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8 months ago
in The Dopplr Effect: Have Social Media, Will Travel on Almost Fearless
I just joined and I'll be adding you! :)
8 months ago
in On Poverty on Everything Everywhere
I'm not sure if I agree with the opening lines of your first point:
"Go back even 100 years, and pretty much everyone on the planet was poor. Go back 200 or 1,000 years, and this was definitely true. I don’t think there are many people who would prefer to be a nobleman in ancient Rome versus an average person today."
I believe that poverty is relative. Yes, ancient Roman nobleman didn't have the same amount of money than we do today, but relative to their cost of living in those days and the amount of inflation since those days, you can hardly call them "poor" by any means. Just as you point out later that most of the "poor" in developed nations aren't actually poor compared to those in developing countries because they make more money, they may be poor relative to the cost of living and those around them. (I'm kind of playing devil's advocate with that last statement. Part of me believes that people don't save and spend wisely, but at the same time, a lot of it is relative to the society. There's definitely more involved than money, dollar for dollar, even though there is absolute poverty in the world. I won't argue with anyone that you're poor when you're making less than $1 USD equivalent a day.)
And a couple of other points, just for thoughts:
1. If there's no shortage of hard working people in Asia, why is there still poverty in those countries? Just because their society place value in working hard, doesn't mean that it can eliminate poverty.
2. Anecdotal evidence is definitely useful, but it's also difficult to quantify, as you've pointed out. I remember in one of my college classes, I was describing a taxi driver that I had met in Beijing who was barely making ends meet for him and his family, as an example of (the lack of) economic progress in China. Another student, who had also been in China recently, was telling about how this small village that she visited had internet and all these modern technologies. So while both anecdotes are true, it's hard to make sweeping generalizations with them, and that's partly the problem with them. (And reading back on what I just wrote, it may have to do with the relative poverty that I was writing about earlier.)
I think this article is a good start on trying to understand poverty. But the problem isn't acknowledging that it exists, but what can actually be done about it. Kiva.org is definitely a good organization that empowers people in developing nations.
(I'm sorry for hijacking your comment section with my long rant. This is a topic that I feel strongly about, but even so, I have many conflicting internal arguments with myself.)
"Go back even 100 years, and pretty much everyone on the planet was poor. Go back 200 or 1,000 years, and this was definitely true. I don’t think there are many people who would prefer to be a nobleman in ancient Rome versus an average person today."
I believe that poverty is relative. Yes, ancient Roman nobleman didn't have the same amount of money than we do today, but relative to their cost of living in those days and the amount of inflation since those days, you can hardly call them "poor" by any means. Just as you point out later that most of the "poor" in developed nations aren't actually poor compared to those in developing countries because they make more money, they may be poor relative to the cost of living and those around them. (I'm kind of playing devil's advocate with that last statement. Part of me believes that people don't save and spend wisely, but at the same time, a lot of it is relative to the society. There's definitely more involved than money, dollar for dollar, even though there is absolute poverty in the world. I won't argue with anyone that you're poor when you're making less than $1 USD equivalent a day.)
And a couple of other points, just for thoughts:
1. If there's no shortage of hard working people in Asia, why is there still poverty in those countries? Just because their society place value in working hard, doesn't mean that it can eliminate poverty.
2. Anecdotal evidence is definitely useful, but it's also difficult to quantify, as you've pointed out. I remember in one of my college classes, I was describing a taxi driver that I had met in Beijing who was barely making ends meet for him and his family, as an example of (the lack of) economic progress in China. Another student, who had also been in China recently, was telling about how this small village that she visited had internet and all these modern technologies. So while both anecdotes are true, it's hard to make sweeping generalizations with them, and that's partly the problem with them. (And reading back on what I just wrote, it may have to do with the relative poverty that I was writing about earlier.)
I think this article is a good start on trying to understand poverty. But the problem isn't acknowledging that it exists, but what can actually be done about it. Kiva.org is definitely a good organization that empowers people in developing nations.
(I'm sorry for hijacking your comment section with my long rant. This is a topic that I feel strongly about, but even so, I have many conflicting internal arguments with myself.)
9 months ago
in A Brief Encounter with the Spanish Medical Establishment on Almost Fearless
This is kind of weird because it does sound like mumps, with the swollen parotid glands and all. But mumps is caused by a virus and can't/shouldn't be treated with an antibiotic. I find it kind of strange that the doctor diagnosed mumps yet gave antibiotics anyway. Either way, glad it's getting better! :)
1 year ago
in Daily Travel Photo - Papua New Guinea on Everything Everywhere
Wow, lucky you! That's a fantastic view to wake up to!
