Jörg’s Reviews > Arme Leute. Reportagen > Status Update
Jörg
is on page 217 of 448
In the first part, he asks people for their own opinion. Are they poor? He goes on to classify his observations about poverty into categories like invisibility, dependance and alienation. Poor people have to face moral dilemmas: prostitution to survive, work destroying health and environment to earn money in the short-term.
Vollmann engages with the people we usually avoid. Also back home in the US.
— Aug 10, 2026 01:18AM
Vollmann engages with the people we usually avoid. Also back home in the US.
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Jörg’s Previous Updates
Jörg
is on page 285 of 448
When the issue of poverty cannot be solved, hope has to be found wherever possible. Children having fun playing for a few minutes, drugs, booze, lottery tickets, religion. Any drug will do, even if it isn't good for you. Vollmann tries to rationalize escapes with all those means.
He wishes that community could help but doesn't believe in it. Only on small scale like the jointly cleaned toilet in a Kenyan slum.
— Aug 11, 2026 12:47AM
He wishes that community could help but doesn't believe in it. Only on small scale like the jointly cleaned toilet in a Kenyan slum.
Jörg
is on page 101 of 448
Vollmann's framework consists of a few definitions, putting poverty into context. Normality, false consciousness, poor/rich - always in comparison to the reality of the people. Objectively poor people (as seen from a Western standpoint) can feel rich. People owning more can feel poor. Relativity is important and the respect to accept their point of view. Most of them believe in predetermination, fate, karma, god.
— Aug 07, 2026 12:44AM