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Why should I care?
Quill Shiell, Birch Lake, Saskatchewan, Canada
- Because your pocket money will be withheld next week until you show some respect, young man/woman!
Margaret Toale, Co Meath, Ireland
- Because you matter.
Howard, Whitefield, England
- Why not?
Dave, Sutton
- I can't be bothered to tell you.
J Quinn, Godalming UK
- Before asking why you *should* care, perhaps it would be worth thinking about the fact that you *do* care. Human beings are emotional and moral beings - we simply aren't capable of observing other people's behaviour without reacting emotionally and morally (though not always rightly!) to it. Because we are good at thinking, we can learn to override our initial emotional reactions and behave as detached, scientific observers in certain circ*mstances. But this requires an effort, even if we don't recognise it as such.We care about other people because we can't help it. When we cease to care altogether, we cease to function as humans. The important question, then, is how we live with caring about other people, given how painful and demanding that is.
Eleanor Toye, Cambridge, UK
- With regards to your question - why should we?
SR, Cambridge
- And if we do not care - then what are we doing? I suppose we are living in a state of existential ennui, rather like that defeatist Sartre. Why bother its all hopeless anyway. The attitude denies the existence of God, which is rather like denying the existence of water - it is a magnificent denial, of course, but it is an utterly stupid one as well.
Eugene Silver, Los Angeles, USA
- If you don't, who will?
Rhiannon, Tredegar Wales
- In response to Mr Silver, summing up Sartre or the existential point of view as 'Why bother its all hopeless anyway' (you obviously don't bother with punctuation, I see) is as idiotic as summing up Christianity, Judaism and the many other religions as 'Why bother, God will look after us anyway'. I wouldn't distort your beliefs to support a trivial argument, regardless of how wrong I think you are, so please don't do it to mine.
Andrew Griffiths, Witham, Essex
- Talk about rhetorical...
Aidan Randle-Conde, Crewe, UK
- Because you voted Conserative
David Armitage, Portadown
- Eugene wotsit of wherever- how do you reach the conclusion that denying the existence of God is like denying the existence of water? I regularly see evidence- subjective evidence, admittedly- of water's existence, largely in the form of water. I have however never seen any evidence as to the existence of mermaids, for example. So with a certain degree of logic, I support water's claim to existence, while denying it to mermaids, judgemental though you might think me. I'm afraid God comes in the mermaid category, along with dragons, leprechauns and William Hague (surely no-one seriously believes- oh sorry, pointless political joke).
Tom Chivers, Oxford UK
- Because one day you might need someone to care about you and your situation.
Izzie Latham, Reading UK
- No man is an Island, entire of it self; every man is a piece of the Continent, a part of the main; if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as if a manor of thy friends or of thine own were; any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in Mankind; And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.John Donne
Anon, London
- Because everyone else is doing it, so why can't I? You never know, this "caring" lark might catch on...
Simon, Birmingham England
- My own reason is that while it is far easier not to care, the rare times when caring and helping pay off you get far more back in return, and it is something you can never get any other way. Anytime you do something good, you should do it without expectation of reward -the world doesn't work like that- but for me at least, it is better than living with the fact that i could have helped and didn't.
d, London England
- If God doesn't exist, then it doesn't matter if you care or not, but if god does exist then you had better start caring.
Bob, Sotton UK
- I don't know but the dilemma is well illustrated in Joseph Heller's Catch 22. The lead character, Yossarian, is bemoaning the fact that he has to fight in the war.Yossarian "Why should I care?"Chaplain "What if everyone thought that way?"Yossarian "Then I'd certainly be a damned fool to feel any other way wouldn't I?"
DD, Cardiff, Wales
- Because you are Canadian, and it is your cultural heritage. It is not, however, your responsibility to actually DO anything, except perhaps to prevent OTHERS from doing something. This is also your cultural heritage.
Lorraine Murphy, Vancouver
- Because you have a brain. Millions of years of evolution have given you this information processing device designed singularly to increase your ability to reproduce. It forces you to care about where food and safety are, where warmth and comfort are, and where the opposite sex are. Existential ennui is a consequence of having all your base desires sated, yet your immature dreams of being a rock-star / astronaut thwarted. You should care because there's a lot of needless suffering in the world, and if you are rich enough to waste time on the internet then you are capable of changing things for the better.
Stuart Bray, Nottingham England
- An evolutionist would argue that you should only care if doing so leads to a greater probability that your genes will be replicated. Maybe in the survival of human beings in developed countries, in the immediate future is so assured, that even from a purely selfish point of view it is advisable to start thinking long-term. I for one fancy giving children's, children a chance. Surely this can only be achieved by caring.
Ilya Maclean, Edinburgh UK
- Why care? Not so hard to figure out why you should, a utilitarian approach works well on simple mass judgements like this. You care simply because it produces goodness for those whose lives are touched by your deeds, and this necessarily comes back to you. simple really.
Duncan James, Zurich Switzerland
- Because people who don't care are what is wrong with the world!
Jenna, Wales
- Actually, it doesn't matter a wit if you actually care or not - so long as you behave as if you do.
Robert Wright, Bristol UK
- Caring must come near top of the list of how we do things which help define us at our most empathetic, giving, tender, reflective and nurturing , something most often seen within the same species of the animal world, and something increasingly sacrificed by man at the altar of consumerism.
Alan, Zagreb, Croatia
- Because it's 500 free texts and 3000 minutes of free calls per month plus a new handset and a big mac with extra fries.
Steve, London
- No reason. You either care or you do not care. Nothing can tell you what you should do. If God asked himself "Why should I create the universe?" how could he answer it without referring to a greater power? It's the downside of free will. The ball's in our court.
Matt, Worcester UK
- If you're young, you should care and try to do something about it. If you're old, you should try not to care, and stay sane.
Fen, Freshwater UK
- I don't care
Chastity, Atlanta, USA
- Because doing something is more interesting than doing nothing.
Bill, Fredericton Canada
- If everyone said this, then eventually, no one will, and the world will be messed up. If we want people to change, we have to start changing ourselves.
Amira Ismail, Cairo, Egypt
- Because it's impossible not to. Concerning yourself with this question means you care. The fact that you turned your computer on means you care. Specify what it is you care about then you have a non-rhetorical question.
Kenneth, Newport, US
- Because in the end... why shouldn't you? What else is there to do in the world but care, when everything is the way it is and you've seen what it's like not to care ... how can you afford not to? Caring isn't optional when you've looked at the world. It's like breathing, it's necessary.And the most important reason? Because deep down inside, you know that you already do. You just shouldn't have to lie to yourself any longer.
Shoshana Kessock, Brooklyn, New York United States
- To Bob of Sotton, UK: Why had I better start caring if God does exist? If God's a nice logical Guy, I should be able to count on Him to put the ones trying to do right in a happy place, faith or no. If He's not logical or not nice (or both), what's my caring going to change what He does anyway?(I ask this sincerely, believe it or not)
Andrew Lawler, Vancouver, WA USA
- ....often for no obvious teleological, theological, utilitarian or otherwise seriously analysable reason.what sort of question is this anyway? I mean we either care or not, act on that care or not.The question itself has implications - why should I care about a)the question itselfb)its answer!happy pondering people
John-Paul Sanggaran, Brisbane Australia
- A life without passion would be extremely boring.
Jack, Albany, USA
- Because asking "Why should I care?" means that you actually care because you want a reason or justification for your not caring. So you might as well give up now.
Sean Kenny, Mansfield, Texas, US
- Don't forget psychology. When you cease to care, it's the defense mechanism 'discounting'. You literally make it nothing. You kill something's existence in your mind and equally kill your cognizance of a situation and a small fraction of yourself. The more you don't care about, the more thoughts, feelings, actions, and memories are dead to you, the more of your internal self is dead. I hold this reasoning and have trouble with people saying "I don't care", because they are killing other people's existence in their own mind.
William, Lakewood US
- Ask yourself and you may find the answer.
Alex, Athens Greece
- Because one day YOU might need care.... When that day arrives ask yourself the same question and see how many answers pop into your head then...
Brian Prince, Barmouth
- The question seems to imply that you do and are wondering what good is accomplished in doing so. At least, I think that is what I was feeling when I entered the question in Google.If I were to not care, then the question would not matter to me, so it seems to be a conundrum to doubt that one does "care" if one is able to ask the question...So, to the next step in this line of thought, "Does it matter if I care?"Maybe it is this; if in caring about someone else, I show that they matter, perhaps they will care about me, and then, I will matter.Or not...
Simon Wolfe, Dallas, Texas
- I have often felt curiosity is the core component of human nature. If you are willing to ask the question "why should I care ?" then obviously you care enough to want an answer. True caring leads us to better shelter, food and mates, but caring is a value in and of itself. If you don't care about and respect yourself why should others care about you? Please keep in mind that it actually is basic common courtesy as well as manners that actually make this world a somewhat bearable place. Know however that there is only so much your caring can accomplish, be realistic. I care so much about this beautiful and wonderful world that it sickens and saddens me when people choose cop outs that deny basic obvious truths such as, people like me do care. I do so without a God and without religions which keep us week and divide us. Care enough and we can and will do more!
Jeffery Hoover, Lubbock, Tx. United States of America
- Reading through the answers has made me realise that not to care is massively immature.By refusing to give a damn, one basically abdicates the responsibility of living life. Man up and accept the world - It needs you.
Greg DeAddio, Derby, UK
- Because if you didn't, you would be a miserable excuse for a person and nobody would care about you.
Amber Holden, Shelton, USA
- Isn't it funny how the people who claim to care get so aggressive at the ones that don't? Thats not very caring is it?
JP Ratzenberger, Kawooga Bay, Australia
- Come on man! You should care or else your partner would use up your credit card swiftly.
Cao Tien Quan, Quynh Giang, Quynh Luu, Nghe An, Vietnam
- Because I can.
Heather D Ward, Richmond, US
- Why should I care? Because it is the most significant expression of our human rights. As a human beings we have the right to care and caring is always far more rewarding than not caring. Maybe not immediately but always in the longer haul it brings meaning and cheer to our environment.
Marcus Young, Franklin USA
- We should care because it is the right thing to do regardless if you believe God excites or not. If we all care this planet would be a much better place.
Kenneth M. Glenn, Burbank US
- Life starts to sucks a lot when you stop caring about what's going on in it.Not only because you're neglecting those things that make life enjoyable and (more importantly) valuable, but because you're denying yourself. You're denying your need for and to love, your need to succeed and foster success, your need to strive, to get up and LIVE. And through this denial, you're sure to suffer much more than you would by actually caring.It's a psychological fact. Living life well is the most surefire way to find a way to love it. Always give in to your higher tendencies, especially yours to care and to appreciate the beauty of everything and to love, and you'll experience for yourself in your own mind a reason to care.I promise  I'm more certain of this than I am of most things.Also, obligatory "God does not exist and anyone escaping existential despair through him is doing so through a culturally inherited lie" statement.
Jordan Gunn, West Columbia South Carolina, USA
- Why should I care? Because He (God) does. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. JOHN 3:16 (Me)
Jorge Del Cid Shailer Baker, Panama
- Caring is sharing. Conscious life is a summation of the shared experiences, emotions, ideas and willful creations we have with others. Ending this summation is a fail.
Tyler Callahan, Arcata, CA United States
- It's mentally impossible for a person not to care about something, we are humans and we have a complex mind that analyze things before we even really think about it. It's a survival strategy, if we didn't care, we probably wouldn't have even been here in the first place... If you didn't care, you wouldn't be reading this sentence or debating the subject. If I didn't care, I wouldn't feel the need to share my personal opinion on the matter, so ask yourself again, 'Why should I care??' you care Because you care... As simple as that!
Robert Kingsley, Richards Bay South Africa
- I care. It pays £6 an hour, and I walk home smelling of piss.
Ben, Hull UK
- Because this is a society, what we care for is what we strive to change, what we are conflicted over is what we fight for, and what remains true is progress and freedom, even though they have and will always be opposed by some. We must care, all of us. Imagine all the things we could fix if we all cared, imagine all the things we could have.
Vanessa Contreras, American Fork, US
- When you have lost something dear to you, and strangers showed you compassion and care, you have gained. For all who say they don't care, or why should they, have not lost much dear to them. And may God's mercy be on them at that time, to have someone care for them. Life is too short not to care. And the time always comes when you will need someone to care for you. Shalom.
Constance Harmse, Kempton Park South Africa
- It doesn't really matter if you care or not. Of course your experience will vary depending on your level of caring, but that is a personal choice. Not caring is easy, sort of like life's pause button - but what have you missed as your uncaring eyes are turned away in apathetic indifference?
Imabbb, Little Mountain, SC US
