to be shocked at how many people believe Charity always comes from a good place?

[Unacceptable]

I have been shocked, really,really shocked today by the amount of times I've heard that Charity supporter/worker = Good guy.

I'm not starting this thread to specifically discuss the awful revelations about Savile. I've purposely avoided the threads because my day has been full of people talking about it and tbh I've been pretty upset by a lot of the reactions.

I am wondering how many people out there honestly think that if somebody donates to Charity/raises money for Charity then they cannot possibly, in any way, have ever done anything totally and morally wrong? Charity is pretty big business isn't it? Supporting or even starting a Charity isn't always an altruistic move...or is that just me being cynical?

YABU... or cynical, I think a lot of people do charity work or become involved in religious or community groups for exactly that reason - to make themselves look good, or in some cases, as cover for vile behaviour as it puts them in a "morally strong" position.

YANBU. I've worked in the charity sector for over a decade. There are some amazing, selfless people working in the sector - and some utter arseholes.

Hitler was a supporter of animal rights, he brought in many laws to cover the ill treatment of anmals.

The Victorians (sentamental about animals) stopped using pit ponies and replaced them with 10 year old workhouse boys.

YANBU.

YANBU

But then no matter what someone is excused of, there is always some excuse used as "proof" they were innocent. Usually something which has zero effect on the crime they are accused of, eg. "he can't have raped her, he's a great footballer" :( People can be seriously stupid

whoops, I meant YANBU!

YANBU, sometimes charity can be used to hide abuse.

Freemasons -case in point

YANBU

i totally agree that no charity work is truely altruistic, and I do quite a bit of charity work!

people do it to work through their own past or grief, to have a purpose in retirement or periods of unemployment, to socialise, to exercise, to boost their CV, to get into heaven, to feel good about themselves etc

Its a very good rewarding worthwhile thing to do but it's not a character reference!

at the worst end of the scale charity work allows certain people to get closer to vulnerable victim types

YANBU, and I'm not referring to JS at all as I've stayed away from that.

People who believe that anyone who does extensive charity work is a good person have never worked or done much volunteering in the charity sector. Even leaving abuse out of it, a lot of people do it more for their own egos than anything else. I think everyone that does charity work gets something in return, but for most, that something is just a feel good factor or enjoyment. For some, it goes much deeper.

Similarly I've also worked in healthcare and hate the whole "nurses are angels" bit too. Some are amazing, some are average jobsworths, some are horrible horrible people

it's stupid to say someone is "good" because of their occupations

I don't know why people are so shocked tbh. Its the way pedophiles get themselves into a place of trust so they can manipulate/groom. It makes it easier for them.

YANBU

I'm feeling much less cynical now and a little more rational having read these posts.
I can always count on MN for some common sense

There is good and bad everywhere, I do not get your point.

I know a woman who has her own "charity" but also makes a hell of alot of money out of healing people with alternative theraphy. She is incredibly manipulative but has alot of followers as she preys on the weak and vunerable, plus her clients are wealthy women in this area who seem taken in by all the mumbo jumbo she promotes. My encounter with her left me incredibly wary of all forms of alternative medicine, which is a shame because im sure there are geniune people out there but im not willing to take that chance again!!!

I have done work for a few charities over the years.

I got something out of it I suppose. In one case, it did help my CV tiny bit but the charity got a lot more out of it than I did. In another case, it helped me to get to know people in the town I moved to BUT I saved the charity a huge amount of money from financial losses if not outright fraud.

That said, there were some very cynical people on the Boards of both of those charities though. They did not do a stroke of work in delivering the actual charities' work but they certainly used it to enhance their national/local political ambitions.

The top of the large well known national charities are stuffed full of politically well connected people who are actually very well paid in many cases.