How Should I Think About Charity?

[Neutral]

I've recently sold a collection of entertainment media, like games, music and videos and I'm feeling ambivalent about it.

If I think "entertainment media" is a distraction, was I wrong to sell to them or should that decision to them?

Are we passing the buck when we give our "useless" items to others?


Related P.S. -
Steve, are you ambivalent about (formerly?) selling entertainment media? How do you frame your past "mistakes"?

[ericwmontgomery]

This is a great question. I'm thinking about selling most of my CD and DVD collection right now, so it's something I'll have to consider as well... On the one hand, we're not doing anyone any good by holding onto things we no longer want or need. If the potential buyers want entertainment, they're going to get it one way or another.

But does the "they're going to get it one way or another, whether they get it from me or someone else" defense hold up? If so, maybe I should go sell drugs to high-school kids. Great business opportunity there.

Anyway, I will be selling my entertainment stuff because I feel like it will be mutually beneficial. They'll get the entertainment they feel is a priority in their life, I'll get a couple dollars, and I'll be rid of stuff taking up time and space in my life. I believe it would be presumptuous of me to think I know what makes other people happy, and to keep from them something they might enjoy. ... But I won't sell drugs.

[Neutral]

I realized entertainment also has a multiplier effect "Lets watch this DVD, guys!"....one potato, two potato, three couch potatoes!

Am I'm on the outs morally three times over?

The environmental impact too, all that plastic. Disk are already outmoded and humans resources will have to more this bulk around, that's a waste.

Am I interpreting this wrong?

[Old Soul]

If I think "entertainment media" is a distraction, was I wrong to sell to them or should that decision to them?

It is only wrong if you sold it against what your consicience allows, and it is only wrong to you not to them for buying

[jaamkie]

I've been thinking about the same thing, but mostly regarding non-vegan items... I have pearls given to me by family, have stopped wearing them out of guilt but don't know what to do with them... just randomly giving them away seems like just passing on something bad; but at the same time the damage is already done, and maybe giving them to someone who would otherwise go buy a new set would reduce demand by one? meh... gave my TV to my lil sis who would've otherwise bought a new one, so feel ok about that one...

[Ak47]

An Ethics instructor i had... one of the nicest lady's i'd ever met...

she was a movie critic. Saw movies all the time.

People get enjoyment out of different things. So what if you dismiss "entertainment" someone else doesn't have to if it's what they like. What if someone who hated music ruled the world? How depressing indeed!

Everyone is entitled to happiness if you ask me, no matter how it is obtained (except for obvious exceptions; rape, murder, theft, etc).

So, don't look at it as ruining someone else in some way because... in reality you might just be helping them!

One persons trash is another persons treasure!

[simplystephen]

As my name suggests, I love simplifying and try to live a minimalist life. Consumer products do not add to happiness, though a nice bottle of red wine does. But seriously, when I needed to get rid of things, I'd first try to sell them, unless someone I knew wanted them, then I'd donate them.

Here's a couple of aspects to look at are eluding you....you may be giving someone else pleasure from having the item and you are helping the environment by reducing what goes in the trash and reducing a new product purchase. The real problem is consumerism but that's up to each of us to change in our own way. So if someone can enjoy them, give em away.

[ken nubo]

Sometimes distraction could be a good thing for a person on their death bed.