Philanthropy

ballysmate

What makes someone who is uber rich, turn to philanthropy? There have been many famous philanthropists over the years, such as John Paul Getty and more recently Bill Gates. But why does someone who has chased the dollar all his life, suddenly feel the need for generosity? Is it a genuine desire to aid his fellow man or a desire to enhance his reputation and look good? Perhaps it's a desire to edge his bets in case there is a divine being and he needs smarty points.

daviesee

Once you have more than you want you can give the rest away.
Simple.

Pross

Thing is, have they chased the dollar all their life or did they just happen to make loads of money doing something they loved? It's certainly easier to be generous when you still have the personal wealth to live a life of luxury though.

team47b

Noblesse oblige.

Whoever claims to be noble must conduct himself nobly.

Not really altruism, but close enough

seanoconn

I'm half way there. I've got the ragged trousers.

arran77

daviesee wrote:

Once you have more than you want you can give the rest away.
Simple.

This pretty much, once you have all that you need / want in life what good is all that money anyway, it must just then be a status thing surely?

VTech

There are many reasons, many causes.
Tax write-off can be one.
Wanting to share can be another.
Feeling sad for others.
Wondering if there is something to do good for.
Mortality ?

My issue is that between us we can fix everything that can be fixed financially. I am happy to give anything I have or earn if it helped someone else. Money buys possessions, they are not so important.

VTech

Pross wrote:

spen666 wrote:

arran77 wrote:

daviesee wrote:

Once you have more than you want you can give the rest away.
Simple.

I like to think that if had serious wealth then I would act in that way - I've never quite understood these people who have so much money they look for things to waste it on when it could be going to help others. I just don't see how anyone can be so self-centred they would spend thousands filling a bath with champagne just because they can and don't know what else to do with their wealth.

I think the point is that when you get to a certain point you lose touch at the start and only after time realise that you can do more/other things with the money.

arran77

Well lets see if spen666 has the kahunas to come back on here and explain themselves, somehow I imagine they won't :roll:

BTW, the naughty step is great, especially when it involves Super Nanny

secretsam

arran77 wrote:

Well lets see if spen666 has the kahunas to come back on here and explain themselves, somehow I imagine they won't :roll:

Cojones, even?

arran77 wrote:

BTW, the naughty step is great, especially when it involves Super Nanny

And I thought it was only me who had a secret "thing" about her

arran77

SecretSam wrote:

arran77 wrote:

Well lets see if spen666 has the kahunas to come back on here and explain themselves, somehow I imagine they won't :roll:

Cojones, even?

arran77 wrote:

BTW, the naughty step is great, especially when it involves Super Nanny

And I thought it was only me who had a secret "thing" about her

Sounds like we mean the same thing....

Kahuna

Australian slang for testicles. Probably came about as a confusion between spanish cohones and hawaiian kahuna.

"Wait a second, he told the cop he was full of shit? Guy must have some pretty big kahunas.…"

Oh yeah Super Nanny, she can discipline me any day

Mikey23

So how would you define serious wealth and what is 'enough'?

mamba80

Maybe the supa rich folk just realise that they really dont need everything they ve worked for and they genuinely like to see the happiness their money can bring to an individual or a community?

Or maybe its guilt at how many people they crushed on the way up :twisted:

Frank the tank

I think it could well just be human nature.

I would bet most of us on here give to charity to a greater/lesser degree on a regular basis; and I would bet we've all had the fantasy of winning a fortune on the lottery and planning the good causes we would support and projects we'd aid.

ugo.santalucia

PLease keep this thread within the rules or I'll delete it altogether.

team47b

---

What does that mean?

---

arran77

ugo.santalucia wrote:

PLease keep this thread within the rules or I'll delete it altogether.

Lock it, spen666 is clearly not going to come back and justify his outburst :roll:

the playing mantis

arran77 wrote:

SecretSam wrote:

arran77 wrote:

Well lets see if spen666 has the kahunas to come back on here and explain themselves, somehow I imagine they won't :roll:

Cojones, even?

arran77 wrote:

BTW, the naughty step is great, especially when it involves Super Nanny

And I thought it was only me who had a secret "thing" about her

Sounds like we mean the same thing....

Kahuna

Australian slang for testicles. Probably came about as a confusion between spanish cohones and hawaiian kahuna.

"Wait a second, he told the cop he was full of shoot? Guy must have some pretty big kahunas.…"

Oh yeah Super Nanny, she can discipline me any day

yo mean one these belters, non?

Mikey23

Private initiatives for public good focussing on quality of life as per wiki

For me, a genuine desire to aid fellow man giving money, time and talents where appropriate. I can't speak for mr gates but whatever his motivation he is doing remarkable works. If anyone is interested, I will try to recall what we are involved in. Not to boast but to illustrate what is possible.

cornerblock

ugo.santalucia wrote:

PLease keep this thread within the rules or I'll delete it altogether.

Why was my post deleted?

daviesee

Cornerblock wrote:

ugo.santalucia wrote:

PLease keep this thread within the rules or I'll delete it altogether.

Why was my post deleted?

It broke the rules.
Fuck the rules.

ballysmate

I think we can all appreciate people who for whatever reason donate large sums of money to worthy causes and make an appreciable difference. Whether it is for altruistic reasons, to make themselves feel good or to show off, ultimately it doesn't matter.
On a smaller scale, I am sure most of us have encountered someone down the pub or perhaps at work, who tries that bit too hard, using their wealth to buy friends or popularity.

arran77

Cornerblock wrote:

ugo.santalucia wrote:

PLease keep this thread within the rules or I'll delete it altogether.

Why was my post deleted?

Because for some bizarre reason you got singled out here, spen666 is the person who should have been picked up on but as yet has not (apart from posts being deleted which is a shame as it showed spen to be a stirrer) :roll:

mrfpb

I recall back in the 90's when the economy was at it's best for decades there was a surge in applications to Voluntary Service Overseas from succesful professionals who just wanted to check out of there careers for a while. Apparently earning lots of money wasn't as satisfying as we thought.

In the words of Lily Tomlin: "The trouble with the Rat Race- even if you win, you're still a rat!"

Feel free to add that to your signature.

Mikey23

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... -dead.html

Interesting piece which gives the motives and motivation of one person. Apologies if this has already been done

Mikey23

That's an amazing quote... I want the last cheque I write to bounce

meursault

It's guilt, and the realisation that chasing the dollar was a life wasted.

arran77

Mikey23 wrote:

That's an amazing quote... I want the last cheque I write to bounce

What the one to the undertaker

meursault

Mikey23 wrote:

That's an amazing quote... I want the last cheque I write to bounce

At the risk of being accused of an economic determinist, that could capitalism's sign off note.

Mikey23

So is economic philanthropism a more acceptable form of capitalism?
The Gates foundation seem to be putting this forward as an economic model...

meursault

Mikey23 wrote:

So is economic philanthropism a more acceptable form of capitalism?
The Gates foundation seem to be putting this forward as an economic model...

Nah you can't reform it. It seems a nice idea, lets all be nice, but the bottom line dictates reality.