me the most is how obvious it is you came in here with preconceived anti-rich notions and then did mental gymnastics to convince yourself that you're "a better person" than this incredibly generous man. If you want to spread that kind of negativity around, go back to Slashdot.

I'm sure someone can articulate this better than I can, but seriously. These sorts of posts just piss me off.

[_delirium]

Second, people aren't "expected" to give anything, regardless of how much money they have.

That's actually something philosophers of ethics (not to mention theologians and regular people) disagree on considerably; there is a pretty big range of positions on charity as a choice and/or obligation that are widely held and defended. The "never an ethical obligation" view is one, but probably isn't the majority one, though it's more popular now than it was in previous eras. But an HN thread about Sergey Brin probably isn't a good place to settle that debate...

[ak217]

> If you want to spread that kind of negativity around, go back to Slashdot.

I'm sorry to nitpick, but while we're discussing appropriateness and lack thereof, can you avoid saying things like that? There is no constructive purpose that that mention could possibly serve.

[cellis]

  First, charity isn't a competition over who can sacrifice the most. 
  At the end of the day, that $500,000 helps Wikipedia 
  five thousand times more than your $100. More, probably,  
  because his donation raises the profile and will convince  
  others to donate. Second, people aren't "expected" to give 
  anything, regardless of how much money they have.

But rich people are expected to give something to society, the same way powerful people are expected to use their power for good, and smart people are expected to contribute scientific breakthroughs and engineering feats, not build throwing sheep apps. The concept of noblesse oblige is the definition of this expectation. Perhaps you meant that they aren't required to give anything. No one is required to do anything except obey the law. Perhaps people shouldn't expect the wealthy to give, but that doesn't change the fact that they do.

Furthermore, it could easily be argued that Sergey Brin benefits far more from Wikipedia's existence (perhaps 5,000 times more) than ajross, and this donation is him showing his appreciation for that benefit.

However, I do agree with you on his self-righteousness, that is uncalled for. It is quite irksome to see someone criticize anyone for volunteering a large amount of their hard earned money.

[lhnn]

>Charity isn't a competition

Ask a Christian that. A rich man giving a lot doesn't mean anything if it isn't a sacrifice. Just like doing good things for the humanly recognition isn't the way to give. So says Matthew).

Just sayin'.

[TeMPOraL]

That story was about persons' personal relationship with God as determined not by absolute value of material terms, but as a sacrifice from pure heart relative to one's abilities. Just ask that any Christian who actually understands what he reads.

[lhnn]

Point to the part where I'm wrong.

[methane]

Religion is true