Went to the grocery store today and passed by one of the usual groups asking for donations. This time it was for the special Olympics group for the county i'm in. Person I was with handed me the money to donate, but I didn't put any in myself.

Reason I ask if i'm a horrible person is I just don't believe in the special Olympics. Is it wrong of me to say this? I don't hate the special olympics, bash on it, etc... , but I just don't believe in it.

You are the vilest of scum! How dare you! Good day sir!

Do you mean you mean paralympics and what do you mean you don't believe in it?

You are what you believe you are. If you think you are horrible for not giving to charity, then you are.

Personally I think I would be a horrible person for driving a bus full of nuns headon into a group of special olympics runners.

It helps me sleep at night.

At least you know where the line is.

It's your choice if you want to donate or not, nothing wrong with that.

Not sure why you wouldn't believe in something that helps people, but you're not wrong for having an opinion.

What do you mean you don't believe in it? It's not like ghosts or fairies.

About two feet away from a kid that had a cart fall on him at a grocery store. didn't bother to see if he was alright. Purposely leaving out other details to make out sound bad.

I think it might be more bad if people die trying to get people up a mountain just so they overcome what word maybe incomplete... swipe making up words

How can you "believe" in it? It's not a mythical concept. It exists.

Do you simply not see the point or legitimacy of it?

I'd like it if the Paralympics got equal footing with the Olympics. I find the Paralympics more inspiring. Then again... I adored Katawa Shoujo for it's optimistic treatment of disability.

This. You can't not believe in something like this. It's still going to exist, factually.

But no, you're not a bad person for not donating. You're just...Strange for not believing in something that has video proof. And I don't mean the shaky camera with a blurry image type of video proof.

*sigh*

I guess I need to "clarify" where I say I don't believe in it. The special olympics exist, it is in front of me, etc... yes I know this. However, concerning the idea behind the special olympics, aka it's purpose, I just personally don't believe in it. As for the Special Olympics it is for children that are autistic, have learning difficulties, or are mentally handicapped.

There's nothing wrong with not donating money to every charity collector you come across.

You aren't a bad person for not donating money.

However, even though it's an opinion, I don't see how anyone can be opposed to the Special Olympics. There isn't any reason that physically/mentally handicapped people shouldn't be allowed to compete in such a way, and it obviously wouldn't be fair to anyone if they were put in the regular Olympics.

Just because some people might be disabled in some aspect doesn't mean they aren't capable. They just need some way to demonstrate their abilities...and the Olympics are a good place for it.

So what you are saying is you don't believe mentally handicapped children should be playing olympic style games/sports?

Oh, I'm sorry. I misunderstood what you meant.

Yes, you are a terrible person.

Well it's your money and you're free to do what you want with it.
But I'm giving you the side-eye for your "beliefs".

Moral Standings are for svckers...

This is what I thought too...

Much the same as I was going to say. If you did, you'd be penniless pretty quickly. The whole point of charities is that donations are supposed to be voluntary: you choose what's important to you, not what someone else tells you to.

I personally wouldn't donate to the Special Olympics. Not to knock it or anything - it's just that my pockets are not bottomless and I think that there are more important things that would benefit from my money.

I'm still confused as to why/how you're against the Special Olympics. Are you against the organization, how the participants aren't worthy, money flow, other?

I used to lead wilderness trips (paddling based) for integrated groups of all mental, physcial, and experience levels. The organization is in my signature (Wilderness Inquiry). Many of those on the trips would have been unable to get ou t in the woods. Many of them lived in group homes. Research showed that those in group homes were more socially active and had more self-worth when on trail.

Bottom line, when given a chance, all people can do more than they or others think that they can. Does everyone deserve a chance? (begs questions about wealth distribution, medical accessability, etc....dangerous grounds on this forum if those lines are persued)

I don't think he said he's against it, just that he isn't especially driven to support it. At least that's how I read it, anyway.

This. You can't give money to all charities, you have to pick and choose and if you don't care about the special olympics then that's fine. Because it sounds like to me you're not opposed to the special olympics or anything like that, you just don't have any personal interest in supporting it. That's fine. I don't support many animal focused charities for example, because those don't interest me much. Can't have them all.

Exactly. While charity is nice and all (though I seriously doubt its efficiency and validity, for numerous reasons), there's no need to give away everything you own. Don't forget that (at least in Europe) a large part of your taxes go (or should go) to developmental aid - i.e. your country taxes you and should be helping the less fortunate with that money.