I saw this image on my Pinterest timeline a few days ago, and I have some thoughts about it.

First, I would never assume that anyone has ulterior motives when giving, as I think it's safe to say that most people who display charity do it for it's own sake, and not for any other reason.

However, with the prevalence of media platforms - a way for people who you would have never known originally to engage with you - on the rise, generosity, like many other things, has now become a performance.

We've all seen videos where a richer, white foreigner comes to the 'country' of Africa to help provide meals for the poor, malnourished kids. Videos where the donor in question may give an objectively large amount, but it is clear that the revenue from that video would probably cover the donated amount.

I do not want to suggest that these videos were purely to profit off these people's suffering (though I wouldn't be surprised if some were), but to ask that can generosity where a great power & priviledge imbalance present, with potential gain for the giver, be called true generosity at all?

Food for thought. 😁