Chapter 7: Cyberbeg.com and Online Begging
In Chapter 7 of The Genius of Money we learn a little about
the rich origins and history of begging. The author talks about the cross class
interaction of giving money to a beggar and the associated benefits for both
parties when a donation is made. From a beggars standpoint they receive a
financial gift that they can use to better their quality of life, and from a
donors point of view they are giving to the less needy. It is a conscious self-imposed choice that
leads one to the path of enlightenment. There is a sense of connection between
you and the person you are donating to, even for a split second.
With the rise of new technology, specifically a website
called Cyberbeg.com people can now go online to donate to your local homeless
or beggar. This relatively new idea
adds additional value for the common beggars as they can now be exposed to more
people than they otherwise would begging on the streets, but it also grants
them physical relief of having to stand in the streets and beg. They can go do
something else with their time. For beggars perhaps this idea is a win, but the
author discusses his experience with the site. Not only does he mention he
wouldn’t want to visit such a site, which I completely agree with, but he talks
about how he felt like a consumer rather than a donor when using the site.
There was no spiritual connection or sense compassion when donating through an
online portal.
What do you guys think, would it make a difference to you
guys when you donate? Which do you prefer?
Chapter 15: The Transcendentalist and
the Immigrant
In Chapter 15 we are introduced
to two different approaches of money in America. The first are the views of
Ralph Waldo Emerson who proposes that almost all people who are wealthy have
that wealth because they inherited it and the wealth stays amongst the wealthy.
He dislikes this idea and questions it. He believes that the wealthy are
shaping the unequal distribution of wealth and that nobody should have the
right. Emerson instructs the rich to channel their inner transcendentalist and
help those who are less fortunate. His ideas would lead to the “evolution of
public charities in America.
Different from Emerson, Eva
Hoffman focuses on the relationship of money and people’s personal desires. She
wonders if what people desire is actually what they want or a product of
advertising and other social influences. She believes that desire is more
heavily correlated to the worldly and material rather than the spiritual. Both
Emerson and Hoffman discuss the difference between spiritual and materialistic
and how one must channel their spiritual side to find deeper meaning. I think
both Emerson and Hoffman have profound thoughts on the subject and offer interesting
styles of delivering their message.
The spiritual connection is so real when I donated money to beggars. As technology advances, it is not surprising that there is website like this emerges. But I personally think donating on website will give me a different feeling, which is, less genuine.
ReplyDeleteI think to donate money I would want to see where it was going. The issue with just handing people money is they tend to not allocate it to the best places.
ReplyDeleteI think donating on the internet makes it easy to see where the money is going to. There is always record on the internet.
ReplyDeleteIn contrast, handling money on the street, we don't have any records to hold people responsibility.
I never knew there's a website that is donates to the homeless. It's a very interesting concept, and I question its credibility. How does the money get to the homeless and how much of it actually does? But like many commented above, donating online is different than giving in person.
ReplyDeleteWho ever thought there was a "history of begging"-it seems like a reasonable topic to write about but never one that most people would read about.
ReplyDeleteWhen it comes to donating money to the poor I like to see where my money is going and how it will be put to use.
I actually always thought that beggars on the street would have a better chance at better lives if they weren't on the street so I like the concept of the website. However, I do have to agree that while it's good to donate money, I'm sometimes afraid that the money will be used for bad intentions.
ReplyDeleteOh mama! I cant believe you could intertwine the power of donating to the homeless with the internet. It shows the power of internet today!
ReplyDeleteThe website is only another example of so many charity and political/social cause sites that operate online. I don't think it greatly diminishes the act in a spiritual sense. I think the author is just being traditional.
ReplyDeleteAnd I think Ralph Waldo Emerson was spot-on. Though there are many examples of rags to riches stories in America, it is still relatively uncommon today.
I agree with what you mean about the disconnect of the action being carried out. However, if you are donating for a good cause you believe in does it really matter how its done? Online or in person?
ReplyDeleteI appreciated that you tossed questions at us at the end of your post! I agree with you - I have always believed that there is a humanistic aspect to giving back to others in person, and to be able to do things in person adds a whole other depth to your actions than donating money impersonally.
ReplyDeleteI think the best part about donating to someone is seeing the happiness and reaction of the receiver. It fulfills the human need to give back and will also be an experience you won't forget. If you simply donate through a website, that sense of humanity is lost. Furthermore, you do not even know if your money will actually get to the homeless that is advertised.
ReplyDeletePersonally I think that the homeless could benefit better from a job program, that's something I'd be likely to donate to. I think everyone always deserves another chance to get back on their feet.
ReplyDelete