Monday 15 October 2012

Charity Blogging: Selfless or Self Promotion?



Recently I have been thinking about this verse from the bible, found in Matthew 6, a lot. Over the past few months I have been made aware of, and invited to participate in quite a few high profile charity blogging campaigns, asking bloggers to use their voice and their blogs to raise awareness of different charities, or to encourage people to donate to charity. Indeed, I have been berated recently, along with other bloggers for choosing not to participate in charity campaigns raising awareness for different causes.

Whilst many, many people raise awareness of the work of charities and give to charity without hope or agenda, lately, it has seemed to me that there is an increasing trend amongst society in general to give to charity or raise awareness about a charity, with the agenda of looking good in the process. Indeed, I am sad to say that in my years of working in the charity sector, I have come across many who used their charity work or charity giving to raise their own profile and expected to be acknowledged for it, rather than doing it purely to help others. Dare I be so bold as to say it, but often, it is self-proclaimed Christians who are typically most guilty of this.

Each day there are millions of people across the world doing their bit to help charities and causes close to their heart who go unacknowledged.  Millions more will often donate or volunteer for charity in a time of crisis or disaster when human decency transcends typical human nature, or on occasions like Christmas, when it seems that goodwill to man kind is a little easier a burden to bear for those who wouldn't give at other times of the year. Although people may briefly mention in passing the works they do, or causes they support to friends and family, they do not tend to be in church, coffee shops, or on the internet shouting about them or berating others for not being interested in the causes they believe in. Is this a bad thing? Social media would have us believe that it is, the bible would have us believe that it is not.

As a Christian, it seems to me that on this subject, the bible contradicts what modern day social media is about, which is hard for Christians who want to live by the bible and what they believe in, but still want to be actively involved in social media and use it for good. Social media is all about making your voice heard and quite often gathering sway for a cause or campaign, or encouraging people to donate to charity. The bible tells us not to shout about our works of charity or 'practice our acts of righteousness' before others. It also tells us not to "announce it with trumpets" (my modern day interpretation would be "announce it with twitter"), but in a modern world, how beneficial is social media in gathering sway and raising awareness for campaigns? I would say that it is very beneficial, if used in the right way.

I think that there is a clear, moral difference between using social media to raise awareness for charities and causes close to our hearts without agenda, and using social media to self publicise ourselves doing amazing works for charity, or donating money to charity. There is a clear line between keeping people informed and raising awareness for charity, and self promotion of the works you do for charity in order to gain notoriety. Within society, and within social media presently, the line is starting to become a little blurred.

People are shouting about the amazing work they are doing and amazing causes close to their heart via social media platforms, but unfortunately, it is being perceived by others as having undertones of self promotion and notoriety. Is this just the readers perception? Is this the author's hope? Is there such a thing as genuine selfless service any more?

As people before we speak, or as bloggers, before we hit the "publish" key, maybe it is worth sitting back and questioning: who are we really telling this or publishing this for? Is it for ourselves? Is it for hits on our websites or to boost our profile? Or is it purely, without hope or agenda, to raise awareness of a genuine charitable cause without making people feel guilty if they choose not to become involved. I personally really hope that it's the last reason every time.

7 comments:

  1. It's a difficult issue and I can relate to what you say. I don't tend to do much charity wise but I did write a post for Unicef after I went to London to listen to Martin Bell speak about South Sudan. That is the main charity thing I have done.

    Awareness campaigns are also difficult to judge because it's really easy to overdo it and spam people's timelines, either as individuals or as a group. Again, I don't know sometimes if the people involved really do care or they are doing it either because everyone else is or they think it's better for their image as a caring person.

    I know I've been unpopular before on Twitter for speaking out against it. Sometimes it's like the Thought Police and I object to that. I'm allowed as a person to decide which causes I will support. I can't donate to everyone, and my time is not limitless so I have to set boundaries.

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    1. HI Kate

      Thansk for commenting. I agree. I will champion charity topics that I am interested in, but there is a fine line between spamming and raising awareness. You should be true to yourself and champion causes that you believe in - as I know that you do. As bloggers, we are not obliged to get behind every charity campaign that comes our way - I wish others could understand that!

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  2. I remember when a big charity did their first big social media campaign a year or two back. I was in dialogue briefly with one of the organisers, and said there were a good few things that made me uncomfortable. I was invited to detail these, which I did, and I never heard another word. Some of my concerns focussed around the harassment of celebs for retweets incessantly. I remember poor old Dave Gorman saying if he RT'd every charity request he had, he would have no time to do anything other than RT charity requests.

    At the time I think it was the community wanting to show how important it was rather than specific individuals but it still left me feeling uncomfortable. I'm not a fan of armchair activism; I'd rather people actually did something concrete, whether donating time, money or expertise than simply making a noise about something. To the cynic in me that's often self serving.

    From personal experience, I once helped out at a charity ball where the wealthy came to show off their largesse in front of each other as they donated to charity and bought stuff in the auction. None of them needed to leave their homes, they could all have written a nice big cheque anonymously but needed the oxygen to publicity to do it, which I found ultimately depressing.

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    1. Hi Alex

      Thanks for commenting. I agree completely - actions speak louder than words. If you want to really do something for charity, go and get involved and give your time selflessly to do it. Those who volunteer for charity all over the world are not using their twitter accounts or dressing up in fine clothes and sipping wine to do so. I will admit I have attended benefits and fundraisers for charities, and they do serve a fantastic purpose, but as you said, sometimes the organiser may as well have just asked everyone to write a cheque!!

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  3. God knows our hearts and our motivations Clare and it is only him we are answerable to, so no one should be making you feel bad for not taking part in something. Last year I wrote a post about what a personal thing charity is and that a campaign that makes total sense to me will turn somoene else off and vice versa. We are all different and that is perfect, just as God designed it.

    There will always be pharisees amongst us but their true colours will show in time. No one can keep stuff up just for show if it is not on their heart.

    Mich x

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    1. Thanks for commenting Michelle, I know no one should be making me feel bad, and I don't personally feel bad, as I know what charitable works I am passionate about, but it was more of the general air amongst bloggers of being made to feel they had to participate in some campaigns.

      On another note, I hope that you enjoyed Ethiopia and had many valuable experiences and I hope it was a worthwhile trip - cant wait to read all about it!

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    2. Ethiopia was amazing thanks, a million miles away from what I imagined it might be like. I can't wait to go back..... one day!

      Mich x

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