~Opinions~ discussion

there are a few different things to discuss under this topic:

1. is it ok to force people to volunteer [as some schools do], or should volunteering be done only by someone who wants to do it and decides to do it on their own?

2. why do people volunteer? do they do it because it is in their interests, or because they genuinely want to help others? is it possible to genuinely want to help someone you don't know?

3. can volunteering sometimes cause more harm then good? if it causes some harm, is it better to still do it so that you are at least doing something, or should you not help at all?

4. is it really that important to volunteer? why shouldn't everyone just worry about themselves?


i hope the questions are clear enough...

Most people won't volunteer unless they have to, such as school programs that require that for graduation. It doesn't matter, as it can only benefit the person being forced to and the person receiving the aid. It can't really harm anyone.

but if someone is forced to, will they really be trying to help in the same way someone who isnt? maybe they will just cause more harm then good. for example if they are volunteering with a kid with mental problems, and he doesnt want to. in a way, he would just hurt the kid more then help him.

funny, we were studying voluntary work in English class a few weeks ago.
(By the way, 2011 is the European Year of Volunteering!)

Anyway, I think it's okay if schools decide to at least show their students what volunteering can be, for example, by going on a field trip and then doing some work of their choice for a week or a short period of time, that way they can decide whether they'd like to continue or not.
There are many reasons to volunteer: job experience, college credits, obligation, and wanting to help others. For example, this summer i'm going to volunteer in a hospital because i'd like to help people AND I want to see what it's like to be in a hospital to know whether or not I'd like to work in one.
There is no way voluntary work can hurt anyone - at least that I can see

but there is. i was just at a weekend with this program that talked about volunteering, and there are many ways it can hurt.
this is mostly talking about helping others that are in a worse position then you are [for example poor people]
lets say you really want to help a poor community in you town. so you get together a bunch of people and start volunteering there- giving out food packages, making after school programs for the kids etc. but the thing is, when you go to help you are really just making the distance between the 'normal' people that are going to help the 'poor, needy people' by going out of your way to help them, you are keeping them in their position, and not really helping them get out of it. sorta like giving them fish instead of teaching them how to fish.
if you really want to help them, you have to give them the tools to get out of their situation. this usually takes more effort then just 'helping' them for the time being. is it really good to get the people dependent on you for food? is that going to help their children get out of the situation their parents are in, or will they grow up to be exactly the same if not worse?
in short, should you help them the bit you can, even though in the long shot it might be bad for them, or is it better not to do anything if you cant do it properly all the way?

hmm, I hadn't thought of it that way. Interesting question. I guess It'd be better not to do anything instead of doing something wrong

i think that like you said, one time things really cant hurt. its the long time ones that you have to be fully committed to and really know what you are doing in order to do it, and if you dont, its better to leave it.

the thing is, is it ok not to help people that need help at all if you cant do it properly? should you let them starve because in the long run it would be bad for them?

I assume you dislike welfare, based on your apparent position.

its definitely not the perfect solution.
it deals with the face problem, but doesn't try to fix it from the core.
in a way, you need it because its better then leaving them alone without any food. but its not a proper solution

I think that, if possible, i'd volunteer for the short time I'd be useful, and then I'd leave it to ore capable hands because almost nobody does voluntary everyday, every year, there are lots of people who do it for short period of time and it's like shifts. At least thats the way i see it

But welfare already has a cap on it. The exact duration of time you can be on it, I'm not sure of.

that doesnt turn it into the perfect solution.
there is a program that a certain organization runs that gives loans or money [depending on the state of the family] to people who need it, but beforehand they sit with them and give them courses in how to utilize the money they are giving them properly. afterwards, volunteers still keep track on the family and help them keep on track so that they dont go back to the situation they were in before. i think volunteer economy students are the ones that do it.
for me this is an excellent solution. this program makes sure that the people they help will not need to come back to them in a few years because they are in the same situation they were before.