You gotta be kidding...

[jelerak]

...now this just pisses me off.

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-120673 ... l?ITO=1490

I cannot believe that they are outfitting friggin' elephants with prostetic legs anywhere...but Thailand???

I cannot even begin to imagine the amount of Thai children that must be in that third world hellhole that are afflicted by much worse that have gotten absolutely no help from their government whatsoever. To see time and resources put into prosthetic limbs for animals is beyond imaginable.

Again, how this could be rationalized in even far better off countires would boggle the mind.

Elephants???

[Loredoctor]

I don't see the issue. The government is not paying for it, it's a charity and if people want to worry about kids they should donate money to that. Besides, there are fewer elephants than people.

I'd prefer to help an elephant than a human any day.

[jelerak]

It's just a recurring issue and theme that I have a problem with...that is when the care and consideration of animals is put in front of the care and consideration of humans.

Yes, it is a charity.

Yes, I do not have a right to tell others where there money should go.

I just have a serious problem when people put their time and resources into something like this when there is so much more wrong with the world that needs to be addressed.

So what if a couple of elephants are hobbling around on 3 legs. So what if they can't live 'til the end of there normal lifespan because of that fact. I say elephant steaks and elephant burgers for everybody! They don't know any better...they are animals, they adapt. That is what they do.

These self righteous bastards who donate their time and money to these resources should open up their eyes to what is really happening in the world around them.

[Lord Mhoram]

Yeah, I totally sympathize, jelerak. This summer I worked as a researcher for a development office at a major charity. Part of my job was to research foundations that might be inclined to donate to the charity I worked for, and I used an online grantmakers directory to do that. You wouldn't believe (or maybe you would) how much money private high schools and elementary schools receive (there are a lot of them in Massachusetts); how much money Harvard, MIT, and other private universities receive; how much money swanky Boston-area theaters receive. I could go on and on listing already-wealthy, privileged institutions which just rake in the dough from private foundations, while charities providing vitally important services to poor people struggle to keep a balanced budget.

[High Lord Tolkien]

I don't see the issue. The government is not paying for it, it's a charity and if people want to worry about kids they should donate money to that. Besides, there are fewer elephants than people.

I agree.

I'd prefer to help an elephant than a human any day.

Boy, you really did get burned out working in the prison system didn't you?

[Loredoctor]

Yes, it is a charity.

Yes, I do not have a right to tell others where there money should go.

That's it.

I just have a serious problem when people put their time and resources into something like this when there is so much more wrong with the world that needs to be addressed.

So let's stop everything and assess what requires more assistance.

At the end of the day, it's one elephant that has been helped. How many kids could have been assisted with that money? Well, maybe a child could have been brought through school, or maybe that money could have been spent elsewhere. Chances are, it wouldn't have gone anywhere. But I can imagine what this one act with an elephant has done. It's highlighted the landmine issue, it's brought the elephant sanctuary to the world's attention, and it's made some people happy.

"Let's stop the military budgets, sports, research grants, etc etc." Or what have you done?;)

I say elephant steaks and elephant burgers for everybody! They don't know any better...they are animals, they adapt. That is what they do.

Elephants are becoming an endangered species. They are not adapting very well. Humans are doing better, we really don't need the help. But if you think they do, drop all those extra expenses and donate to them. Don't 'preach' to others how to spend their money.

These self righteous bastards who donate their time and money to these resources should open up their eyes to what is really happening in the world around them.

What's to say they aren't? Further, aren't you being self righteous in return?

I don't mean to sound angry.

[Loredoctor]

Boy, you really did get burned out working in the prison system didn't you?

Always been somewhat of a misanthropist.

[Rigel]

I cannot even begin to imagine the amount of Thai children that must be in that third world hellhole that are afflicted by much worse that have gotten absolutely no help from their government whatsoever. To see time and resources put into prosthetic limbs for animals is beyond imaginable.

You're right, of course. I'm so glad I live in such a developed and enlightened country, where we've solved all our issues with social inequality, poverty, and hunger, that I am able to justify criticizing private citizens for helping animals half the world away.

Those b*stards should really get their act together.

[jelerak]

It is a simple argument for me really.

Hmmm...help crippled animals or help crippled children.

Yeah, pretty simple for me.

[sgt.null]

why not help both?

[Zarathustra]

I'd prefer to help an elephant than a human any day.

My first response was to think, "WTF?" But after a second of thought, I'd have to say it depends on the human. (Just kidding. I'm with you Jerelak.)

why not help both?

Maybe because funds available at any given time are finite? This necessitates prioritizing. Despite my joke above, I have to agree with Jerelak that children rank higher on my priorities than elephants. But we're not talking about my money, so I don't begrudge people using their own money for different priorities.

Yeah, I totally sympathize, jelerak. This summer I worked as a researcher for a development office at a major charity. Part of my job was to research foundations that might be inclined to donate to the charity I worked for, and I used an online grantmakers directory to do that. You wouldn't believe (or maybe you would) how much money private high schools and elementary schools receive (there are a lot of them in Massachusetts); how much money Harvard, MIT, and other private universities receive; how much money swanky Boston-area theaters receive. I could go on and on listing already-wealthy, privileged institutions which just rake in the dough from private foundations, while charities providing vitally important services to poor people struggle to keep a balanced budget.

Very interesting. Again, I don't feel comfortable telling other people how to use their money, but this is disappointing.

[Loredoctor]

I'd prefer to help an elephant than a human any day.

My first response was to think, "WTF?" But after a second of thought, I'd have to say it depends on the human. (Just kidding. I'm with you Jerelak.)

Nice one.

Knowing you, I'd help you first. Serious.

[Elfgirl]

I'd prefer to help an elephant than a human any day.

I'm with you Lore...overpopulation is the scourge of this planet & the reason we have global warming and all the other crap that goes with too many humans sucking down too much of the planetary resources. When natural disasters occur, I applaud Mother Nature for hitting back...

i only donate to charities which help the planet or the animals on it. Not interested in saving humans in already overpopulated countries. The people who really need help never get it anyway.

[jelerak]

So I take it that when we got hit by Katrina down here you must have been jumping up and down with joy then, eh?

I still have friends who have not been made whole again by everything that they had lost.

[Elfgirl]

So I take it that when we got hit by Katrina down here you must have been jumping up and down with joy then, eh?

I still have friends who have not been made whole again by everything that they had lost.

didn't I say "overpopulated" places? I meant third world toilets who keep producing brats which they can't even feed. But yeah, there are also welfare whores who keep punching out useless brats too...

[Cagliostro]