In my first school, if I couldnt finish my lunch and it had to be tipped away, I was scorned with "People are starving in Africa". That struck me as a retarded thing to say, even when I was 5.

As far as I'm concerned, 99% of the time, this kind of dishonest argument comes from people who do absolutely zilch themselves and feel annoyed by other people's efforts to actually accomplish something. They immediately drag out some issue they couldn't have cared less about just 10 seconds earlier, in order to brush the topic aside with as little effort as possible - to comfortably go on not thinking about either of the two issues.

It is distantly related to that science news phenomenon - whenever some scientific accomplishment is mentioned in the media, the cretins come out of the woodwork decrying the waste of money, that should have instead gone to feeding the poor, or something.

I think you're right. They feel they've done their duty by simply mentioning it, while handily avoiding a more local problem.

(January 7, 2015 at 10:39 am)robvalue Wrote: In my first school, if I couldnt finish my lunch and it had to be tipped away, I was scorned with "People are starving in Africa". That struck me as a retarded thing to say, even when I was 5.

I once had an elementary school teacher who fantasized about making us students eat while watching pictures of starving African children to teach us humility. Too bad the hypocritical piece of shit is already dead.

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(January 7, 2015 at 10:44 am)robvalue Wrote: I think you're right. They feel they've done their duty by simply mentioning it, while handily avoiding a more local problem.

And if that doesn't work, you can always pray over it!

What the hell? Man that is messed up. All that teaches you is that he is a sick monkey. How about organising fundraising instead? Or just not being a piece of shit?

(January 7, 2015 at 10:48 am)robvalue Wrote: What the hell? Man that is messed up. All that teaches you is that he is a sick monkey. How about organising fundraising instead? Or just not being a piece of shit?

She. Nah, she obviously cared more about showing us immoral kids, than actually doing something. She once told me while I was in second grade that she was not sure whether she could keep someone immoral like me in her religious instruction class or so, because I had accidentally broken something. Those were the days... she died in her late 50s, probably from her own piety.

How will we cope without her.

I completely agree with the OP

There's nothing wrong with discussing Africa or "third world problems" in general, wanting change for Africa even if you are not African is definitely a good thing.

However, these arguments are often used to present a "holier-than-thou" image of moral superiority. This person does not really care about Africa, they just bring it up to try validating their views with a "look at how caring I am" theme, and they can keep it. If you really care about third world problems, sign up for Oxfam or go one step further and get yourself out there to do some charity work. I was privileged to work as part of a team on a small project in Laos in 2012, it's far more rewarding than simply saying "I care about poverty in Asia", without evidence.

These arguments are also used to derail important conversations that need to be had about oppression in the West. Yes, I think we can agree women are treated harsher in Islamic countries than they are in America, and there are conversations that need to be had about Islam's treatment of women. However, that doesn't mean it's right or relatively petty when an American woman is catcalled or raped. It's still wrong.

(January 7, 2015 at 11:13 am)NuclearJaguar Wrote: Yes, I think we can agree women are treated harsher in Islamic countries than they are in America, and there are conversations that need to be had about Islam's treatment of women. However, that doesn't mean it's right or relatively petty when an American woman is catcalled or raped. It's still wrong.

Exactly. Sometimes they seem to want to make it an either/or situation.
Like... "Why are you helping homeless animals in the States while there's starving children in Africa?"
"Oh that's right. I forgot about that bizarre law of physics that makes it physically impossible for me to help animals here while *at the same time* you help children there. Speaking of which... exactly what are you doing to help those children now?"

I also think using this argument is offensive to people who might suffer problems in the west - Let's imagine the case of gays, saying we shouldn't care about gay marriage because of Africa is something an LGBT person would probably not like to hear and rightfully feel offended by. It's also easier to use this argument when you in specific don't have any problems, people who are good with life tend to dismiss other's issues since they haven't been trough it themselves - It actually doesn't mean you can't talk about something you've never experienced, but it's something that should be done carefully and thoughtfully. Saying "Oh rape is not that bad" or "oh being robbed is not that bad" when both can be a traumatizing experience is a sign of that.