Posts by Lilith __
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Hard News: Friday Music: The Story, in reply to Russell Brown,
written – apart from its repeated fits of sulking – a reasonably sensible review of the album.
(emphasis mine).
Yeah. Age doesn’t always bring maturity.
And can he really have hated the EP but liked the album? Trolling for attention?
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Hard News: A Public Address public appeal, in reply to Islander,
I’m money-poor at the moment, but resource rich eh?
Dear Islander, I so wish things were easier for you, in a material sense.
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Fascinating. I think this sort of direct communication to the public via social media is very valuable. Reminds us of the varied things police have to try and sort out, every day. Including really horrific situations.
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FWIW I support Kiva , which provides microloans to households and small businesses in the developing world. You can select where the money goes, and keep your money going round, from one project to another, as it's paid back.
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Speaker: The act of not eating doesn't…, in reply to Michael Savidge,
I guess my point was that while critiquing the methods organisations use to try and alleviate suffering is all well and good and important, the scale of the actual suffering is so horrific and entirely solvable if only it was deemed of higher priority than nit-picking the tactics that some are using. Everyone is welcome to step up and use what they believe to be the best methodology in addressing the issues, but I find it hard to be tolerant of those who criticise and then continue to watch from the sidelines.
This is a completely false dichotomy. I can walk and chew gum. Who’s watching from the sidelines? Let’s all give to charity while engaging in critical dialogue about the best ways of doing it.
That's what Amberleigh Jack's original post was about. Finding the best and least problematic ways to make good things happen.
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Hard News: Friday Music: The Story, in reply to Megan Wegan,
I wouldn’t want to put words in her mouth, but I think the “flawless” thing implies more than just her appearance. Swift has a very carefully crafted “good girl next door” thing going on. And yeah, the lyrics of some of her songs are really not doing much for young women.
Swift is in her early 20s, but sings as an idealised version of a young teenager. I doubt being a teen was like that, even for her.
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Hard News: Friday Music: The Story, in reply to Megan Wegan,
I really like Haim, and their story. (Though, yes, Shania adjacent.) And so, here they are, crushing Miley’s Wrecking Ball.
I really dislike both versions of Wrecking Ball! But I think that song might work if delivered very straight and understated and slow. The lyrics are screechy enough without being screeched or yelled. Imagine how Norah Jones would do it. That’d be my pick.
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Speaker: The act of not eating doesn't…, in reply to Hebe,
I was able to see first-hand accounts of what a few bucks in our terms meant to the people.
I don't dispute this, but isn't it a modern version of "the poor are always with us"? A trifling contribution that we barely notice saves someone's life? The inequalities that make this possible make me sick.
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Speaker: The act of not eating doesn't…, in reply to Hebe,
Isn’t doing something, no matter how small, worth it when a life is saved or a kid gets to eat that day?
I don't think anyone here is even remotely saying charity is bad. Or that small things can't make a big difference.
But is charity work therefore immune from criticism? I don't think it should be.
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Speaker: The act of not eating doesn't…, in reply to Michael Savidge,
How much real damage is done in tokenistic behaviour as opposed to the tangible alleviation of immediate suffering in some poor bastard’s life half way around the world? It strikes me as highfalutin concern trolling to weigh one up against the other.
Anyway, I was supposed to be making a shamefaced withdrawal and you made me rant all over the place again.
I'm perfectly sincere in my questions, and I did say (twice) that giving to charity is a good thing. I'm just saying expecting praise for making a small sacrifice is a bit naff.
Poor people are just other people. I believe we should all be helping each other, any way we can. And people who can give help should be grateful they have that opportunity.