41–50 of 344 posts
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Help is merely the illusion of help in the UK. Why? So people like you can point to it and say "look you're fine" and get on with their day without giving it any thought.
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> But ignorance is a choice. Is that true for this case? Understanding the actual on-the-ground situation for all types of people and situations in the 10 largest countries will probably take up most of a normal human lifespan. And that's assuming they spend several hours a week, 50 weeks a year, learning. Understanding India and China alone to that level would probably take up 30-40 years. It seems literally impossi…
When you consider the actual context of the essay and that the person to whom the author is speaking directly is the sister of an MP and herself a MEP, this kind of well-actually does ring hollow.
"And my main point is that poverty and privilege are largely accidental. You don’t choose to be born into an income bracket, a country pile, a housing estate, a double barrelled name or a damp tenement bedsit. But ignorance is a choice. And choosing to use your privileges to patronise people whose lives are entirely beyond your experience and comprehension, is a choice."
> And choosing to use your privileges to patronise people whose lives are entirely beyond your experience and comprehension, is a choice Not sure how that way of thinking is productive. Patronising people is bad in itself. Thinking that people you perceive as "privileged" can't comprehend you is a choice too and a form of ignorance.
In my experience they can't, and I do have experience in this.
In one example, a few years ago I worked with some extremely rich people. I mean, exceedingly rich. Once kept negotiating on everything, even if it was to only save a few pounds. I asked for a little cash advance (£180) to allow me to do some work for them (I was very skint then). The guy said he would give it to me - provided I committed to working for them for six months.
Well, nice try but I had my pride so it was a No anyway.
It was not done in any way nastily, to him it was a game and he didn't mean to hurt me, but he literally had no idea of how things could be to other people. He had never in his life had to live off loss-leader baked beans and bread. I've a fair number of rich people and they can't understand the struggle it can be for others. This is first hand experience and multiple data points.
Edit: the ££ involved corrected
"And my main point is that poverty and privilege are largely accidental. You don’t choose to be born into an income bracket, a country pile, a housing estate, a double barrelled name or a damp tenement bedsit. But ignorance is a choice. And choosing to use your privileges to patronise people whose lives are entirely beyond your experience and comprehension, is a choice."
> But ignorance is a choice. No, it's not always a choice. You might be born in a family and community that actively brainwashes their members and prevents you from coming into contact with conflicting information. This can even be true in less severe circumstances, such as being bombarded with propaganda on social media, which essentially hacks your brain.
They are talking about public figures lecturing poor people on how they should behave.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
> But ignorance is a choice. No, it's not always a choice. You might be born in a family and community that actively brainwashes their members and prevents you from coming into contact with conflicting information. This can even be true in less severe circumstances, such as being bombarded with propaganda on social media, which essentially hacks your brain.
I had a friend from a rough upbringing who called it, "poverty mindset". Eg you have a success in your life? Prepare to be shunned and thought of with disdain by your community.
"And my main point is that poverty and privilege are largely accidental. You don’t choose to be born into an income bracket, a country pile, a housing estate, a double barrelled name or a damp tenement bedsit. But ignorance is a choice. And choosing to use your privileges to patronise people whose lives are entirely beyond your experience and comprehension, is a choice."
> And choosing to use your privileges to patronise people whose lives are entirely beyond your experience and comprehension, is a choice Not sure how that way of thinking is productive. Patronising people is bad in itself. Thinking that people you perceive as "privileged" can't comprehend you is a choice too and a form of ignorance.
"And my main point is that poverty and privilege are largely accidental. You don’t choose to be born into an income bracket, a country pile, a housing estate, a double barrelled name or a damp tenement bedsit. But ignorance is a choice. And choosing to use your privileges to patronise people whose lives are entirely beyond your experience and comprehension, is a choice."
> But ignorance is a choice. No, it's not always a choice. You might be born in a family and community that actively brainwashes their members and prevents you from coming into contact with conflicting information. This can even be true in less severe circumstances, such as being bombarded with propaganda on social media, which essentially hacks your brain.
I know neither the "product of environment" or "personal responsibility" view is absolute with anyone, but I've noticed that different people draw the line in widely different places.