P.I.T.A. (Pain In The Ass) of the week part 1
Before I got the Matrix Revolutions with my frens, we were drinking at MacDonald's, waiting for the show to start.
This guy who was partially mute and deaf came up to me, nudging me several times. He started waving this small whiteboard which most likely said that "I am mute and please donate". Followed by thrusting the grass green coinbox which looks like my sister's piggy bank (complete with Pokemon-like cartoon characters plastered all over it) into my face. After I declined along with the rest of us, he started giving us dirty looks and started gesturing as if to speak, "What the fuck you morons? Couldn't spare some change?"
And that really pissed me off.
He walked away and repeated his confrontational donation collecting antics on other unsuspecting folks around the area.
What piqued me was:
a) When you asked for money or donations, do it politely. It's only courteous.
b) I dun fucken owe you a living even if you are blind, deaf and dumb. I'm not insensitive to their plight, mind. However, I just didn't like the fucker's attitude even though he was orally disabled (for lack of a better term). And being more disadvantaged than us, it still doesn't give you any friggin' excuses.
c) I wasn't too sure about if he was collecting for any organisation. I mean, that shitty coinbox that looks like a personal piggy bank?
In any case, my level of altruism went down a coupla notches recently. You might come across this Straits Times article about how there are these private organisations selling raffle tickets, claiming that they would be helping ex-drug addicts, etc. I bought about 2 such tickets before. Though these private organisations pay their volunteers (20% of the tickets sold goe to the volunteers while the company takes 10%), I always felt that every single cent should go to the fund beneficiary.
While I understand that there would be costs like logistics and inventory costs for the cans, etc, I could never understand NKF's principles of collection. If there were a surplus in donations collected, it goes back to NKF for their corporate use rather than going to the ones who really need the money.
Then again, I would struggle with the sense of altruism in me. I'd be the first to admit inherently I'm a selfish person. What if helping others is actually just a way of making yourself feel better about yourself? But my friend,
Amelia was telling me before that even so, any help goes a long way. She told me once that she did some volunteer work before and those who were needy were actually extremely grateful for the help. Seeing what she did could really help them was good enough for her.
This, of course, reminds me of the time when I was walking to meet my friends at Clementi Ave 6, this blind man asked me for directions to his flat. Seeing that it was midnight and there weren't many people around to help him, I decided to guide him home. I guess that day I got out on the right side of my bed.
Reaching his place, I had to run out to the lift area to see if we were at the correct block. After a few seconds, he thought I had abandoned him and started screaming and calling my mother names. I had to rush back and pacify the doode. I sorta understand that he might have been played out quite a coupla times by kids and sorts but this guy was bloody bad-tempered. In any case, I got him to his doorstep and I dun even think he thanked me for it. Then again, I just felt right to help out.
There's something that was damn slack about the whole incident though. While walking him back, he started asking me questions and sharing his life with me. Told me that what he worked as. The fucked up pay and work, that I totally empathise nowadays. How his girlfriend who is normal is damn demanding of him. How she wants him to show affection to her. In addition, he started sharing more details of his relationship by saying, "You know, these girls... All they want is ... you know what lah. Every few days she would want to have sex lah. What? I'm so tired from work and she still wants."
That was slack. I can't handle people telling me about their sex lives in a situation where I'm trying to help them to get home.
However, this still proves a point that no matter what kinda condition or handicaps a man might be or have, he is still and always a stud in his own eyes.
And that is really a pain in the ass.