| > "context dissonance" I like that and think it fits here. Some people can't imagine picking up litter or caring for the elderly
as anything but torture and humiliation. For others, the chance to do
it, to feel valued is what makes life. Context might be that you
became unemployed and just got sick of seeing garbage in your street. During the pandemic cabin fever drove me out to do volunteering at the
church and vaccine drop-ins. I volunteered a lot in my 20s. Homeless patrols handing out blankets
etc. The typical "Kibbutznik" doesn't go to dig soil expecting it to
be a picnic, but to satisfy a bunch of other drives. At a certain age
you have a ton of energy, a desire to meet people, and the world you
know seems too small. Of course that's always a good recruitment chance for armies, but I
was taken with William James' "Moral equivalent of war", at least the
abstract ideas and insightful social psychology. There are thousands
of environmental and rebuilding projects that need doing - but won't
get done - because it falls outside the realm of "capital". The problem is when profitable interests and corporate workflows
intersect with altruistic labour supply. It's obvious the most cynical
sort of exploitation is afoot. Many large organised charities suffer
from being poisoned that way, I've heard. I guess before volunteering for an org these days one should do a lot
of diligence, check out who runs things, who they're associated with,
and whose ethics are behind whet you see on face value. |