There are billions of people in need. If we helped them all, what would we be left with and then what good would we be to anyone and ourselves? And when we're not good to anyone, they'll not hesitate to throw us out in the cold. And sometimes, helping them causes a false illusion and sets an entitlement of having something that comes without any trying or hard work, so it becomes detrimental in the long run anyway. It also opens up a fantastic playground for scammers. So nah, I'm not going for morally obligated. Life is not fair, we help where we can in whichever way we can. But we first got to take care of ourselves.
@TexChik I agree. Let's assume that this person is overall decent and deserving of a little help and maybe some good luck even. What would be your decision then?
We should help our neighbors. Those are the people who live in your own community, and you can help in ways that you can afford, such as volunteering at a food pantry or volunteering at a senior center, or volunteering at a drug rehab facility, as I once did.
That being said, it's not always that simple as to whether everyone who claims to be in need is always actually in need.
As humans we are prone to help each other according to[b] our [/b]ability and[b] the [/b]need. If we are calloused and indifferent to our fellow humans, then we are going against our natural predisposition, and we are not emotionally healthy.
@easterniowegin The Q was, "[b]Are we morally obligated to help those in need if we are able to?"[/b]
It doesn't say should we shower indulgences on a person in need and make them a millionaire.
Helping those in need is a matter of what one can afford to do in time or money. Rather than turning away and ignoring someone in straightened circumstances.
Help can come in many forms, according to the ability or generosity of the helper.
For some reason what comes to mind for me here is a news story I saw a few years ago. It was a video some younger guys took on their cell phone. They were showing how some man had gone into the body of water there & couldn’t swim. He was visibly struggling to get air. They were hooting, laughing, shouting things to him about being stupid. They didn’t call 911. The man drowned, he died. They watched a man struggle & die. It still makes me feel sick to my stomach today thinking how anyone could find the sight of a person frantic on the water, choking, and waving as a humorous thing & want to save the memory on video.
@Mrsbetweenfatandfit I remember that news story and it was appalling. That was a situation of obligation... those guys were obliged to help that man or at least get help for him. What they did was as far as I'm concerned the equivalent of murdering him.