I’m what one might call a “mom friend”—I often give emotional support to my friends when they have problems, while not demanding much from my friends in return for my emotional labor. I feel like I’ve been approaching effective altruism in a similar way—I give a lot, emotionally and intellectually, to the world and strive to do as much good for others in the long term as possible, but I don’t feel like I deserve much from the world “in return” because of the privileges my circumstances have afforded me.
Overall, I feel like it’s an unhealthy way of approaching relationships and effective altruism. In terms of relationships, I want to feel free to demand more from my friends, coworkers, and employers. In terms of the world… I wouldn’t demand anything from the global poor, but I want to expect more from my own society. If I could “ask” society for something, it would be more personal freedom to pursue things that would give me fulfillment. But maybe I just have to take it.
I’m what one might call a “mom friend”—I often give emotional support to my friends when they have problems, while not demanding much from my friends in return for my emotional labor. I feel like I’ve been approaching effective altruism in a similar way—I give a lot, emotionally and intellectually, to the world and strive to do as much good for others in the long term as possible, but I don’t feel like I deserve much from the world “in return” because of the privileges my circumstances have afforded me.
Overall, I feel like it’s an unhealthy way of approaching relationships and effective altruism. In terms of relationships, I want to feel free to demand more from my friends, coworkers, and employers. In terms of the world… I wouldn’t demand anything from the global poor, but I want to expect more from my own society. If I could “ask” society for something, it would be more personal freedom to pursue things that would give me fulfillment. But maybe I just have to take it.