to just turn off the tv whenever Nepal comes on and ignore it

[nettlewine]

It just upsets me too much and makes me feel useless. I've already given a donation.

I just feel like it doesn't affect me so I shouldn't feel the need to see all the brutal details as it doesn't achieve anything.

You can donate to DEC by text message too by texting;

Tube

To 70000

But who are you acknowledging, witnessing, sympathising and empathising with? Will you remember if every time you turn on you television you are engaging in witnessing suffering of people you will never meet or connect with? If you have a spiritual practice and pray or meditate in ways that engage compassion, I understand this to some extent. If you're just watching the TV, I am not sure it's really powerful other than in your own mind. I have felt huge compassion for all sorts of sorrows recently, and I still think there is room for some distancing too.

I'm just wary. I have an aunt who spends her life fundraising for the poor of the developing world as a way of disengaging from dealing with a very painful issue in her own life. I don't judge that, but I also don't think it is always necessarily straightforwardly helpful when you engage in watching and learning of the suffering of others without making a direct human connection to them, especially if this is used as a way of avoiding painful experiences closer to home.

Thank you for starting this thread.

It has inspired me to donate and confirmed that some people are utter cunts. I pity them. Is this a new thing, this apparent pride in being such a pig ignorant fucker?

Thank you to all those who have donated. My friends in Nepal are so grateful for the messages of support and practical help coming in from around the world.

It is a pity that a small minority feel the need to express their callous views, but I am heartened by the fact that most people have empathy and compassion.

I don't think we need so much news coverage!? Its happened; people are suffering; it isn't going to happen again for a while; people will still be homeless.

Its ceased to be news in many ways; news programmes are NOT there to raise money for charity. I agree with the OP, switch off and mayber say a prayer if you're inclined; after all thats better than hearing some politician saying "our thoughts are with them".....same effect ie nil.

I watch all the coverage. But then my dsd (aid agency) has been working on the logistics side of this earthquake for the last couple of years because it was, sadly, an event already overdue. The least I can do is show some interest in the awfulness that she's dealing with.

My friend is there. She finally got online this morning to say she's safe but it's been utterly terrifying. I'm so relieved.

I find the whole thing heart breaking and I'm glad teams are heading over to help the country tend to the injured and help clear up.

How can you not care? Because you don't know them?

I don't revel in the images. I've seen 'enough' to know what's what. But I do care. I'll take my chances that my donation helps a tiny bit, but I do worry about where it all goes.

I know some Tories who care, too, and think the 'Tory Twat' rudeness misses the point. (Floating voter here.)

To be fair, I think the Tory twat thing is rubbish. I hate the Tories and would never vote for them, but I know plenty of Tories who do give generously in situations such as these.

Interesting how the 2 GF managed to both fuck up their bold within a couple of posts of each other.

Some people are just twats, regardless of their political persuasion.

I've been to Gorkha - a village devastated by the earthquake. I loved Nepal and it breaks my heart to see what's happened to a country I had the best 2 months travelling of my life in. I hate to imagine what the long term effect of this will be.

I've never seen an earthquake on the news affect a place I've been to. But I recognise so much here.

I hope and am sure Nepal and the Nepalese will recover.

Orlando, you're right, they will recover. Some of the comments coming through on my social media accounts are utterly inspiring. People are living through a nightmare situation, and they are very scared. However, they are also positive, determined and committed to rebuilding their country. There are a lot of good people. It's very humbling to witness their optimism in the face of so much devastation around them.

Some people are just twats, regardless of their political persuasion.

Spot on.

For those who seem to want to make this party political, it's the Tories who have sent military personnel and assets, made an immediate multimillion cash donation, and have maintained a ring-fenced aid budget.

Other parties would probably do similar.

Except UKIP. Who want to end the aid budget.

Except UKIP. Who want to end the aid budget.

Yes indeed. While there are twats of all political persuasions, some parties seem to have more than their fair share!

YY, Squirms

Nige can dream.

Oh get of your high fucking horses. I said Rich was a tory twat. He/She is a tory and is a twat. Noone is making the op political, i was just giving my observation of that poster.

I am praying that the Duchess of Cambridge will birth soon to give us all something naice to look at.

Nice post Duplodon. Are you an academic? Some of your language reminds me of academic work in the area of witnessing distant suffering. I'm an academic and lots of my colleagues in this area would use these terms. Just asking!

You made it political.

For the sake of fuck.

A number of earlier posts seemed party political to me.

Nothing to do with any height of horses.

noone in nepal gives a shit whether you watch it on tv or not. It is good to donate money to try and help where you can. You dont have to upset yourself by watching morbid natural disasters.

Cock off london

I lived in Nepal for 6 months and it was just incredible. It's stunningly beautiful and culturally fascinating but the thing that makes it really special is the people.

They are amongst the poorest in the world but are the most hospitable people I've ever met. They would feed you, clothe you and house you if you needed it, so I know if the situation were reversed either at the personal or the national level, they would help in whatever way they could.

I understand that sometimes it can be too upsetting to watch this sort of event unfold, and I don't think there's anything wrong with helping if you can but also looking away when you've reached your limit. It is sad when people lack the compassion or empathy to stir themselves into giving a shit, but I'm not going to waste my energy thinking about people like that - they're not worth it.

I am aware that I am personally connected to this tragedy, and have happy memories of many places I know which have been affected. I don't know how all of my friends and acquaintances in Nepal are, but I'm only too aware of the infrastructure problems there and I feel it's going to get much worse before it gets better.

Please give if you can - Nepal is a wonderful country and, apart from tourism, has little it can fall back on to help itself. A rich country would struggle to manage with its geographical restraints so they truly need our help.