Compassion Fatigue

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Ashes · #1 Post by **Ashes** » Sun Mar 13, 2005 11:53 pm

I've been hearing alot about 'compassion fatigue' recently. It is a quote commonly thrown about to suggest that we are tired of giving. With recent events like the tsunami disaster, the ongoing famine relief in africa and the usual annual fundraising efforts on behalf of major charitable organisations like unicef, the red cross, comic relief and children in need to name but a few, it would seem all too easy to say 'enough'. I'm not giving any more.

Do you think that as a rational (hopefully) human being, that you could ever use up all of your compassion? Could you ever understand the term compassion fatigue? Do you not have enough love to go around? I know I do. I give it out all the time. How can anybody claim that they just don't have any compassion to spare?

Zero! · #2 Post by **Zero!** » Mon Mar 14, 2005 1:59 am

I don't think I could just stop caring about stuff because I'm sick of caring about stuff. I can't help but care about some people. D:

Lady Night · #3 Post by **Lady Night** » Mon Mar 14, 2005 2:39 am

I don't think I'm running low on compassion, but I am running low on cash and things like that.

There is a point that you have to come to where you decide, do I send money off to some charity or do I feed my own family. And to many I believe this is what the term "compassion fatigue" refers to.

(you know Ashes, you really need to get into that debate board)

Do we need compassion in this world, YES. Do we need more of it NO, what we need more of is people who are willing to give a care about THEIR OWN life, who will get up and do something about it THEMSELVES instead of waiting for someone to give them a handout.

Yes some people really need that handout, but by giving and giving and giving, sometimes there is such a thing as too much giving. You reach the point where the person no longer wants to take care of themselves they want you to take care of them like you have been.

With my job I see literally hundreds of people a month who live off of SSI, who come to me and tell me they got their child BACK on SSI after they got out of high school and "they've done all they can for them now".

Over compassion keeps people dependant. Yes people need to care about the state of affairs of other, but people also need to care about their own too, and if everyone gave enough of a care to really help themselves they would soon find out life would be better.

Sadly though, maybe people are to afraid to quit taking that hand out small as it is, for the chance of something better, simply because they will lose a 'sure thing" at least they have been surviving on 569 a month...they are use to it and can do it...so they don't want to chance getting a real job and working, even if they would double or tipple that because there is that chance they won't keep that job forever...it's a sad thing that i have to deal with on a daily basis...depending on the system created to "help" them.

Christopher · #4 Post by **Christopher** » Mon Mar 14, 2005 2:58 am

For me its a case of running out of money, I mean I can donate some, but I like living as well. There are far too many things to be charitable towards =/

avvelenare · #5 Post by **avvelenare** » Mon Mar 14, 2005 1:55 pm

I don't think I could run out of compassion for people. I'd be frightened if I saw a news story about tragedy and didn't feel at least something for the victims. I do think that people (myself included) can tend to get cynical about solicitors asking for money for those victims, though. I find myself wondering how much of my dollar is going to those who need it, and how much is going to support the administrators' offices and salaries. I guess I have to take comfort in the idea that even when I don't have money to donate, I can still send my thoughts and prayers to those in need.

Istanbullfrog · #6 Post by **Istanbullfrog** » Mon Mar 14, 2005 8:34 pm

Giving money isn't the only way you can help the unfortunate. Volunteering with drives/humane societies/shelters, donating clothes/food/toys/blood are other ways which make a huge difference as well. Most people I know who would fall under compassion fatigue are those who only equate money with assisting people.

Twinkle · #7 Post by **Twinkle** » Mon Mar 14, 2005 8:37 pm

Well, I'm fed up of giving to the Tsunami constantly and forgetting about other charities and people who need aid too. I've recently joined Fair Trade and Oxfam and donated to Breast Cancer. I'll never run out of compassion but we can't forget about others in need because of one single disaster, horrible may it sound.

Paul · #8 Post by **Paul** » Mon Mar 14, 2005 9:04 pm

Twinkle wrote:Well, I'm fed up of giving to the Tsunami constantly and forgetting about other charities and people who need aid too. I've recently joined Fair Trade and Oxfam and donated to Breast Cancer. I'll never run out of compassion but we can't forget about others in need because of one single disaster, horrible may it sound.

Yup. It's kind of tiring when they rattle their collecting tins under your nose when you're shopping and give you a cold look if you don't donate to their charity, I noticed this with the people who 'going out of their way voluntarily' to be 'kind and caring' to the victims of the tsunami.

Twinkle · #9 Post by **Twinkle** » Mon Mar 14, 2005 9:10 pm

I don't give to people rattling tins in the street because you shouldn't give because you're obliged to. Also, you don't know where it's going.

I prefer to donate to a charity through the official means just because I support the cause. I'm going on a vigil in London for Fair Trade in April and another one in Edinburgh in June.

Monique · #10 Post by **Monique** » Mon Mar 14, 2005 9:34 pm

I don't get how anyone could run out of compassion. It's something that you should always have. I get that after a while it might get annoying if it's the same thing over and over again with the same people. At the same time though, it's not like they choose these hardships, it's just something that happens to them for the most part. We should be sympathetic to that instead of just getting tired of hearing about it.

Igg · #11 Post by **Igg** » Mon Mar 14, 2005 9:50 pm

Compassion fatigue to me doesn't mean the same as running out of compassion.

I believe I'm generally a very caring person, for good causes yes, but more for my friends and family. And it is exhausting.

Ashes · #12 Post by **Ashes** » Tue Mar 15, 2005 11:16 pm

Lady Night wrote:
(you know Ashes, you really need to get into that debate board)

I applied but robot won't let me in until I have 150 posts. That's ok, though, I see the reasons for it. I don't get alot of time online every day, so it might take me a week or so 'til I reach it.

Lady Night · #13 Post by **Lady Night** » Wed Mar 16, 2005 12:23 am

lol, you'll get them quicker than you think

but you do tend to make thread that are quite debatable lol.

Ashes · #14 Post by **Ashes** » Wed Mar 16, 2005 12:26 am

Lady Night wrote:lol, you'll get them quicker than you think

but you do tend to make thread that are quite debatable lol.

You should see the latest one :eek:

Runevalkyrie · #15 Post by **Runevalkyrie** » Wed Mar 16, 2005 1:22 am

I'm finding the nature of this discussion more suited for the Debate group rather than as a poll.

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