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0 pointsunprepare10y ago0 comments

> ride a bike to work.

LOL, in a rural location that you suggested to lower rent? Work is likely to be at least a 20 minute commute by car, more than 15 miles each way for sure. ( the US average commute time is 25.4 minutes) Also, biking to and from work would reduce the time you are able to spend on your altruism even further.

>How about instead of paying for an internet connection you go to a library or hang out at a coffeeshop when you need to use it. Or go in with a neighbor to get it cheaper.

Because no one is going to hire a remote freelancer without an internet connection? are you even serious? this is laughable.

>sell the house

right cutting your expenses is much easier when youre not paying rent, youre right just be homeless! then you can help all the animals you want!

>as far as the student loans go, consolidate them and pay the minimum for as long as you need to.

right, still left with a student loan payment at the end of that, so this doesnt offer any solutions at all.

> luxury of owning and operating a car and move to a region/neighborhood that has much cheaper rent (or take roommates gasp!)

So where do you have in mind? you must have something really specific in mind because i cant think of a single area with very low cost of living and very high bikeable/walkable streets - please enlighten us as to the perfect place to live.

>I don't remember me or anyone else ever saying that in this thread.

right, but youre giving advice that says "you dont need basic income to be altruistic, you can just work remotely and live somewhere cheap, then work less and use your free time to be altruistic"

Wherein the 'working remotely' applies only to a very niche set of jobs (which all universally require an internet connection and specific set of skills)

Sorry man, your hypothetical solution is plainly not realistic.

In order to help save the lives of animals thats what this person should do?

They should:

Move to a low cost of living area

Work at most half as much as you do now (and have a job that is somehow OK with that)

sell your car

sell your house

consolidate all loans

get a remote freelance job

get rid of your internet connection and only use the library

cut all your costs by 10x

bike to work

oh right, also:

dont have a spouse

dont have children

work in a remote-friendly industry

desire to perform remote-friendly altruistic work

dont save for retirement

dont get sick

dont get injured

but yeah man, this sounds totally doable for anyone who wants to support a cause, this sounds like the type of society anyone would want to live in; way worse than providing people with a basic income enabling the entire country to pursue their altruism

0 comments

marknutter10y ago

Man, you're right. It's impossible. Oh well.

unprepareOP10y ago

I didnt say its impossible.

I said its completely unreasonable.

Do you honestly think thats reasonable? For someone to be altruistic they /should/ have to make all those decisions and sacrifices?

If you do, i'd love to hear why you think it should be impossible for a secretary, or a janitor, or an accountant to be altruistic and to work towards altruistic goals. Or for that matter someone living in New york or san francisco. Should those cities be devoid of altruism because they are more expensive?

I don't think you've earnestly considered the implications of your suggestion and that was the point of my responding at all. "helping animals is easy! just quit your job and move across the country" echos exactly the ops sentiments that it takess a herculean effort to effect any change in todays economy. You disputed that by laying out a specific herculean effort and tried to brush it off as a simple life decision.

marknutter10y ago

> Do you honestly think thats reasonable?

Not only do I think it's completely reasonable, I have done it myself and know others who have done it as well. Come to Minnesota, there's plenty of work, both remote and contract, and your cost of living can be very low depending on where you live. We also have great mass transit, are the most bike friendly city in the country, have the lowest unemployment rate in the country, and the best parks system in the country as well.

> If you do, i'd love to hear why you think it should be impossible for a secretary, or a janitor, or an accountant to be altruistic and to work towards altruistic goals.

Why can't these people work toward these goals in their spare time? Why does it have to be an all-or-nothing proposition? And if it does, why can't you start a non-profit where you can pay yourself a living wage and take donations from others who don't have the time to help but have the money to help. And why not just cut your expenses today, keep your high paying job, and donate your additional money to causes you believe in?

People can be altruistic without being rich or privileged. To suggest otherwise is completely offensive and short-sided. And being rich and privileged doesn't automatically equate to someone being more effective altruists. In fact, it's often the opposite case because their experiences are too isolated and foreign to be relatable to the causes they support (see charity-as-tourism).

But what it comes down to is you not wanting it to be hard to do something. And I'm not saying it isn't hard, because it is. But most things worth doing are hard, and complaining about them doesn't do anybody any good. Instead of complaining and creating long lists on internet forums of all the reasons why something is too hard to do you go and actually test your assumptions.

I don't mean to sound harsh but I can't help but respond to such negativity with anything other than exasperation. I can't motivate you, but I hope you find somebody or something that can because it sounds like you want to make a real difference in this world.

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