[marchdown]

Thank you for that. That's the stance that I naturally gravitate to, but one I have been doubting lately. Your comment is encouraging.

This might not be the most effective way to steer your resources towards common good, but there's this persnickety failure scenario where a man in need may receive material support but still lack a human connection and a sense of belonging.

Of course, you're still literally trading off human lives for a warm fuzzy feeling of personal involvement.

I'm looking forward to Peter Singer's upcoming Coursera lectures on effective altruism, I want to see him develop this position with rigor. Meanwhile http://www.givewell.org/ has a good analysis.

[cdcarter]

I want to give a signal boost to this Coursera. I didn't know Singer was going to be teaching this class, and it's going to be great.

https://www.coursera.org/learn/altruism