I'm pretty much in line with Binjali and Jingy at this point.

I'm probably biased, being neither white nor Western, but I'd like to look away from America and the other wealthier nations- because there are people in awful conditions with no way of getting out in so many other countries that aren't as rich as America, that have enormous mortality rates, that don't have these resources and charities that Western countries do have set up within them.
Poverty, abuse, lack of education, healthcare and AIDS are problems that continue for generations and are like this hellhole that just sucks you in. I'm thinking of Cambodia, Haiti, Thailand, places in Mongolia and India, where women are uneducated and easily replaced, and children are forgotten and live on rubbish dumps and are sold and exploited in the sex industry. Places where staying alive is the most difficult thing on earth. We have all that in the English speaking world. We've moved past basic survival, most of us. These people haven't.

But yeah, charities that work in third-world countries are really important, I think. They're the highest on my list. Whatever charities provide education for women and children, especially in areas like that, and things like World Vision or Oxfam does- giving gifts of animals and equipment or microfinance loans to benefit communities and villages.

Actually, has anyone looked into microfinance? From what I've heard, it kind of grows itself, doesn't it?

Oooo. Also, take a look at this game- Ayiti, the Cost of Life. Browser-based, Flash, I think. You try to keep a small family alive in Haiti (Ayiti!) for four years (and it ain't easy!).

Please READ before you post, people - this thread was opened a year ago, and has long since been settled!!

Hey, anonymous person. Stop shouting on my forum. Someone says something interesting but not helpful 'cause it's too late, you tell them how interesting it was first. Oh, and big-font-double-! makes you look like a twonk.

I'm disabling anonymous comments, I think. It seems the only people who post anonymously are complete fucking muppets.

I'll never be able to post again! I might be lost forever! NOOO!

Okay, yeah, that was me - my only excuse is it was early in the morning, my first cup of coffee hadn't kicked in yet, and you can't go back and edit anonymous posts. So, accept my global apology and please leave anonymous comments enabled. I personally believe that some of the anonymous posters have really quite well thought out postings, but apparently don't wish to reveal themselves. The "glass of water" comes to mind.

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Thank you.

Yeah, see, the glass of water bothers me. Or rather, her feeling that she needs to remain anonymous bothers me.

(she's not, BTW - the IP address she posted under can be cross-referenced against the information in the game. I just haven't bothered to do so, because... well, she's posting anonymously for a reason)

What does she think I'm gonna do, jump down her throat for daring to have an opinion? I don't think our forum works like that. An unfortunate side-effect is that, on the one hand, I have players who will thoroughly agree with some of the things I say/do/propose and vehemently disagree with other things, and aren't shy about it. The glass of water, on the other hand, only ever disagrees. The aspect of her that goes with the flow is probably the aspect that isn't anonymous.