Why do people try to help complete strangers they meet on the Internet?

Question

And why do some people worry so much about complete strangers? What do you care if some random person you've never met gets hurt or dies? I know that people do care, and I care about people I've never met too, I'm just wondering I guess why people work that way.

Answer 1

I think is has to do with empathy. All of us have felt the pain of a wound, be it physical, psychological or emotional. Most of us don't want to see others in that pain if we can help them. Sometimes we help, sometimes not. We know the best we can do is try.

Terry

Answer 2

Obviously we do care for each other :) We are all people, no matter where we live - we're not so different at all.
Helping people also feels good because you know you might need help some day. Then there will be a complete stranger on the other side of the world who would offer support. This creates a unique circle of good will, which in itself is very reassuring.
PS. Also - aren't we all complete strangers until we get to know each other:)?

Answer 3

I would think that you, more than ANYONE would know the answer to that question! From what you have said, your world seems to consist of a place where it is easiest to deal with others if you cannot see them face-to-face. You know from your own experience here that there are SO MANY others who feel the same way that you do. So it stands to reason that you can feel better about yourself by trying to help someone else in the only way that you seem to know how--and that is the empathy that you feel when you know you have actually helped someone who has the same problems as you! When all is said and done, YOU KNOW that there are people who care about you, and subconsciously I think you know that your family and friends care also, especially your family HERE, the one that wants you to see yourself for who you truly are! One of these days, you're going to have to give in to the love, and that means trust. It really isn't that difficult to take the chance now, is it?! All the best to you!!

Answer 4

Well, let's see. Although helping someone makes me feel needed, my heart goes out to you because I've been there. I bet a lotof the people who respond are not just replying out of obligation but because they've been there themselves and when they see someone else in the same situation, they relive it themselves. To put it in short, helping you also helps me. Now, you seem like such a nice girl who's in a lot of pain. but I do have a pretty good idea that there is hop for you and I know from persoanl experience, being resuscitated and also talking to people who have been revived, that the pain only followed them. Also, I have a pretty good feeling that all you will do is create a lot of pain and lifelong grief for those who love you. There are many, many things you can do alive that you can't do as a spirit. Just hink, one day you will recover from your depression and you will be able to help others, lets say as a therapist, etc. and you will be glad you didn't go through with it.

After seeing your post last week, I thank God every day that you are still alive. Hang in there and please keep trying. Email me. You can always call me pc to pc, too. I am in the United States but that stretch of space over the Atlantic hasn't stopped us yet. And it is so cheap now. Only 1 cent a minute!

Answer 5

Some of us believe that just because a person is a human being they have value. Some of us believe that each person is unique and has something to offer the world. And I believe that every person living on this earth is a child of God, and thus they are of great value. Imagine if during World War II, the allies all said, "who cares if they kill a bunch of jews, we don't know them, it's not our problem?" Of the people who were killed in the holocaust, can you imagine the contributions they may have made to humanity. Perhaps one of them would have been a terrific musical composer, one of them may have discovered a cure for cancer, etc. Every human being has enormous potential that can be tapped into. But, if they are in distress and harm themselves or kill themselves, they stop themselves from ever fulfilling their potential. That's my opinion, and that's why I care.

Answer 6

Because we're nice people doing our good deeds for the day. It's a shame some people don't appreciate ot at times, but it still gives you a nice feeling that you've mage a difference to someone's life in some way - however small.
Take Care Ellie
;-)

Answer 7

Of course there are most different reasons in different cases.
One might be, that to help a stranger needs (unconsciously) less responsability. If you help a known person, you might be asked to help further/again.
And not to forget one reason, the most important one - everyone has some good "energy", everyone is basically "good". But the more personal wishes to satisfy, the less one cares about others.

Answer 8

I think I agree with the answer that it is more easy to give advice to somebody you don't know. Besides their answer, there is one more reason, I think - you don't know much of the background. So you don't know the complications. So you can give ideas uninhibited by consequences that the person who asked knows.

Also, it is sometimes easier to ask advice of a stranger, to share your problem with a stranger who would likely not recognize you if you met, than with a freind whose good opinion you value - or an acquaintance with whom you are none too sure if s/he will keep your secret.

So it is easier to ask your questions to strangers... and, in order to have reason to hope for an answer, you answer other people's questions when they ask them.

Answer 9

We should all care for each other. That is what is wrong with the world, not enough people do care. I care because all those people with problems are human beings like you and me and it could be my mum or dad or man or my kids that need help and i would like to think that they are not alone trying to cope. Just show people some care and understanding and compassion and it makes their burden a bit easier to cope with.

Answer 10

It's easier to offer help to someone you don't know. In this way you are protected from your well intentioned advice leading to serious problems.

Complete strangers are also a lot less likely to take your advice to heart, which prevents hostile retaliation.

So in essence, it's the easiest way to do good with the least risk.

Answer 11

I questioned this myself when I contacted you. I am no samaritan working for the betterment of humankind. Even I do not know the genuine reason. I guess somehow I feel the pain, the suffering of the person or it also reminds me of the hardships I've faced and I dont want anyone and I really mean anyone(even my enemies)
to relive that trauma.