Why do some people think that being sympathetic to everyone is a good thing?

Do these people think that being sympathetic to everything (people, animals, plants, the earth) makes them a better person? Do these people not understand, or not believe in, sacrifice? Or is it that these people have become accustomed to others making all the necessary sacrifices, in lieu of their own, leaving them with the luxury of being dilusionally altruistic?

For example, when I see the same bums begging for money on my way home for work I have no sympathy for them. This isn't because I have a job and they don't, or they are lazy, etc. I don't care if they didn't have a childhood as fortunate as mine, or as many educational opportunities. The bottom line is that they are a bum, and whether or not I give them a dollar, or five, or a thousand they will still be a bum. I am willing to sacrifice all the bums, AIDs patients in Africa, and all the other lost causes for a greater good. Spend that money on schools and research. Does that not ensure a better future for everyone?

Some people are just too nice, huh. I have a couple friends like that and it drives me nuts. I think we have to focus on priorities.
While I never did hand out money to bums, one summer I made boxes that I kept in my car. They contained a towel and washcloth, razor, the rest of the hygiene stuff, plastic spoons, food that doesn't need cooked, that type of thing. Where I live we always have people standing at the highway exits with signs, needing "money for food". Some were very grateful to get the boxes, and others were clearly disgusted--I figure these were the guys that wanted cold hard cash for booze or have BMW's at home. It was interesting. Doesn't have much to do with your question, I guess--sorry.

I don't give to bums, but I pay a performer for their performance. I guess I figure if they have enough self-respect to want to sell their talent for food money, there's hope they will use that to go on to better things. Report It

Because they are afraid of what other people will think of them if they are not.

I feel your pain thoughtful dude. You have my sympathies now. Be merry now.

Maybe sympathetic people ACTUALLY care about other people and things. It makes some of us happy to give. It is called selflessness.